---
title: 'Manager, Mechanical Engineering at Saildrone'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/manager-mechanical-engineering-saildrone-alameda-mcek2tqvne7w'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-19'
---

# Manager, Mechanical Engineering at Saildrone

- **Company:** Saildrone
- **Location:** Alameda, CA
- **Compensation:** $191k–$225k
- **Posted:** 2026-10-13
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-19
- **Apply:** https://www.saildrone.com/careers/available-jobs?gh_jid=4449223009

## 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, and deployment hubs in Europe and 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 Manager, Mechanical Engineering to join our Hardware Engineering organization while serving as a hands-on Platform Lead. Reporting directly to the VP of Hardware, you will lead the mechanical design team and serve as the primary technical authority for new platform developments from early architecture through full-scale production. We are looking for an ambitious technical leader who combines deep marine engineering expertise with operational discipline to build high-performing teams, drive platform trade studies, and deliver robust autonomous surface vehicles for national security, defense, and civil ocean data missions.

## THE TEAM

The Hardware Engineering team is responsible for the design, integration, testing, and scaling of Saildrone’s autonomous ocean platforms and electro-mechanical systems. We focus on delivering robust, manufacturable hardware and composite structures that operate reliably in harsh maritime environments, enabling persistent maritime domain awareness across global defense and research operations.

## THE RESPONSIBILITIES

- Platform Leadership & System Ownership: Serve as the Platform Lead driving total vehicle architecture, system interfaces, developmental budgets, and performance against program requirements from initial prototype through production handoff.
- Cross-Functional Execution & Cadence: Lead vehicle-level execution streams and team cadences (standups, sprint planning, trade studies) while aligning priorities with Production, Payloads, Mission Systems, Field Operations, and Sustainment teams.
- Mechanical Design & Regulatory Compliance: Oversee design execution for complex electro-mechanical sub-assemblies—including actuation, propulsion, composite structures, and thermal enclosures—while ensuring full compliance with marine regulatory frameworks (e.g., ABS, DNV GL, Bureau Veritas).
- Manufacturing & Shipyard Integration: Partner closely with shipyards, contract manufacturers, and NPI teams to enforce Design for Manufacturing (DFM) standards, streamline handoffs, and continuously improve deployed systems.
- Standards, CAD & BOM Management: Maintain total vehicle Bill of Materials (BOM) accuracy, revision control, and strict CAD modeling and drafting standards across the mechanical engineering group.
- Validation & Hands-on Prototyping: Perform hands-on proof-of-concept prototyping and monitor mechanical risks through tolerance analysis, vibration testing, and thermal cycling to guarantee ocean survivability.
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Recruit, mentor, and build a high-performing mechanical engineering team, establishing a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and technical excellence.

## THE QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 10+ years of industry experience designing complex electro-mechanical hardware, composite structures, and mechanisms, with 3+ years in a technical leadership or engineering management role.
- Proven experience as a Platform Lead or Technical Project Manager guiding complex hardware from prototype design through test, NPI, and full-scale production.
- Practical experience interpreting and applying marine regulatory frameworks (e.g., ABS, DNV GL, Bureau Veritas) and collaborating directly with shipyards or contract manufacturers.
- Advanced proficiency in CAD modeling, drafting standards, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and multi-configuration BOM management.
- Demonstrated hands-on fabrication, assembly, and testing skills for rapid prototype validation and field troubleshooting.
- Strong technical communication and decision-making skills in fast-paced, complex operational environments.

## PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

- Physical Strength & Agility: Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, push, pull, and lift up to 50 lbs during assembly, staging, and dockside operations.
- Manual Precision: High manual dexterity to operate computer systems, precision hand tools, and mechanical testing equipment safely.
- Environmental Adaptability: Comfort working across office, hangar, manufacturing shop, and waterfront dock environments.

The base salary range for this position is shown below. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and qualifications. This range reflects the base salary for candidates in states requiring pay transparency disclosure.

Salary Range $191,000—$225,000 USD

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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