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Test Engineer - Autonomous Marine Controls

gokenamericallc Melbourne, FL


No Relocation

Posted: August 5, 2026

Job Description

Summary: 

This role will support engineering test and development activities.

Responsibilities:

  • Bring up the autonomy software stack on the vessel: build, deploy, and configure the onboard software (containerized deployment via Docker) 
  • Plan and execute structured field tests of autonomy behaviors — navigation, perception, control, and sensor integration — across both simulation (SITL) and on-water 
  • Operate the system on the water: pre-mission checkouts, launch and recovery support, live runs, and routine data-collection campaigns 
  • Own data logging, telemetry monitoring, visualization, and replay (rosbag, RViz); ensure data integrity for post-test analysis 
  • Diagnose and troubleshoot autonomy, networking, and onboard software issues in real time during test events 
  • Perform first-line data reduction and analysis; produce test reports, debriefs, and demonstrations 
  • Contribute to issue triage and root-cause analysis after field anomalies, and feed findings back to the development team 
  • Build and improve the tooling, test automation, and data pipelines that make field testing faster and more repeatable 
  • Develop a working understanding of the vehicle's hardware and software as an integrated system 
  • Coordinate on-water with the marine test team and remotely with the development team 
  • Travel to client/ test sites required.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science and 1 year of relevant internship experience. 
  • Hands-on ROS 2 experience (nodes, topics, launch files, bags); able to debug a live stack 
  • Strong Linux command-line proficiency and software debugging
  • Docker — build, run, and troubleshoot containers 
  • Able to independently bring up, build, deploy, run, and test software on hardware in the field — with remote support, but not constant supervision 
  • Basic data analysis and visualization (e.g., Python and plotting tools; RViz) 
  • Clear technical writing and reporting 
  • Comfortable working on the water and dockside; able to meet basic fitness-for-water requirements (swim, lift to ~50 lbs, extended time on the water) 
  • Demonstrated self-driven building — a personal robotics project, an open-source contribution, a competition/club robot, or similar evidence of building on your own initiative 
  • Marine / boating familiarity; comfort on small craft

Additional Content

Summary: 

This role will support engineering test and development activities.

Responsibilities:

  • Bring up the autonomy software stack on the vessel: build, deploy, and configure the onboard software (containerized deployment via Docker) 
  • Plan and execute structured field tests of autonomy behaviors — navigation, perception, control, and sensor integration — across both simulation (SITL) and on-water 
  • Operate the system on the water: pre-mission checkouts, launch and recovery support, live runs, and routine data-collection campaigns 
  • Own data logging, telemetry monitoring, visualization, and replay (rosbag, RViz); ensure data integrity for post-test analysis 
  • Diagnose and troubleshoot autonomy, networking, and onboard software issues in real time during test events 
  • Perform first-line data reduction and analysis; produce test reports, debriefs, and demonstrations 
  • Contribute to issue triage and root-cause analysis after field anomalies, and feed findings back to the development team 
  • Build and improve the tooling, test automation, and data pipelines that make field testing faster and more repeatable 
  • Develop a working understanding of the vehicle's hardware and software as an integrated system 
  • Coordinate on-water with the marine test team and remotely with the development team 
  • Travel to client/ test sites required.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science and 1 year of relevant internship experience. 
  • Hands-on ROS 2 experience (nodes, topics, launch files, bags); able to debug a live stack 
  • Strong Linux command-line proficiency and software debugging
  • Docker — build, run, and troubleshoot containers 
  • Able to independently bring up, build, deploy, run, and test software on hardware in the field — with remote support, but not constant supervision 
  • Basic data analysis and visualization (e.g., Python and plotting tools; RViz) 
  • Clear technical writing and reporting 
  • Comfortable working on the water and dockside; able to meet basic fitness-for-water requirements (swim, lift to ~50 lbs, extended time on the water) 
  • Demonstrated self-driven building — a personal robotics project, an open-source contribution, a competition/club robot, or similar evidence of building on your own initiative 
  • Marine / boating familiarity; comfort on small craft