Job Description

About Us
With more than 2 million nautical miles sailed and 50,000 days at sea, Saildrone has earned the trust of governments worldwide. Our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) deliver continuous, real-time intelligence in the toughest oceans on Earth--giving our partners faster awareness, stronger security, and a decisive edge at sea.
Our USVs are long-range, extreme-endurance platforms powered by advanced sensors and proprietary AI - they have been designed to operate where no crewed vessel can. They collect critical insights above and below the surface to support border security, law enforcement, naval operations, and undersea infrastructure protection.
Headquartered in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington, DC, and global deployment hubs, Saildrone operates missions worldwide. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense technology--where data turns into intelligence, and intelligence drives action.
The Role
The Electrical Engineering Manager will lead Saildrone's electrical engineering team, responsible for the design, development, and integration of electrical systems for Saildrone's autonomous surface vehicles. These systems include power generation and distribution, control electronics, PCB design, wiring harnesses, and integration with compute, payload, and communications systems. Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, this role will provide technical leadership to ensure delivery of reliable, efficient, and mission-ready electrical systems. This role is responsible for driving execution for all electrical aspects of the technical roadmap, ensuring high performance and innovation within the EE group, enforcing quality and compliance with relevant electrical and marine standards, while enabling close collaboration and seamless touch points with Mechanical, Firmware, and Software teams. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in electrical engineering and PCBA design. Proven leadership skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, ideally within the defense, aerospace, or maritime sectors.
Responsibilities
Electrical Engineering Leadership

• Lead and mentor the electrical engineering team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and accountability.
• Own the vehicle electrical architecture, ensuring performance, reliability, manufacturability, and scalability.
• Provide technical oversight across all electrical design and integration projects.
• Set clear priorities and goals that align with higher level company objectives.

System Design & Development

• Oversee the design, simulation, and validation of electrical systems including PCBAs, power systems, wiring harnesses, control electronics and integration of third party sensors or equipment.
• Ensure all designs meet electrical performance, safety, environmental, and compliance requirements for maritime and defense use.
• Collaborate with firmware, hardware, and systems teams to ensure smooth integration.
• Participate in design reviews and provide feedback

Technical Execution & Delivery

• Translate program, executive, and mission goals into actionable electrical engineering workflows.
• Manage schedules, resources, and deliverables to ensure timely, high-quality outputs.
• Implement rigorous testing, validation, and quality assurance processes for electrical hardware and software.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Firmware, Mechanical, Technical Program Management, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to ensure designs satisfy overall vehicle requirements.
• Manage engineering support for field operations, troubleshooting, and failure analysis for deployed systems.
• Promote effective communication across departments to align technical work with strategic objectives.

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure compliance with relevant defense, maritime, and electrical safety standards, such as: IPC, MIL-STD, UL, IEEE, ABYC, and ABS.
• Maintain documentation, configuration control, and revision tracking for all designs.

Talent Development

• Recruit, retain, and develop top-tier electrical engineering talent.
• Provide career development, coaching, and performance management for team members.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in electrical engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven expertise in PCBA design, power systems, analog and digital circuits, wiring harness development, and integration with embedded systems.
• Knowledge of both AC and DC power generation, control, and distribution systems.
• Experience with serial, CAN, and ethernet communication protocols.
• Experience in grounding, shielding and design for low EMI environments.
• Experience in maritime, aerospace, or defense applications is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of IPC, MIL-STD, UL, ABS, DNVGL, and other applicable standards.
• Proficiency with electrical CAD (Altium preferable) and simulation tools.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills for complex electrical systems.
• Familiarity with 1-line drawings and industry standard harness drawings.
• Experience managing engineering teams in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Excellent leadership, mentorship, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience in transitioning electronic hardware from prototype to scalable production in moderate volumes.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand, walk, use hands to grasp, push and pull, bend, lift up to 50 lbs, and reach with your hands and arms. Must be able to perform work on a computer that requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral device

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

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $199,500-$256,500 annually.
Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, and relevant experience, among other factors.
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.
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