Saildrone, Inc.
About Us
Saildrone is a defense company delivering maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance products to military, homeland security, and commercial customers. Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are long-endurance platforms equipped with advanced sensors and proprietary AI to provide persistent insights above and below the sea surface. Insights support border security, law enforcement, undersea infrastructure protection, hydrography, and naval power applications. Saildrone has sailed more than 2,000,000 nautical miles and accumulated 50,000 days at sea, trusted by governments across the planet and setting the standard for cost-efficient maritime intelligence in harsh environments. We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington, DC and St. Petersburg, FL, and operate missions worldwide. This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting edge of big data services, autonomy, and AI. You will be part of a high-performing, multidisciplinary team delivering data, intelligence, and firepower for strategic superiority.
The Role
The Head of Engineering will lead Saildrone’s engineering organization, overseeing Hardware, Software, Firmware, Electrical Engineering, Technical Program Management (TPM), Systems engineering, Security, and Change Management. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will provide operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team of approximately 100 engineers. This is a senior leadership position responsible for translating the CEO’s technical vision into key requirements, defining engineering priorities, and ensuring projects and deliverables are executed to high standards of quality and timeliness. The Head of Engineering will work with cross-functional leaders to align engineering initiatives with Saildrone’s mission and business objectives. The role includes full budget responsibility for the company-wide engineering organization, managing to a mutually agreed budget and timeline, ensuring teams are resourced, trained, and tasked appropriately to achieve engineering deliverables. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing large, diverse engineering teams in a fast-paced, high-growth technology environment, ideally within defense, aerospace, or maritime sectors. They must be a hands-on leader capable of balancing strategic oversight with technical engagement, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and execution.
Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership: Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary engineering team of ~100 engineers across Hardware, Software, Firmware, Electrical Engineering, TPM, and Change Management; execute the engineering organization’s strategic direction aligned with mission support and company objectives; drive technical excellence and innovation. Program & Project Delivery: Oversee prioritization, planning, and execution of all engineering deliverables; define project timelines with milestones; own the overall project schedule and adapt as priorities change; ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to high quality standards; implement best practices for technical program management, quality, resource allocation, and risk mitigation. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Business Development and Mission teams to meet operational and customer requirements; facilitate cross-department alignment; coordinate with Production and Operations on releases and product roll-out timelines. Talent Development & Team Building: Recruit, retain, and develop engineering talent; foster a culture of high performance, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement; mentor engineering leaders to build strong management capabilities. Operational Excellence: Develop and manage engineering budgets, resource plans, and performance metrics; oversee change management processes with proper ECO protocol and validation prior to rollout; ensure adherence to industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
Required Skills and Experience
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or related technical field; advanced technical or management degree preferred. 15+ years of engineering leadership experience, including managing large, multidisciplinary teams in high-growth technology companies. Proven track record in delivering complex hardware and software systems on time and within budget. Experience in the defense, aerospace, or maritime industries strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to lead in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills. Strong understanding of engineering best practices, product lifecycle management, and configuration control.
Physical Requirements
Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.
Location
This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers views of San Francisco Bay in sunny Alameda.
All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. The company does not sponsor work visas or permanent resident cards for U.S. employment. If sponsorship is required, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.
Benefits
Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time, and parental leave Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching Company-sponsored life insurance Stock options Annual learning and development stipend Quarterly company events at Alameda HQ Public transportation assistance within the Bay Area Snacks in office locations Dog-friendly work environment A reasonable estimate of the current range is $250,000-$350,000 annually.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. The company does not sponsor work visas or permanent resident cards. Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of Saildrone employees are considered property of Saildrone.
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Saildrone is a defense company delivering maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance products to military, homeland security, and commercial customers. Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are long-endurance platforms equipped with advanced sensors and proprietary AI to provide persistent insights above and below the sea surface. Insights support border security, law enforcement, undersea infrastructure protection, hydrography, and naval power applications. Saildrone has sailed more than 2,000,000 nautical miles and accumulated 50,000 days at sea, trusted by governments across the planet and setting the standard for cost-efficient maritime intelligence in harsh environments. We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington, DC and St. Petersburg, FL, and operate missions worldwide. This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting edge of big data services, autonomy, and AI. You will be part of a high-performing, multidisciplinary team delivering data, intelligence, and firepower for strategic superiority.
The Role
The Head of Engineering will lead Saildrone’s engineering organization, overseeing Hardware, Software, Firmware, Electrical Engineering, Technical Program Management (TPM), Systems engineering, Security, and Change Management. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will provide operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team of approximately 100 engineers. This is a senior leadership position responsible for translating the CEO’s technical vision into key requirements, defining engineering priorities, and ensuring projects and deliverables are executed to high standards of quality and timeliness. The Head of Engineering will work with cross-functional leaders to align engineering initiatives with Saildrone’s mission and business objectives. The role includes full budget responsibility for the company-wide engineering organization, managing to a mutually agreed budget and timeline, ensuring teams are resourced, trained, and tasked appropriately to achieve engineering deliverables. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing large, diverse engineering teams in a fast-paced, high-growth technology environment, ideally within defense, aerospace, or maritime sectors. They must be a hands-on leader capable of balancing strategic oversight with technical engagement, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and execution.
Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership: Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary engineering team of ~100 engineers across Hardware, Software, Firmware, Electrical Engineering, TPM, and Change Management; execute the engineering organization’s strategic direction aligned with mission support and company objectives; drive technical excellence and innovation. Program & Project Delivery: Oversee prioritization, planning, and execution of all engineering deliverables; define project timelines with milestones; own the overall project schedule and adapt as priorities change; ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to high quality standards; implement best practices for technical program management, quality, resource allocation, and risk mitigation. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Business Development and Mission teams to meet operational and customer requirements; facilitate cross-department alignment; coordinate with Production and Operations on releases and product roll-out timelines. Talent Development & Team Building: Recruit, retain, and develop engineering talent; foster a culture of high performance, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement; mentor engineering leaders to build strong management capabilities. Operational Excellence: Develop and manage engineering budgets, resource plans, and performance metrics; oversee change management processes with proper ECO protocol and validation prior to rollout; ensure adherence to industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
Required Skills and Experience
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or related technical field; advanced technical or management degree preferred. 15+ years of engineering leadership experience, including managing large, multidisciplinary teams in high-growth technology companies. Proven track record in delivering complex hardware and software systems on time and within budget. Experience in the defense, aerospace, or maritime industries strongly preferred. Demonstrated ability to lead in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills. Strong understanding of engineering best practices, product lifecycle management, and configuration control.
Physical Requirements
Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.
Location
This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers views of San Francisco Bay in sunny Alameda.
All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. The company does not sponsor work visas or permanent resident cards for U.S. employment. If sponsorship is required, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.
Benefits
Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time, and parental leave Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching Company-sponsored life insurance Stock options Annual learning and development stipend Quarterly company events at Alameda HQ Public transportation assistance within the Bay Area Snacks in office locations Dog-friendly work environment A reasonable estimate of the current range is $250,000-$350,000 annually.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. The company does not sponsor work visas or permanent resident cards. Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of Saildrone employees are considered property of Saildrone.
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