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Mission Manager
Saildrone
Alameda, CA, USA
USD 132,500-172,200 / 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
Saildrone is seeking qualified Mission Managers to join the team at Saildrone, HQ in Alameda CA. The Saildrone Mission Manager’s primary responsibilities are to plan the operational on-the-water aspects of a diverse set of missions. Monitoring vehicle performance and vehicle health, communicating both internally and externally in service to our customers. Mission Managers are positioned at a crucial crossroads in the organization, communicating mission objectives and technical expertise and to several stakeholders. Candidates can expect their day to day work to be spent on the forefront of industry leading autonomous vehicle operations worldwide.
Responsibilities
Mission Readiness
- Assess mission feasibility in partnership with Program Delivery and Sales teams
- Saildrone POC for local maritime authorities, Coast Guard, Vessel Traffic, & Port captains.
- Manage Reserves and Sanctuaries access permissions and special reporting.
- Assist customers with routing suggestions to optimize mission outcomes
- Manage customer communications on Saildrone’s mission portal, routing and concept of operations (CONOPS), and connecting technical issues to internal SMEs
- Participate in regular customer meetings and provide customer training when appropriate
- Actively develop and refine process documentation integral to Mission Control operations
Fleet Execution
- Coordinate with the Fleet Captains across Surveyor, Voyager, and Explorer fleets related to mission readiness, drone allocation, deployments, & recoveries.
- Liaise with Technical Operations teams to ensure mission readiness and support troubleshooting of drone issues on mission.
- Oversee the daily mission drone operations, coordinating with drone operators (pilots) and program managers to ensure consistent operations and customer support.
- Passage planning, regional weather watch, global maritime operations
- Monitor the health of the drone fleet, and provide updates and feedback to external and internal stakeholders
- Manage timelines and provide mission status updates regarding on-the-water operations to all relevant parties
- Communicate daily mission objectives to enable successful piloting and tasking 24/7/365
Cross Functional
- Partner with Product team to develop and support roadmapping for continuous improvements to user interfaces
- Provide feedback to internal teams regarding drone performance and health issues to support quality
- Partner with R&D teams to develop and execute test plans for new products and features
Required Skills and Experience
- Deep understanding of maritime operations, including navigation, COLREGS and safety procedures
- Experience within Command and Control Center environments
- Detail-oriented with a disciplined approach to communications, processes, and projects
- Possess excellent oral and written communication skills
- Able to interact with multiple audiences, including governmental agency leadership, senior executives and engineers.
- Interest and passion for new technology, Maritime Awareness, Ocean Mapping, and Ocean Data
Desired Skills and Experience
- Significant time on ships, standing on-bridge watches
- 5-10 years of experience leading teams in a maritime environment.
- Demonstrated record of success translating and prioritizing mission needs into actionable outcomes.
- Active or prior Security clearance is a plus
- Experience on sailboats is a plus
Physical Requirements
- Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to attend in-person and/or virtual meetings and operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.
- Travel Requirements: A willingness to travel to conferences to represent Saildrone, and engage with potential customers and data specialists
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 $132,500-$172,200 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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