Job Title: Marine Operations Intern / Test Vessel Operator (Summer Internship)
Company: Blue Water Autonomy
Location: North Kingstown, RI
Work Type: Internship
Schedule: Shift-based (weekdays/weekends), Day/Night, approximately 3 days per week
Pay Range: $25 to $28/hour based on experience
Duration: May 18 through July 19 (flexible on start and end dates)

About Blue Water Autonomy
Blue Water Autonomy is a fast-growing defense tech startup developing the next generation of maritime robotics and advanced systems engineering. With an agile team of around 50 engineers and innovators, we move fast to build, test, and deploy critical technologies for the maritime defense sector. We aren't a massive, slow-moving contractor, we are a tight-knit crew where every team member’s input directly shapes the final product.

The Role
We are looking for a highly capable, safety-oriented Mass Maritime student to join us as a Marine Operations Intern. The core of this role is hands-on vessel operation: you will be the primary operator of a SAFE 25 response boat, facilitating real-world, open-water field testing of our robotic systems.
You won't be fetching coffee or sitting in a cubicle. You will be on the water, serving as the critical operational link between our advanced defense technologies and the dynamic marine environment. This role requires resilience, focus, and excellent seamanship, as you will be running 12-hour shifts both day and night in varied sea states.
What You’ll Be Doing
• Vessel Command: Safely pilot a twin-outboard SAFE 25 vessel during active engineering field tests across Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, and Rhode Island Sound.
• Shift Operations: Execute high-focus 12-hour operational shifts (rotating day and night schedules) to support continuous testing evolutions.
• Engineering Support: Work directly alongside our robotics and systems engineering teams, positioning the vessel for dynamic technology deployments, recoveries, and sensor tracking.
• Navigational Safety: Maintain strict situational awareness, adhere to COLREGs, and monitor weather/sea state conditions to ensure the safety of the crew and experimental payloads.
• Operational Feedback: Provide practical, operator-level feedback to the engineering team on system performance, deployment mechanics, and marine integration.

Requirements & Qualifications
• Education: Currently enrolled at Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Marine Transportation, Marine Science, Safety, or related disciplines preferred).
• Work Eligibility: Must be a U.S. Person.
• Boater Safety Compliance: In accordance with the newly implemented Massachusetts Hanson-Milone Boater Safety Act (effective April 1, 2026), you must hold a valid, NASBLA-approved Boater Safety Certificate prior to your start date.
• Experience: Demonstrated small-boat handling experience; you must be comfortable and confident at the helm of a 25-foot rigid hull vessel.
• Physical & Mental Stamina: Willingness and physical ability to work demanding 12-hour shifts, including night operations, while maintaining focus in varying sea states. Ability to lift up to 50 lbs of payload or recovery gear.
• Screening: Ability to pass a standard maritime drug screening and background check.
• Certifications: Current CPR/First Aid/AED certification is highly preferred.
• Mindset: A "mission-first" startup mentality. You are adaptable, reliable, and excited to get hands-on with bleeding-edge defense technology.

Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a maritime defense startup. You will log significant tiller time on a professional-grade SAFE boat while directly contributing to the development of next-generation autonomous defense systems. If you want to bridge the gap between traditional seamanship and the future of maritime robotics, your summer starts at Blue Water Autonomy.