--- title: 'Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development at Saildrone' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/vice-president-investor-relations-corporate-development-saildrone-alameda-7e1z06m7djhj' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-26' --- # Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development at Saildrone - **Company:** Saildrone - **Location:** Alameda, CA - **Compensation:** $279k–$329k - **Posted:** 2026-10-24 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-26 - **Apply:** https://www.saildrone.com/careers/available-jobs?gh_jid=4452669009 ## 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 ROLE This is a senior, hands-on position at the center of the company. You will work directly for the CFO  and act as a trusted right hand on capital raising, build and run Saildrone’s investor relations  function, and lead business-opportunity assessments for corporate development and strategy. You  will work daily with the CEO and CFO, and with the board, existing shareholders, investment banks,  strategic partners and prospective investors. The role has three parts: capital raising, ongoing investor relations, and corporate development strategy. ## KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Capital raising - Act as day-to-day project lead for capital raising processes. Own the process calendar,  work-plan, investor tracker and regular status updates to the CEO and CFO. - Build and maintain the investor universe and pipeline across venture and growth funds,  crossover and hedge funds, family offices, sovereign and strategic investors. Prioritize and tier  targets, and track engagement, confidentiality agreements and next steps. - Prepare and keep current the investor presentation, financial model, executive summary, Q&A  bank and management presentation, working closely with the CFO and finance team. - Run the data room and diligence process, coordinating inputs from legal, finance, engineering  and operations. - Coordinate with investment banks and placement agents, and manage engagement terms and  process discipline. - Prepare the CEO for investor meetings with briefing notes, investor background, likely  questions and post-meeting follow-ups. - Support term sheet comparison, negotiation analysis, cap table and dilution modeling, and  closing logistics. Investor relations (ongoing) - Build and run Saildrone’s IR program, including monthly investor and board updates, KPI reporting, a standing communication cadence and a shareholder information policy. - Be the first point of contact for existing investors and for inbound enquiries from funds, banks and family offices, with a well-kept record of pipeline for every conversation. - Maintain relationships with key shareholders (venture, strategic and sovereign) and keep them informed ahead of financings and major announcements. - Prepare board and investor materials alongside the CEO and CFO. - Track the competitive and capital-markets landscape (defense-tech and autonomy financings, valuations, public comparables, M&A) and brief the CEO regularly. - Over time, help build the IR foundation for a possible IPO or other liquidity event. Corporate development and strategy - Work with the CEO to help source, screen and assess business opportunities, including acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, strategic investments and international expansion. - Assist the finance department with financial modeling and valuation analysis, and write concise recommendation memos for the CEO and board. - Lead early-stage diligence with internal stakeholders, and coordinate external advisors on  active transactions. - Manage a prioritized pipeline of strategic opportunities, with a clear view of the rationale, risks  and next steps for each. - Support the CEO on strategic projects as they arise. ## WHO YOU ARE Required - 5 –10 years of experience in investment banking (M&A, ECM or growth/tech coverage),  venture capital or growth equity, or corporate development at a high-growth company.  Experience across more than one of these is a strong plus. - Direct experience on at least one private financing, IPO or M&A transaction from the issuer,  banker or investor side. - Advanced financial modeling, valuation and cap table skills, with rigorous attention to numbers. • An excellent writer and presenter, able to turn complex material into a clear, persuasive  investor story and executive-ready memos. - High energy, strong judgment and a bias for action. You are comfortable running many  workstreams at once, working under tight deadlines and operating with limited direction. • Credibility and presence with senior investors, bankers and executives. You build relationships  quickly and handle sensitive information with discretion. - Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, engineering or a related field. An MBA, CFA or  similar is a plus. Strongly preferred - Background in defense, aerospace, maritime or other deep-tech or hard-tech sectors. - Experience and relationships across the defense-tech and deep-tech investor space. - Experience supporting a CEO or founder, for example as chief of staff or in a principal or  associate role at a fund. You will work directly with the CEO and CFO at a pivotal infection moment for the company, with real  ownership over the company’s financing and business strategy. 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 $279,000—$329,000 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. 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