Shipyard Human Factors & Systems Engineer - (all levels)
Saronic Technologies
Software Engineering
Austin, TX, USA
Posted on Feb 18, 2026
Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.
About the Role
We are looking for a Human Factors and Systems to architect how people move through, interact with, and experience complex physical and operational systems. This role sits at the intersection of design, operations, engineering, and behavioral science, and is responsible for turning friction-heavy environments into intuitive, efficient, and humane experiences.
You will design systems where throughput, safety, clarity, and experience all matter — from queuing and circulation to wayfinding, staffing models, and service rhythms. If done well, your work will feel invisible to users and indispensable to the business.
Responsibilities:
- What You’ll Do
- Design end-to-end human flow systems across physical environments (facilities, venues, campuses, events, transportation nodes, etc.)
- Architect queuing strategies (physical and digital) that optimize both actual and perceived wait times
- Identify and eliminate bottlenecks across movement, decision points, and service interactions
- Translate behavioral insights into practical, buildable system designs
- Partner with engineering, operations, facilities, and product teams to integrate human flow into system architecture
- Use data, observation, and simulation to model capacity, throughput, and edge cases
- Define principles for wayfinding, signage, pacing, and spatial cues
- Stress-test systems for peak load, abnormal conditions, and failure modes
- Document designs clearly so they can be executed, operated, and scaled
- Continuously iterate based on real-world performance and user behavior
- What Success Looks Like
- People move through complex environments with minimal confusion or friction
- Systems handle peak demand gracefully without heroics or last-minute workarounds
- Operations teams trust and rely on your designs
- Leaders can make decisions using your models and recommendations
- Users rarely notice your work — except that “it just works”
- Who You Are
- You think in systems, not artifacts
- You are deeply curious about how people actually behave, not how plans assume they will
- You’re comfortable balancing empathy with constraints like safety, cost, and throughput
- You can move between strategy and details without losing coherence
- You communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical partners
- You’re opinionated, but evidence-driven
Qualifications:
- We care more about how you think than where you come from. Relevant backgrounds include:
- Human Factors Engineering
- Industrial / Systems Engineering
- Experience Design (physical environments)
- Operations Research
- Architecture or Urban Planning (with operational exposure)
- Theme parks, airports, transit systems, large venues, manufacturing, or high-scale operations
- Typical qualifications:
- 7+ years designing or operating complex human-centered systems
- Experience with capacity modeling, service design, or pedestrian flow
- Familiarity with simulation tools or data-driven decision-making
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority
- Bonus Points
- Experience designing systems under extreme peak loads
- Familiarity with crowd modeling or queuing theory
- Background in environments where safety is mission-critical
- Ability to prototype or test concepts quickly in the field
- A portfolio of systems you’ve designed that still work years later
Benefits:
Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services
Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents
Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care
Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents
Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays
Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents
Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses
Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match
Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success
Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline
Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office
This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.