Fleet Service Manager

Saildrone; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Saildrone is seeking a Fleet Operations Leader in Abu Dhabi to drive readiness and serviceability of the autonomous vehicle fleet. You will coordinate technicians, manage maintenance programs, and lead cross-functional teams across engineering, logistics, and QA.

You'll develop SOPs, mentor senior technicians, and support field deployments with on-site leadership. Expect travel to field sites and a strong focus on safety, efficiency, and process improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience leading fleet maintenance and remote service operations.
• Hands-on with Fleetio for work orders, parts and PM scheduling.
• Proven ability to coordinate distributed personnel and travel.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, or software systems remotely.
• Experience documenting SOPs and JHAs.
• Familiar with ADP for attendance and workflow management.

Responsibilities

• Lead fleet service operations across regions, establishing consistent processes and maintaining readiness.
• Coordinate technician and contractor schedules, travel, and labor allocation for deployments and projects.
• Own fleet maintenance systems and reporting using Fleetio and related tools.
• Oversee work order creation, review, and execution with proper resource allocation.
• Provide technical leadership and field support during disruptions when on-site leads are unavailable.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, JHAs, and other operational documentation.
• Build training programs and mentor technicians toward leadership roles.
• Collaborate with engineering, program management, logistics, quality, safety, and other teams.
• Monitor performance, conduct field audits, and communicate risks and updates.
• Travel to field sites to support deployments and provide coverage as needed.

Skills

Fleet maintenance leadership

Fleetio & PM systems

Work order management

Cross-functional collaboration

Remote troubleshooting

Tools

Fleetio

NetSuite

Harvest

Jira

Confluence

Job description

THE TEAM

Fleet Operations is responsible for maintaining the readiness, reliability, and serviceability of Saildrone's autonomous vehicle fleet. The team coordinates maintenance, repairs, personnel, and field support across active deployments and operational sites.

Working closely with technicians and partners across engineering, logistics, quality, safety, and program management, the team focuses on delivering consistent service standards, improving operational processes, and ensuring deployed assets receive the support they need.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead fleet service operations: Oversee technician teams and field service activities across assigned regions or fleets, establishing consistent processes and maintaining operational readiness.
• Manage personnel and resource planning: Coordinate technician and contractor schedules, travel, and labor allocation to support deployments, service demands, and upcoming projects.
• Own fleet maintenance systems and reporting: Drive effective use of Fleetio, including service programs, work orders, parts and inventory tracking, and reporting. Leverage tools such as NetSuite, Harvest, Jira, and Confluence to support labor, cost, and operational tracking.
• Oversee work order execution: Lead work order creation, review, and follow-through, ensuring accurate resource allocation, quality control, and completion of required administrative tasks.
• Provide technical leadership and field support: Serve as a primary remote resource for technicians, guiding complex troubleshooting, supporting new technical tasks, and making operational decisions during field disruptions when an on-site lead is unavailable.
• Establish operational standards: Develop and maintain SOPs, Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and other operational documentation. Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen safety, quality, efficiency, and consistency across field operations.
• Develop technician capabilities: Build and refine training programs, mentor Level 3 and Level 4 technicians, and support their development into effective field leaders and managers.
• Drive cross-functional execution: Partner with engineering, program management, logistics, quality, safety, and other teams to improve systems integration, resolve operational challenges, and coordinate administrative processes, including ADP, travel, document tracking, Quality Events (QEs), and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
• Monitor performance and maintain accountability: Conduct regular technician check-ins, field audits, and site reviews to assess schedule execution, labor efficiency, quality, and safety. Communicate risks, resource needs, and operational updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Support field sites and deployments: Travel to operational sites to provide leadership, training, planning support, and additional personnel coverage as needed.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• 4+ years of experience overseeing fleet level vessel maintenance and repairs, marine service operations, technical project management, or remote field service leadership.
• Hands-on experience with fleet maintenance systems, such as Fleetio, including work order management, parts and inventory tracking, and preventive maintenance scheduling.
• Experience coordinating personnel, contractor resources, labor allocation, and travel across distributed teams or field operations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical troubleshooting and diagnostic support for mechanical, electrical, or software systems in remote environments.
• Experience developing technical documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs).
• Proficiency with administrative and operational tools, including time and attendance systems (e.g., ADP), and experience with document and workflow management.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with hardware engineering, software/API engineering, program management, and other cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to independently manage competing priorities and make timely decisions in a distributed environment.
• Ability to travel to support field teams, deployments, and operational reviews. Travel requirements vary by work location: approximately 25% for Abu Dhabi-based employees and 50 75% for US-based remote employees.
• Flexibility to maintain availability for critical field decisions and operational support as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Physical Strength & Agility: Ability to lift/move up to 30 lbs. and maintain physical activity (bending, kneeling, standing) throughout a full shift.
• Manual Precision: High manual dexterity and visual acuity for the safe operation of power tools and precision assembly and repairs.
• Environmental Adaptability: Comfortable working in challenging settings, including confined spaces, heights, and working outdoors in variable weather conditions including high heat, cold, and wind.

Desired Candidate Profile

• 4+ years of experience overseeing fleet level vessel maintenance and repairs, marine service operations, technical project management, or remote field service leadership.
• Hands-on experience with fleet maintenance systems, such as Fleetio, including work order management, parts and inventory tracking, and preventive maintenance scheduling.
• Experience coordinating personnel, contractor resources, labor allocation, and travel across distributed teams or field operations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical troubleshooting and diagnostic support for mechanical, electrical, or software systems in remote environments.
• Experience developing technical documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs).
• Proficiency with administrative and operational tools, including time and attendance systems (e.g., ADP), and experience with document and workflow management.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with hardware engineering, software/API engineering, program management, and other cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to independently manage competing priorities and make timely decisions in a distributed environment.
• Ability to travel to support field teams, deployments, and operational reviews. Travel requirements vary by work location: approximately 25% for Abu Dhabi-based employees and 50 75% for US-based remote employees.
• Flexibility to maintain availability for critical field decisions and operational support as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Physical Strength & Agility: Ability to lift/move up to 30 lbs. and maintain physical activity (bending, kneeling, standing) throughout a full shift.
• Manual Precision: High manual dexterity and visual acuity for the safe operation of power tools and precision assembly and repairs.
• Environmental Adaptability: Comfortable working in challenging settings, including confined spaces, heights, and working outdoors in variable weather conditions including high heat, cold, and wind.
• Safety & PPE: Ability to work around industrial materials and sites while strictly adhering to PPE requirements, including respirators and eye/ear protection as needed.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel domestically and internationally, which includes renting and operating motor vehicles, and possibly relocation to the Middle East.