---
title: 'Fleet Manager at Saildrone'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/fleet-manager-saildrone-abu-dhabi-kjv2tw92hvn4'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-02'
---

# Fleet Manager at Saildrone

- **Company:** Saildrone
- **Location:** Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- **Posted:** 2026-10-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-02
- **Apply:** https://www.saildrone.com/careers/available-jobs?gh_jid=4452622009

## Job description

## THE COMPANY

Saildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365.

Saildrone’s manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, an established European entity supporting regional business development, sales, and operations, and a deployment hub in the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced and robust unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the forefront of maritime security and autonomous innovation.

## THE POSITION

Saildrone is seeking a Fleet Manager, Middle East, to join our Fleet Operations team. Reporting to the Fleet Director, you will be responsible for the safe and effective operation of Saildrone Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) assigned to your region. You will work across internal mission execution teams supporting the successful execution of customer missions, ensuring the vehicles maintain a high level of reliability and capability.

## THE TEAM

The Fleet Operations team ensures that Saildrone assets are fully mission-capable and optimized for maximum operational uptime. The team bridges design and deployment, partnering with internal support structures to accelerate product iteration and deliver resilient systems that support national security, maritime intelligence, and science exploration missions.

## THE RESPONSIBILITIES

- Manage overall operations of your assigned fleet, partnering with internal support teams to maximize vehicle uptime (vehicle operational efficiency - VOE).
- Act as the primary internal operational partner to the Program Manager (PM), maintaining strong communication throughout the mission lifecycle regarding vehicle performance and scheduling.
- Create and maintain strong relationships with contracted maritime and industrial partners to enable field operations, including boat yards, marinas, heavy equipment providers, and support/tow boat vendors.
- Coordinate, facilitate, and execute the safe recovery and deployment of vehicles to and from contracted facilities.
- Oversee administrative tasks including vendor setup, purchase order creation, invoice validation, and general vendor management.
- Support the Fleet Director in creating and maintaining a yearly operating budget for vehicle operations, ensuring accurate financial stewardship.
- Partner with the Fleet Director and Head of Logistics to guarantee full operational compliance with local regulations and laws in remote locations.
- Contribute to Mission Feasibility Assessments alongside Mission Managers, focusing on safe haven passage planning, shoreside facilities, and local vendors.
- Assist the Fleet Service team with the strategic planning and execution of Engineering Change Order (ECO) campaigns.
- Travel to conduct Pre-Deployment Site Surveys (PDSS) to set up new functional operational hubs, and support sustained operations at Fleet Service shore facilities.

## THE QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in Maritime, Logistics, Operations, Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
- 10+ years of operational experience executing and leading complex tasks related to shipyards, boatyards, marinas, or marine towing and repairs.
- 5+ years of experience in an operational leadership role, with a proven history of managing multiple vendors and stakeholders.
- Experience operating small vessels and a background in project management.
- Ability to multitask with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Fluency in English; Arabic bilingual proficiency is preferred.

## PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

- Physical Strength & Agility: Ability to lift/move up to 30 lbs. and maintain physical activity (bending, kneeling, standing) throughout a full shift.
- Manual Precision: High manual dexterity and visual acuity for the safe operation of power tools and precision assembly and repairs.
- Environmental Adaptability: Comfortable working in challenging settings, including confined spaces, heights, and working outdoors in variable weather conditions including high heat, cold, and wind.
- Safety & PPE: Ability to work around industrial materials and sites while strictly adhering to PPE requirements, including respirators and eye/ear protection as needed.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel domestically and internationally up to 15% of the time, which includes renting and operating motor vehicles, and possibly relocation to the Middle East.

Saildrone offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits tailored to each global region. Please note that specific benefits listed above may vary or be adapted for roles based in Abu Dhabi, UAE in accordance with local labor standards and Abu Dhabi, UAE market practices. To view Saildrone's candidate privacy policy, please visit: https://www.saildrone.com/privacy-policy.

## BENEFITS

At Saildrone, we’re building operational capability that matters—and that requires people who can do their best work over the long term. We invest in our team’s well-being, financial security, and professional growth so you can focus on delivering real-world impact with confidence and stability. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you and your family while you contribute to a mission with lasting significance.

- Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave ensure you can rest, reset, and sustain performance over time.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents—providing security and peace of mind.
- Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants are a core part of our compensation, allowing you to participate in the long-term value you help create through meaningful, operational work.
- Retirement Savings: Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options supports long-term financial planning.
- Investment in Your Growth: We support your continuous learning through an annual professional development reimbursement program, empowering you to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
- Relocation Support: For eligible roles, we offer relocation assistance to help bring the world’s best talent to our mission-critical locations.

