About Ocean Aero:

Ocean Aero is an award-winning US company that has created the world's first and only environmentally powered Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV). Ocean Aero's autonomous marine robot, the Triton, operates exclusively on wind and solar energy and performs long endurance missions on the ocean surface with the ability to dive below the waves for underwater operations. The Triton uses a complex array of custom-built sensors, marinized electronics and software systems to operate, sense and communicate in the environment. Ocean Aero has a collaborative culture with plenty of opportunities for growth and ownership, and comprehensive benefits.

Role Description:

Ocean Aero is seeking a customer-focused, technically proficient Technical Sales Engineer to serve as the critical link between Business Development, Engineering, and Mission Operations. This role involves deep technical expertise to support opportunity identification, capture planning, proposal development, customer engagements, and successful transition from sales to program execution. The Technical Sales Engineer will serve as the company's technical authority throughout the business development lifecycle, ensuring proposed solutions accurately represent Ocean Aero's capabilities while aligning customer mission requirements with realistic operational performance. Working closely with Sales, Engineering, Program Management, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Mission Operations, this role provides technical leadership during customer engagements, demonstrations, field trials, and proposal development while helping shape product strategy through direct customer insight. Success in this role requires strong technical knowledge of autonomous maritime systems, exceptional communication skills, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to translate complex operational challenges into innovative, executable solutions. This role will report to the Chief Executive Officer.

Role Responsibilities:

Technical Sales & Business Development Serve as the primary technical advisor supporting Business Development and Sales throughout the opportunity lifecycle, from customer engagement through contract award Partner with Business Development leadership to support capture strategies, proposal development, competitive positioning, and customer engagement plans Provide technical insight into customer mission requirements, operational challenges, and decision-making processes to maximize win probability Support development of business strategies by providing direct customer feedback, market intelligence, and competitive analysis Customer Engagement & Mission Planning Participate in customer meetings, technical exchanges, product demonstrations, sea trials, and operational evaluations as the technical representative for Ocean Aero Conduct site surveys, mission assessments, and operational analyses to evaluate environmental, logistical, and mission-specific factors affecting system performance Translate customer requirements into technically achievable solutions while identifying capability gaps and recommending alternative approaches Develop Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), mission employment strategies, and operational workflows aligned with customer objectives and system capabilities Clearly communicate complex engineering concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences Proposal & Capture Support Lead technical proposal development, ensuring all proposed capabilities are validated, achievable, and aligned with engineering performance Develop technical volumes, white papers, capability statements, compliance matrices, customer presentations, and briefing materials Lead technical risk identification during proposal development and develop mitigation strategies supporting successful program execution Collaborate with Contracts, Program Management, Engineering, and Finance to develop comprehensive, compliant proposals Support contract negotiations by providing technical clarification and evaluation of customer requirements Cross-Functional Leadership Coordinate closely with Engineering, Product Management, Mission Operations, Program Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Field Operations to ensure technical alignment across all customer pursuits. Maintain current knowledge of Ocean Aero's technology roadmap, platform capabilities, software updates, payload integration, and operational limitations Provide customer-driven feedback to Engineering and Product Management to influence future product development and capability enhancements Ensure effective turnover of awarded programs through detailed technical transition planning and documentation Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent military or industry experience) Minimum 5 years of experience supporting unmanned systems, autonomous vehicles, maritime systems, robotics, or defense technologies Minimum 3 years of experience in technical sales, sales engineering, business development, field engineering, customer support, or related technical customer-facing roles Experience supporting proposal development, technical presentations, customer demonstrations, or capture efforts Strong understanding of autonomous maritime systems, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), or related technologies Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation skills Ability to explain complex technical concepts to customers with varying levels of technical expertise Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, DARPA, SOCOM, or other Department of War customers Experience with autonomous maritime operations, marine robotics, or naval systems Experience with capture management, proposal development, or business development within the defense industry Familiarity with: Maritime communications GPS and navigation systems RF communications Autonomous control systems Power systems Battery Management Systems (BMS) Sensors and payload integration Mechanical and electrical schematics Experience reading nautical charts and conducting mission planning Military operational experience supporting maritime or unmanned systems is highly desirable Key Competencies Technical Sales Leadership Systems Engineering Business Development & Capture Support Customer Relationship Management Mission Planning & CONOPS Development Technical Communication Proposal Development Cross-Functional Collaboration Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Strategic Business Acumen Presentation & Demonstration Skills Engineering Judgment Adaptability and Innovation Additional Requirements Ability to travel domestically and internationally to support customer engagements, demonstrations, and field operations Ability to work in field environments, including maritime and remote operational locations U.S. Citizenship required Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of War Security Clearance Ability to obtain and maintain a valid U.S. Passport Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), or ability to obtain one Successfully pass drug screening, background investigation, and motor vehicle screening

Role Preference:

Bachelor of Business Administration or related field

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): Do you have a minimum of 3 years of experience in a technical sales support role or related role with at least 3 years in a leadership position? This role is full-time on-site in Gulfport, MS. It is not a remote role. Will you be able to commute to Gulfport, MS daily? Do you have a Bachelor of Business Administration or a related field?

Work Location:

In person