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 Director, Fleet Service, to join our Fleet Operations Team. Reporting to the VP, Fleet Operations, you will be responsible for the global deployment, assembly, maintenance, and maximum operational uptime of the Saildrone autonomous vehicle fleet. In your role you will direct, scale, and mentor a robust global field service team consisting of Field Service Managers, Lead Technicians, and Engineers. We are looking for a leader who has a proven track record of independently driving execution in a fast-paced and multi-disciplinary environment.

THE TEAM

The Fleet Service team provides on site support for assembly and service workflows for the Saildrone vehicle fleet to ensure all assets are fully mission-capable and optimized for maximum operational uptime. The team partners with Engineering, Production, and Operations to bridge design and deployment, accelerate product iteration, and deliver resilient systems that support national security, maritime intelligence, and science exploration missions.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead, scale, and manage a high performing team of global field service personnel to achieve 24/7 mission success, prioritizing timely incident response across multiple fleets.
Serve as the primary leadership liaison between field operations and internal stakeholders including Engineering, Logistics, Quality, Safety, and Program Management departments.
Oversee resource allocation and labor scheduling, strategically distributing personnel and contractors across international deployment hubs to ensure mission readiness.
Design scalable pathways that accelerate early-stage technician development through strategic leadership roles.
Establish feedback loops to capture field data that influences future-state vehicle design for manufacturability.
Optimize enterprise asset and project platforms including Fleetio, NetSuite, Harvest, Jira, and Confluence.
Enforce corporate compliance with safety standard operating procedures, job hazard analyses, and maritime regulations.
Establish a culture of accountability, ownership, and engineering excellence, building and scaling a world-class team capable of operating defense-grade autonomous systems at scale.
Meet commitments to build a high-performing team by recruiting and mentoring talent for growth, fostering a culture of rapid iteration, technical reliability, and operational readiness.
Perform all responsibilities in accordance with company values, safety expectations, quality standards, and ethical guidelines.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Robotics, Aerospace) or a related technical discipline.
10+ years of operational experience executing and leading complex technical services in shipyards, heavy industrial settings, offshore energy, aerospace, or global maritime environments.
5+ years of experience in engineering leadership or lead roles, with a proven track record of managing teams supporting complex hardware, mechanical, or autonomous systems.
Ability to clearly communicate complex technical specifics into clear narratives for cross functional partners and executive leadership.