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Head of Engineering
Saildrone
Software Engineering
Alameda, CA, USA
USD 250k-350k / year + Equity
Posted on Sep 20, 2025
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 extreme-endurance platforms equipped with advanced sensors and proprietary AI to provide persistent insights above and below the sea surface. Insights that support border security, law enforcement, undersea infrastructure protection, hydrography, and naval power applications. With more than 2,000,000 nautical miles sailed and 50,000 days at sea, Saildrone USVs are trusted by governments across the planet and set the standard for cost-efficient maritime intelligence in the world's harshest 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 intersection 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 critical senior leadership position responsible for understanding the technical vision set by the CEO, translating it into key requirements, defining engineering priorities, and ensuring that projects and key deliverables are executed to the highest standards of quality and timeliness. The Head of Engineering will work closely with cross-functional leaders to align engineering initiatives with Saildrone’s mission and business objectives.
Having full budget responsibility for the company-wide engineering organization, the Head of Engineering will manage that organization to a mutually agreed budget and timeline, ensuring teams are adequately 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 the defense, aerospace, or maritime sectors. They must be a hands-on leader capable of balancing strategic oversight with deep technical engagement, while 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, goals, and priorities in alignment with ongoing mission support, new functionality, and wider company objectives.
- Drive technical excellence and innovation across all engineering disciplines.
Program & Project Delivery
- Oversee the prioritization, planning, and execution of all engineering deliverables.
- Define project timelines with well scoped milestones and deliverables, owning the overall project schedule and assessing impact to the engineering roadmap as priorities change or develop.
- Work to ensure all projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest 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 ensure engineering solutions meet operational and customer requirements.
- Facilitate communication and alignment across departments to support Saildrone’s mission and strategic initiatives.
- Align with Production and Operations group leads around engineering releases and product roll-out timelines.
Talent Development & Team Building
- Recruit, retain, and develop top engineering talent across all disciplines.
- Foster a culture of high performance, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Mentor and coach engineering leaders to build strong management capabilities within the organization.
Operational Excellence
- Develop and manage engineering budgets, resource plans, and performance metrics.
- Oversee change management processes to ensure well thought out and researched ECO protocol and adequate testing and validation, prior to roll out.
- Ensure adherence to relevant 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 beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda.
All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. Please note that the Company does not sponsor employees for work visas or permanent resident cards to work in the U.S. If you need sponsorship for a work visa or green card, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.
Benefits:
- Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time and parental leave
- Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching.
- Company sponsored life insurance
- Stock Options
- Annual stipend for continued learning and development
- Quarterly company BBQs at our Alameda HQ (bring your friends and family!)
- Free Bay Area Public Transportation via AlamedaTMA with the BayPass Clipper Card
- Plenty of snacks in our 3 office locations
- Dog-friendly work environment
A reasonable estimate of the current range is $250,000-$350,000 annually.
Catch up on the latest news about us:
The British Engineer Behind the US Navy’s High-tech Ocean Drones – The Times of London
Denmark to Field Unmanned Vessels for Monitoring Busy Shipping Routes – Defense News
Counter-drug Sea Drones Utilized by Navy as Trump Ramps Up Military Resources at the Border
Saildrone, Palantir Partner to Use AI to Streamline USV Manufacturing, Operations – Breaking Defense
An Underwater Mountain was Newly Discovered off California Coast – San Francisco Chronicle
USVs Could Deter IUU Fishing – USNI Proceedings
TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2024: Saildrone
Saildrone Featured Videos Playlist
Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, relevant experience, and the ability to deal with complexity and problem solve within our organization, among other factors.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of employees of Saildrone are considered property of Saildrone and are not subject to payment of agency fees.
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