Q&A with Navico CTO Jarred Clayton Navico

We sat down with CTO Jarred Clayton, to discover why now is the time to join Navico’s growing R&D Team.

 

 

Thanks for taking the time Jarred! What makes Navico special and why is now a great time to be joining our R&D Team?

Navico is a marine electronics company with four world-class brands (Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and C-MAP) that have a combined heritage of over 200 years of history and innovation. There is surely no other electronics company that has that longevity! We achieved this with a relentless focus on our customers and adapting to their changing needs.

Aside from our heritage and reputation within the marine industry, Navico is a company that is really investing in R&D right now. We performed strongly throughout the COVID pandemic, and we are investing in R&D to power our long-term future. We have a fantastic team of world class engineers that we want to invite others into working on cool products and technologies.

For us, delivering the best customer experiences with our electronics that contributes to the overall ‘boating experience’ is everything. We exploit and improve what we have (which is very good already) while we explore technology and our customers’ problems to deliver “new to the world” products and services

We are a dynamic, fast paced and global team that is curious when it comes to innovation. From navigation and safety to sonar and digital integration, we are committed to delivering the best possible products and systems that will ‘delight’ our customers and keep us ahead of the competition.

 

What kind of work will I be involved in and how can I make a difference?

Currently we are a 200 strong team, and you could be based anywhere in the world, from Auckland (New Zealand), Tulsa (US) to the UK or the rest of Europe. There is a range of products you could be involved with depending in your role too. You could be developing the next generation of sonar or autopilot using ML/AI; you could be working on game-changing software releases for our MFDs; you could be dedicated to enhancing customer UX/UI; or even developing the next generation of hardware and mechanics.

The possibilities are endless! Whatever it is and wherever you are in the world, you’ll be part of a passionate and dedicated team working on a variety of projects that directly contribute to the future success of the business.

 

 

What is it like to work in the Global R&D team at Navico?

As CTO, I’m fairly new to the business and we’ve worked hard to develop a culture of collaboration, transparency and trust throughout the R&D team and beyond. It’s a hands-on culture at Navico where everybody contributes, and everybody helps. In that sense, you are likely to be part of a cross-functional, multi-disciplined team. We all work hard, but it is a fantastically rewarding environment to be in.

We focus on Innovation more than ever, through “Hackathons” where we dedicate time to pushing the boundaries of what marine electronics can do (in sustainability too) and continual experimentation.

Our future looks bright as well. Brunswick Corporation, the largest marine company in the world, recently purchased us and the closure of the deal is expected before the end of 2021. This will bring about endless opportunities for Navico. In my view, there has never been a better time to join us!

 

 

What does the ideal candidate for your team look like?

If you have a passion for technology, software and electronics and are interested in how it applies to the boating industry, we could have an opportunity for you!

If you are passionate, hard-working, a fast learner and like working in close-knit teams that deliver a big impact, we could also have an opportunity for you!

Previous marine experience is not required, but we look for dedicated, intelligent people that are willing to learn and throw themselves into the exciting world of marine electronics.

 

What does the above mean for you if you join us? 

The opportunity to develop and work on some of the best products and projects in our sector and to work in a space where innovation is fundamental to what we do. You will work with smart engineers and have careers opportunities that larger global R&D groups can offer. Your input, ideas and skills will push the frontiers of our products. Our engineers have the freedom to experiment and are the pioneers behind Navico’s problem solving. We recognise that our success comes from our inventive people, and we will give you the opportunity to grow by taking on real challenges, with real responsibility.

Thanks, Jarred!

 

To find out more about R&D vacancies at Navico visit our Careers section.