Job Description
Full job description
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's autonomous surface vehicles operate for unprecedented periods of time in the most unforgiving environments on the planet. From inside of hurricanes to the frigid waters of the Arctic, the stresses they endure are immense. The technical execution of preparing the vehicles for their mission and servicing their constituent parts must be performed with a high degree of skill and consistency. As a Vehicle Assembly & Service Technician, you will be responsible for constructing and servicing Saildrone vehicles as well as training and leading others to do the same.
You will collaborate with a variety of teams in engineering, operations, and production. You will interact with clients and lead teams, both in the shop and around the world, to execute assembly and service operations. You will help turn in-field realities into product improvements, serving as an important link between our end users and the teams at Saildrone who design our products.
What You'll Do
Lead the assembly and service workflows for Saildrone’s vehicle fleet, ensuring that our drones are fully mission capable and able to maintain exceptionally high uptime.
Travel domestically and internationally to deploy and repair Saildrone vehicles.
Train contractors, clients, and other third-parties on how to assemble and service Saildrone vehicles.
Provide input on how to improve in-field assembly and service procedures as well as vehicle designs.
What We're Looking For
A top performer in this role will be highly motivated by and skilled in the following areas:
A skilled technician that understands how to apply fundamentally sound mechanical and electrical skills in a field environment.
Act with self-awareness and professionalism when interacting with Saildrone clients and colleagues.
Passion for teaching and coaching others on how to perform technical procedures.
Possess high standards for doing things the right way. Able to lead and hold others accountable for achieving that same standard.
Ability to assess current processes and determine how they could improve to achieve increased safety, consistency, and efficiency.
Desire to take ownership of and responsibility for the outcome of operational execution.
Required Skills
Skills that are necessary to executing the core functions of this role are listed below:
Desire and ability to provide industry-defining customer service for both external customers and Saildrone colleagues. Ability to simplify technical concepts and product knowledge to teach and coach end-users on vehicle assembly and service.
5 or more years of experience executing operations involving the application of fundamentally sound electrical and mechanical skills while performing a technical service role in a field, shipyard, or heavy industrial environment, following service instructions/diagrams, using tools ranging from basic hand tools to heavy equipment and rigging.
Ability to lead and work in teams, to include third-party contractors, to execute operational plans and deliver on contractual obligations.
Maintain appropriate records and inventories. Possess organizational habits and a willingness to define, follow, and improve safety, process, and work standards.
Willingness to support 50% travel, domestically and internationally. U.S. Person status and eligibility for U.S. Department of Defense security clearance is required for this role.
Preferred Skills
Here's a non-exhaustive list of specific skills where prior knowledge or experience would lend itself to high performance:
Prior experience planning, leading, and performing technically complex operations in the field for a global OEM servicing the automotive, aerospace, shipyard, offshore oil and gas, heavy civil/mining, renewable energy, or telecommunications industries.
Prior experience in a fast-paced, start-up environment or an advanced serviceability/manufacturability of design role. Able to develop/create technical repair content to support global standardization and service documentation for safety, quality, and repeatability.
Possess the ability to systematically isolate, diagnose, and repair issues on electro-mechanical systems in a marine environment.
Personal or professional experience on or near water; familiar with rigging, mooring, and basic boat handling principles.
Heavy equipment loading, shipping preparation, offloading, and relocation.
Driving forklifts, lifting machines, and crane operation.
Experience Driving 30+ ft twin-engine powerboat(s) with vehicles in tow, experience at sea.
Physical Requirements: Ability to support 50% travel, domestic and international. Able to work on your feet and at heights. Able to lift and carry 50lbs.
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 $90,000-$120,000 annually.
Catch up on the latest news about us:
Danish Military Using Robotic Sailboats for Surveillance in Baltic and North Seas – AP
USVs Guarding the Global Backbone – Inside Unmanned Systems
NATO Testing Baltic Sea Drones to Track Russian Warships, Freighters – Defense News
US Navy Saildrones On – SIGNAL Magazine
The British Engineer Behind the US Navy’s High-tech Ocean Drones – The Times of London
Counter-drug Sea Drones Utilized by Navy as Trump Ramps Up Military Resources at the Border – Fox News
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
TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2026: Saildrone
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, ****** 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.
