Bifrost Defence
Bifrost Defence

Autonomous Vessel Engineer - Working Student Marine Alpha

Working student
Engineering

Build what the sea hasn't seen yet.

Marine Alpha develops next-generation unmanned surface vessels (USVs) that combine robust platform design with advanced autonomy, sensing and mission systems. Our approach is built around standardised components, rigorous engineering and open interfaces, creating platforms that can evolve as technology and mission needs evolve.

In September, we are moving the development of our smaller vessel family to Karlskrona together with the Marine Technology Centre of Sweden, which opens up both thesis projects and part-time positions.

We are interested in students with an interest in or experience in one or more of the following

  • Mechanical integration of the various vessel parts
  • Electrical integration of batteries and motors
  • Mounting and calibrating navigation electronics
  • Autopilot installation, configuration and fine-tuning
  • Companion computer installation and fine-tuning
  • Communications systems implementation
  • Mission planning and testing, logs analysis
  • Software development related to IP communications, HMI, edge computing and post testing analysis.

We are also open to considering a broad range of thesis collaboration topics and encourage spontaneus suggestions. From our side the two tracks below are of particular interst.

Track 1: Secure. Resist. Prevail. Secure a vessel's C3 and video stream against RF disturbance, keeping the link and picture working in contested environments. Harden navigation sensors and systems against interference, keeping positioning reliable under GPS attack, based on field-tested experience with jamming and GPS loss.

Focus areas: RF, secure C3, video link protection, navigation resilience

Track 2: Predict. Validate. Improve. Turn the MA3 CAD platform into a digital twin that helps us understand vessel behaviour in demanding sea states. Connect simulation with real trial data to explore endurance, wave loading and structural response, and push performance boundaries.

Focus areas: CAD, simulation, structures, hydrodynamics, trial data

The position is based in Karlskrona and adaptable to the right candidates academic needs.

Tasks

  • Take ownership of a meaningful engineering challenge.
  • Think independently and challenge assumptions.
  • Turn data into insight and build solutions that work in the real world.
  • Work close to the technology, decisions and people building Marine Alpha.

Make an impact that goes to sea.

Requirements

  • Bring your technical expertise, curiosity and drive.
  • Explore questions that don't have obvious answers.
  • Challenge how things are done and bring new ideas.
  • Help shape the technology, the platforms and the future of Marine Alpha.

Your work today. Real impact tomorrow.

Benefits

  • Real technology. Work with real vessel platforms, data and engineering challenges.
  • Real responsibility. Own a meaningful problem and develop your engineering judgement.
  • Direct collaboration. Work directly with experienced engineers and decision makers.
  • Competitive salary. Your work creates real value, and we believe it should be recognised.
  • Real impact. Bring ideas, challenge assumptions and help shape what comes next.

If you want to build technology that leaves the screen, meets the physical world and has to perform when it matters, come build with us.

Updated: 1 week ago
Job ID: 16676562
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Bifrost Defence

11-50 employees
Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals

We buy and build defence companies, focused on hardware. We partner with exceptional founders, engineers, service personnel, primes, and universities to build mission-critical def…

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  1. Autonomous Vessel Engineer - Working Student Marine Alpha