Blog: From College Capstone to Subsea Robotics Software Engineer

Terradepth Software Engineer I, Josh Bardwick, shares how his passion for autonomy and robotics took him from a university capstone project to an engineering career at Terradepth building the future of subsea technology.

Discovering Autonomy Through Machine Learning

At Terradepth, we believe the future of subsea robotics depends not only on technology, but also on the people who bring it to life. Follow along in this story of an intern who became a full-time engineer upon graduation. Josh Bardwick’s path into subsea robotics began at Boston University, where he studied computer engineering with a concentration in machine learning. He was fascinated by reinforcement learning and control algorithms, initially applying them to games like Tetris and Mario Kart emulators. “I wanted to find the coolest way to apply this,” Josh recalls, “and I found my answer in autonomous vessels.”

That answer came to life in his senior capstone project: designing an autonomous sailboat for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Josh served as the project’s sole software engineer, building a custom user interface and managing networking challenges. The most difficult part, he explains, wasn’t the code itself—it was ensuring the system functioned offline with limited network access. Despite hurdles, the project succeeded and was tested successfully on the Charles River.

Their efforts were recognized with a Design Excellence Award, presented to the top projects in BU’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Josh credits mentors and teammates, for making the project possible—and gave a special shoutout to Danny Neville, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Spatialnetics (and a Terradepth contractor), for helping him visualize map locations.

Building Real-World Skills

Through the project, Josh gained technical depth and teamwork experience that prepared him for his career at Terradepth. He describes building the full-stack interface for the sailboat as another technical challenge—a skillset that translates directly into developing integrated tools for Terradepth’s subsea robotics. Just as important, the long days and late nights of project deadlines taught him resilience and collaboration. “Those 15-hour days showed me the importance of planning and working together as a team,” he says.

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Joining Terradepth

Josh was introduced to Terradepth while still a student through a contact who recognized the natural connection between his passion for robotic vessels and Terradepth’s work in subsea autonomy. The fit was immediate. “The team’s attitude and working environment made the choice easy,” Josh explains. “It was an incredible opportunity to gain full-time experience in autonomous marine systems—an area I’ve wanted to be part of for a long time.”

After graduation in May, Josh joined full-time to continue his work on projects that bring subsea autonomy out of theory and into practice. “Working here has made autonomous submarines feel real and achievable, not just an idea on paper,” he says.

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Why Subsea Robotics Matters

Josh believes autonomous systems are the next step in human transportation and have the potential to make a big impact on climate change and safety. He’s especially energized by the role Terradepth plays in enabling easier and less expensive access to ocean data. “Autonomous systems will be key for researchers studying climate change,” Josh explains. “We need to make superior ocean information more accessible if we want to understand and solve these challenges.”

He also acknowledges the unique demands of subsea environments: “Underwater vehicles face challenges you don’t see with surface vessels—pressure, power retrieval, and more. That’s what makes this work so exciting.”

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Looking Back, and Ahead

When asked what advice he’d give his student self, Josh emphasizes dedication and perspective:

“Commit early and aim to make it your best work. And when crunch time comes, take a breath and keep pushing forward—because the effort will carry you farther than you think.”

That mindset continues to guide Josh as he grows in his role at Terradepth, helping to push the boundaries of what’s possible in subsea autonomy.

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See video of the capstone project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DtSXgLLjew