Hybrid Director, Engineering - Subsea Robotics at Terradepth Inc

 This is an onsite position at our Cedar Park, TX office.  No visa sponsorship available.

An idea was born.

Out of the box thinking. Not the norm. Changing the way things have always been done. Those are just some ideas that started on the back of a napkin, but they didn’t stay there. Our CEO, Joe Wolfel, a former Navy SEAL, saw an idea of how to disrupt the way the world looks at the ocean and voila, Terradepth was born.

The ocean is our swim lane.

We are increasing human interaction with the ocean by collecting comprehensive, high-resolution ocean data to empower society with information and knowledge crucial to the sustainable advancement of a variety of key industries. Interested? Great! Immerse yourself and see if you have the fins to swim in our pool.

Our Crew.

We are ocean enthusiasts, technologists, problem solvers, and makers dedicated to advancing ocean exploration. We are pioneers and made up of, to name a few…road bikers, chess players, dog lovers, world travelers, military veterans, and an array of individuals with diverse technical backgrounds. We have family people, single people and people who refer people. And if we’re being totally honest…we like each other.

Why “fit” matters.

It’s not going to matter how smart or competent you are if you’re not a good cultural fit. We demand that our people adhere to our values: Speed, Discipline, and Collaboration. We also expect team cohesion while avoiding groupthink – which is a difficult balance to maintain. Before we get into the details of the day-to-day duties, let’s get down to the ocean floor. What you do, How you do it, and Why you want to work here matters. 

What about you? 

Terradepth is looking for a highly skilled Director of Engineering for Subsea Robotics. This role involves leading our vehicle team in the development of unique, long-endurance, and highly reliable dual-use Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for both industrial and military applications.

Ideally, if you have a deep understanding of robotics, software development, mechatronics, and ocean engineering. They should also have a proven track record of successfully managing short cycle engineering projects and bringing advanced autonomous systems to productization.

As Director, you will be responsible for overseeing the entire AUV project lifecycle, from initial concept to deployment and maintenance. This position demands exceptional leadership and communication skills to inspire a team of engineers and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Your responsibilities will include setting strategic goals, directing cutting-edge R&D efforts within the engineering team, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements. You will also work closely with stakeholders to drive innovation and enhance operational efficiency, and position the company as a leader in autonomous underwater technologies.

If you are a visionary leader passionate about underwater robotics and driven to advance ocean technology, we’d like to tell you a bit more about the role. 

Essential Functions

• Lead the engineering team in the design, development, and deployment of autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Establish and drive the strategic vision for AUV projects, ensuring alignment with company goals.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure successful execution of engineering initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, manufacturing, and quality assurance, to enhance product performance.
• Oversee the testing and validation processes to ensure reliability and safety of AUV systems in various marine environments.
• Foster innovation by encouraging research and development of new technologies and methodologies in underwater robotics.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, challenges, and regulatory requirements to inform engineering practices.
• Develop and maintain engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure
• Mentoring existing engineering talent and supporting recruitment as needed
• Travel - a minimum of 25% to FL test location and other travel as needed

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex engineering projects from ideation through to implementation.
• Experience in the design and development of autonomous systems in underwater applications.
• Strong leadership skills with a minimum of 10 years in cross-disciplinary engineering management roles.
• In-depth knowledge of underwater vehicle dynamics, control systems, and sensor technologies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to travel.
• US citizen.

If we piqued your interest, we hope you pique ours and follow the prompts to apply.