#LI-Onsite
#LI-LP1
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's autonomous surface vehicles operate for unprecedented periods of time in the most unforgiving environments on the planet. From inside of hurricanes to the frigid waters of the Arctic, the stresses they endure are immense. The technical execution of preparing the vehicles for their mission and servicing their constituent parts must be performed with a high degree of skill and consistency. As a Vehicle Assembly & Service Technician, you will be responsible for constructing and servicing Saildrone vehicles as well as training and leading others to do the same.
You will collaborate with a variety of teams in engineering, operations, and production. You will interact with clients and lead teams, both in the shop and around the world, to execute assembly and service operations. You will help turn in-field realities into product improvements, serving as an important link between our end users and the teams at Saildrone who design our products.
What You'll Do
Lead the assembly and service workflows for Saildrone’s vehicle fleet, ensuring that our drones are fully mission capable and able to maintain exceptionally high uptime.
Travel domestically and internationally to deploy and repair Saildrone vehicles.
Train contractors, clients, and other third-parties on how to assemble and service Saildrone vehicles.
Provide input on how to improve in-field assembly and service procedures as well as vehicle designs.
What We're Looking For
A top performer in this role will be highly motivated by and skilled in the following areas:
A skilled technician that understands how to apply fundamentally sound mechanical and electrical skills in a field environment.
Act with self-awareness and professionalism when interacting with Saildrone clients and colleagues.
Passion for teaching and coaching others on how to perform technical procedures.
Possess high standards for doing things the right way. Able to lead and hold others accountable for achieving that same standard.
Ability to assess current processes and determine how they could improve to achieve increased safety, consistency, and efficiency.
Desire to take ownership of and responsibility for the outcome of operational execution.
Required Skills
Skills that are necessary to executing the core functions of this role are listed below:
Desire and ability to provide industry-defining customer service for both external customers and Saildrone colleagues. Ability to simplify technical concepts and product knowledge to teach and coach end-users on vehicle assembly and service.
5 or more years of experience executing operations involving the application of fundamentally sound electrical and mechanical skills while performing a technical service role in a field, shipyard, or heavy industrial environment, following service instructions/diagrams, using tools ranging from basic hand tools to heavy equipment and rigging.
Ability to lead and work in teams, to include third-party contractors, to execute operational plans and deliver on contractual obligations.
Maintain appropriate records and inventories. Possess organizational habits and a willingness to define, follow, and improve safety, process, and work standards.
Willingness to support 50% travel, domestically and internationally. U.S. Person status and eligibility for U.S. Department of Defense security clearance is required for this role.
Preferred Skills
Here's a non-exhaustive list of specific skills where prior knowledge or experience would lend itself to high performance:
Prior experience planning, leading, and performing technically complex operations in the field for a global OEM servicing the automotive, aerospace, shipyard, offshore oil and gas, heavy civil/mining, renewable energy, or telecommunications industries.
Prior experience in a fast-paced, start-up environment or an advanced serviceability/manufacturability of design role. Able to develop/create technical repair content to support global standardization and service documentation for safety, quality, and repeatability.
Possess the ability to systematically isolate, diagnose, and repair issues on electro-mechanical systems in a marine environment.
Personal or professional experience on or near water; familiar with rigging, mooring, and basic boat handling principles.
Heavy equipment loading, shipping preparation, offloading, and relocation.
Driving forklifts, lifting machines, and crane operation.
Experience Driving 30+ ft twin-engine powerboat(s) with vehicles in tow, experience at sea.
Physical Requirements: Ability to support 50% travel, domestic and international. Able to work on your feet and at heights. Able to lift and carry 50lbs.
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 $90,000-$120,000 annually.
Catch up on the latest news about us:
Danish Military Using Robotic Sailboats for Surveillance in Baltic and North Seas – AP
USVs Guarding the Global Backbone – Inside Unmanned Systems
NATO Testing Baltic Sea Drones to Track Russian Warships, Freighters – Defense News
US Navy Saildrones On – SIGNAL Magazine
The British Engineer Behind the US Navy’s High-tech Ocean Drones – The Times of London
Counter-drug Sea Drones Utilized by Navy as Trump Ramps Up Military Resources at the Border – Fox News
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
TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2026: Saildrone
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, ****** 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.
#LI-Onsite
#LI-LP1
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Vehicle Assembly & Service Technician position is now open for candidates interested in the Manufacturing Jobs sector. This role in San Francisco offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Manufacturing Jobs is a plus.