Saildrone is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

## About Saildrone

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Saildrone builds autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) that deliver persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and kinetic effects for defense, security, and ocean mapping missions.
- **Entity Type**: Private (venture-backed)
- **Headquarters**: Alameda, California, USA
- **Founded**: Not publicly available (company references 12+ years of operations as of 2026)
- **Founders**: Richard Jenkins (Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- **Industry**: Autonomous maritime systems, defense technology, ocean data and intelligence
- **Target Customers**: Primarily government and military (U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, allied navies), as well as commercial ocean mapping and environmental monitoring organizations
- **Mission**: To give operators persistent awareness of maritime activity, the seabed, and the environment — delivering data, intelligence, and kinetic effects for strategic superiority at sea.

## Products & Services
- **Saildrone Voyager**: Multi-mission USV for maritime domain awareness, counter-narcotics, illegal immigration monitoring, electronic surveillance, and coastal mapping. Equipped with radar, vision, AIS fusion, and AI-driven classification.
- **Saildrone Explorer**: Smaller, proven platform for environmental sensing and extended presence; used for climate and oceanographic data collection.
- **Saildrone Surveyor**: Deep-ocean mapping USV with high-resolution multibeam sonar; designed for seafloor mapping and undersea infrastructure inspection.
- **Saildrone Spectre**: Next-generation medium USV for high-end naval operations, available in two variants:
  - **Silent Endurance**: Ultra-quiet persistence for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and ISR, with towed arrays and variable-depth sonar.
  - **Stealth Strike**: Low-observable, high-speed platform for kinetic operations with concealed payload capacity for effectors.
- **Services**: Real-time surface ISR, seafloor mapping, anti-submarine warfare, and METOC (meteorological and oceanographic) data delivery.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Over 2.5 million nautical miles sailed and 65,000 days at sea (as of 2026); fleet includes hundreds of USVs deployed globally
- **Notable Investors**: BOND, XN, Standard Investments, Emerson Collective, Crowley Maritime Corporation, Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund, Lux Capital, Social Capital, Tribe Capital, The Schmidt Family Foundation, Exor Seeds
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Introduced Saildrone Spectre in 2025, filling a critical ASW capability gap
  - Achieved US Navy integration in 2026
  - Expanded European operations with headquarters in Copenhagen (2022)
  - First production Surveyor launched at Austal USA (2024)
  - Proven GPS-denied operations in the Middle East (2025)
  - Operates globally with deployment hubs worldwide

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proven extreme endurance**: USVs operate autonomously for months in the harshest ocean environments, enabling persistent missions that crewed vessels cannot sustain.
- **Proprietary wing technology**: Developed from a world-record wind-powered vehicle, enabling efficient, near-silent propulsion with high payload capacity.
- **Integrated sensor fusion**: Combines radar, vision, AIS, sonar, and AI classification for real-time above- and below-surface awareness.
- **End-to-end autonomy platform**: Vehicles stream data directly into customer command-and-control systems 24/7/365.
- **Trusted by defense customers**: 12+ years of operational track record with governments including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

## Strategic Focus
- **Defense and national security**: Continuing to expand capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, ISR, and kinetic effects to address critical gaps in maritime power projection.
- **European market expansion**: Growing presence in Europe through the Copenhagen office and partnerships with allied navies.
- **Autonomy at scale**: Scaling production of Surveyor and Spectre classes, and integrating advanced payloads for undersea warfare, electronic warfare, and multi-domain operations.
- **Ocean data services**: Leveraging persistent mapping and environmental monitoring for commercial and scientific applications.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: Join a team at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense technology, delivering systems that directly impact national security and maritime safety.
- **Comprehensive benefits**: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; 12 weeks paid parental leave (maternity/paternity); military leave with pay differential; sabbatical after 5 years; annual professional development stipend; 401K through Fidelity; accrued PTO and holidays.
- **Work environment**: Headquarters in Alameda, CA, with an office in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs globally. Fast-moving, engineering-focused organization that values innovation and operational excellence. Hybrid/remote policy not specified.
- **Growth opportunities**: Work on cutting-edge autonomous systems with real-world impact, from deep-ocean mapping to advanced naval missions.

## Sources
1. [Saildrone Main Website](https://www.saildrone.com/)
2. [Saildrone Careers](https://www.saildrone.com/careers)
3. [Saildrone About Us](https://www.saildrone.com/about)
4. [Saildrone Available Jobs](https://www.saildrone.com/careers/available-jobs)
5. [Saildrone LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/saildrone-inc)

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