Field Operator - Vehicle Testing

Seasats; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Competitive insurance

401k matching

Four free lunches per week

Employee activity fund

Pet-friendly office

Unlimited/Flex PTO

Job summary

Seasats is seeking a Field Operator to join our San Diego office for hands-on vessel testing and operations. You will launch and recover unmanned vessels, conduct test missions, and document results, collaborating with production and engineering teams.

You’ll work on saltwater operations year-round, adhere to safety procedures, and use our control software to execute missions. The role includes equipment handling and occasional non-standard hours.

Qualifications

• Must be proficient in saltwater boat operations and maritime safety procedures.
• Experience operating gas or diesel engines.
• Ability to move heavy objects and use basic hand tools.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and California boater card (or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Launch and recover unmanned vessels.
• Drive small boats in sheltered waters and occasionally in open ocean.
• Develop and execute missions using Seasats’ control software.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software with engineers.
• Complete test checklists and log vessel behaviors.
• Write test reports and maintain equipment.
• Load, unload, and transport vehicles and equipment.

Skills

COLREGS compliance

Maritime safety

Gas/diesel engine operation

RC vehicle operation

Driver's license

California boater card

Heavy lifting

Forklift certification

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Proprietary control software

Job description

Role: Field Operator - Vessel Testing

Location: San Diego, CA (in-office)

Salary Range: $80,000 - $105,000 / yr + stock options, 401k matching, and other benefits

Role Overview:

At Seasats, we take pride in building autonomous boats that reliably complete critical missions. One way we ensure this is by thoroughly testing each vessel and payload before it goes to a customer. In this role, you will launch vessels, conduct test missions, and document key information. You’ll specialize in maritime operations, working closely with our production and engineering teams.

Role Details:

You’ll be based out of our San Diego office. Most days, you will split your time between our headquarters and local boat ramps, helping with vessel prep, transportation, operations, and oversight. Some specific tasks might include:

• Launching and recovering unmanned vessels
• Driving small boats, primarily in sheltered waters but occasionally in open ocean
• Developing and executing missions using Seasats’ proprietary control software
• Hardware and software troubleshooting (both independently and in partnership with remote or onsite engineers)
• Completing test checklists and logging unexpected or problematic vessel behaviors
• Writing test reports
• Maintaining clean and functional water operations equipment
• Loading, unloading, and driving vans, trucks, and trailers

About You:

You’re deeply familiar with saltwater boat operations, either through work or extensive play. You’re level-headed, easy to work with, and organized. Specifically, you must be:

• Confident applying COLREGS and basic maritime safety procedures
• Experienced operating gas/diesel engines
• Comfortable working outside year-round (in San Diego)
• Able to adapt to shifting priorities and occasional non-standard hours
• Experienced driving drones or other RC vehicles
• In possession of a valid driver's license and California boater card (or equivalent)
• Able to move heavy objects (trailers, Lightfish, etc.) and use hand tools

Additionally, it’s nice if you have:

• Electronics and/or software troubleshooting experience
• USCG Captain’s License or similar certification
• Experience working with military and/or Coast Guard personnel
• A forklift certification

Due to export control requirements applicable to this position, we are only able to consider U.S. persons, as defined by U.S. export control laws. This includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and individuals granted asylee or refugee status.

About Seasats:

At Seasats, we're passionate about delivering maritime robotics solutions to redefine the maritime industry. Our primary products are unmanned surface vessels (USVs), designed to carry sensors at sea for months at a time. Our USVs provide persistent monitoring and data acquisition to defense, scientific, and commercial customers, and have autonomously crossed both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. After thousands of years in which the only way to gather information from the ocean was to put people on a boat, these uncrewed vessels are transforming how humanity monitors and interacts with the ocean. Here, you’ll find the space and opportunity to do your life’s best work.

Along with your salary, you’ll receive perks including:

• Stock options
• Competitive insurance (including a 99% employer-covered Gold HMO plan or other options)
• 401k matching up to 4% of salary
• Four free lunches per week
• An employee activity fund
• A pet-friendly office
• Unlimited/Flex PTO

Hiring Notes:

When applying, you’ll be asked to provide a resume and answer a few screening questions.

Please note that we are currently unable to sponsor employment visas, so candidates must be independently authorized to work in the United States.

We appreciate diverse perspectives and life experiences, and we’re committed to building a team that reflects a wide range of backgrounds. Seasats provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination of any type based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.