Autonomous Fleet Operations Engineer

Saildrone; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and holidays

Comprehensive health coverage

Equity grants

401(k) plan with pre-tax and Roth

Professional development reimbursement

Relocation support

Job summary

Saildrone is seeking a Technical Operations Engineer to join our Fleet Operations Team. You will ensure the reliability, performance, and readiness of Saildrone’s autonomous surface vehicles from development to global deployments in diverse environments.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, you will diagnose complex issues, own technical outcomes, lead root-cause analyses, and collaborate with Engineering and Operations to scale operations while supporting 24/7 on-call coverage and up to 30% travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering preferred.
• 2+ years of experience supporting complex embedded systems, robotics, or autonomous hardware in production or field environments.
• Ability to independently interpret electrical diagrams/schematics and mechanical drawings to execute repairs and modifications.
• Hands-on experience with serial and network protocols (CAN, RS-485, RS-232, SPI, I²C, TCP/IP).
• Comfortable with Linux OS and the ability to write/understand shell scripts for diagnostic tasks; experience with APIs is a plus.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical failures into clear narratives for cross-functional partners and executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Advanced Diagnostics: Resolve complex hardware, software, and networking issues using Linux command-line tools, telemetry, and shell scripting to ensure mission success.
• System Ownership: Own technical outcomes for assigned vehicles, including reliability, performance (SLIs/SLOs), and operational readiness.
• Root Cause Analysis: Lead deep‑dive RCA for field failures; order causes by likelihood using imperfect datasets and drive corrective actions across design, process, and tooling.
• Embedded Collaboration: Embed with Engineering design teams to provide feedback on system architecture and help evaluate solutions via system integration testing.
• Global Deployment: Deploy globally (up to 30% travel) to lead vehicle preparation, troubleshooting, and mission execution, including the oversight of third‑party contractors.
• Incident Response: Participate in on‑call rotations to provide real‑time troubleshooting for high‑priority autonomous fleet incidents.
• Documentation & Training: Develop clear work instructions, process standards, and technical training to bridge the gap from prototype to scalable operation.
• Operational Maintenance: Maintain appropriate records and inventories while following and improving strict safety and work standards.

Skills

Embedded systems

Linux scripting

Serial & networking protocols

Clear communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

CAN/RS-485/RS-232/SPI/I²C/TCP-IP

Job description

Saildrone is seeking a Technical Operations Engineer to join our Fleet Operations Team. You will ensure the reliability, performance, and readiness of Saildrone’s autonomous surface vehicles from development to global deployments in diverse environments.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, you will diagnose complex issues, own technical outcomes, lead root-cause analyses, and collaborate with Engineering and Operations to scale operations while supporting 24/7 on-call coverage and up to 30% travel.