What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President of Software Engineering position at Berkley Hunt?
VP of Software Engineering | Commercial Maritime | Stealth Mode | LA Onsite
Berkley Hunt is partnering with an early-stage, high-growth startup that is reimagining maritime logistics and next-generation marine connectivity. The company is building breakthrough embedded systems, operator platforms, and edge-AI technologies that reshape how vessels operate, communicate, and make decisions across global shipping networks. Their mission is to deliver smarter, safer, and more efficient vessel operations in environments where reliability, intelligence, and innovation matter.
We are seeking a VP of Software Engineering to lead, architect, and scale the core software stack that powers the company’s edge-computing systems, operator platforms, and real-time maritime AI capabilities. This is a hands-on executive role where technical leadership, rapid learning, and the ability to ship high-quality systems matter more than experience with any specific framework.
Who You Are:
- Extensive professional experience leading software engineering teams across embedded systems, real-time applications, or edge-AI platforms
- Strong background in embedded/real-time development, sensor integration, vehicle software, or GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Control)
- Proficient with modern software development for distributed or mission-critical systems, with a willingness to dive into new technologies quickly
- Experience building high-performance operator-facing UIs/platforms similar to complex technical systems (e.g., Foundry, Lattice OS)
- Familiarity with RF systems or wireless communications in constrained or ruggedized environments
- Comfortable navigating early-stage ambiguity, owning major architectural decisions, and setting technical direction for long-term scale
- Startup mindset: thrive in fast-moving environments, take ownership, and enjoy solving complex, multidisciplinary problems
Responsibilities:
- Architect, design, and lead development of the core platform spanning embedded systems, edge AI, UI/operator interfaces, and real-time vessel software
- Oversee sensor integration pipelines, vehicle data capture, and onboard system interoperability
- Lead development of algorithms supporting vessel maneuvering, autonomy, and real-time operational decision-making
- Guide the creation of user interfaces that enable seamless vessel operations and situational awareness
- Drive development of RF-based systems enabling secure vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore communication
- Collaborate closely with founders, AI/ML engineers, and maritime domain experts to shape technical and product strategy
- Establish engineering best practices, reliability standards, and long-term technical roadmaps as the team grows
- Mentor future engineering hires and build a high-performing technical organization from the ground up
Bonus Qualifications:
- Previous experience in early-stage startups, robotics, aerospace, defense, maritime systems, or other autonomy-driven domains
- Exposure to CI/CD, DevOps, or infrastructure for real-time or embedded environments
- Experience with edge-AI deployments, IoT systems, or integrating machine-learning models into operational environments
- Open-source contributions or experience building developer-focused tooling for technical operators
Salary : $200,000 - $280,000