Autonomous maritime technology company Saronic officially opened its new 80,000+ square-foot facility in downtown San Diego on Tuesday, marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local officials, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
The City of San Diego — a major Navy and Coast Guard hub — proclaimed Oct. 21 as “Saronic Day” in recognition of the company’s contributions to the region’s defense innovation ecosystem.
“San Diego is where innovation meets service,” said Mayor Gloria. “With Saronic expanding here, we’re strengthening our city’s leadership in defense technology and creating new opportunities for San Diegans to power the next generation of maritime innovation. This investment means more good jobs for San Diegans and stronger partnerships to support the men and women who serve our country.”
The new site will serve as a base for Saronic’s work with the U.S. Navy and commercial partners, providing operations support, training, and technical development for its fleet of autonomous surface vessels (ASVs). Located in close proximity to naval commands, the facility will enable real-time collaboration with defense customers.
Part of the facility’s role will include workforce development, with a focus on training naval and maritime operators on the use and maintenance of autonomous maritime systems. Saronic is participating in national initiatives like the AUVSI Trusted UMS Operator Program, which promotes standardized training and certification for unmanned systems operators.
“Saronic is partnering closely with naval leaders, operators, and partners to ensure this program not only addresses immediate technical needs but also provides opportunities for continued skills advancement and deepens the understanding of Saronic’s ASVs and autonomous capabilities,” said Nick Stoner, VP of growth at Saronic. “San Diego is an anchor in the nation’s naval defense network, and this initiative underscores our belief that advancing technology must go hand-in-hand with investing in people — the region’s most powerful asset.”
Originally announced in July 2025, the San Diego facility has since undergone significant renovation and build-out. It will serve multiple functions including operations, training, and depot support. Saronic said it is actively hiring across departments such as mission operations, growth, corporate development, and forward-deployed engineering, with plans to add dozens of new roles in the coming months.
The San Diego expansion follows Saronic’s broader U.S. growth strategy. The company is among several developing ASVs intended for the Navy and U.S. allies. In February, it raised $600 million in a Series C round, boosting its valuation to $4 billion. In April, Saronic acquired a nearly 100-acre facility from Gulf Craft, Franklin, La., which will serve as a prototyping and production hub. It also has manufacturung operations in Austin, Texas.
On Aug. 22, Saronic marked the keel laying of its first 150' Marauder vessel at its Franklin shipyard, signalling the start of production for a new class of fully autonomous ships designed to support U.S. national defense, allied forces, and commercial maritime operations globally.
