Final Assembly Technician

Saildrone; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health Coverage

Equity

401(k)

Professional development

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Saildrone is seeking an Assembly Technician to join our Final Drone Assembly Team in Alameda, CA. You will bring Voyager Class vehicles to life through final assembly and testing, applying hands-on skills with mechanical and electrical systems on a dynamic production floor.

We value agile, fast learners who can adapt to evolving products, collaborate across teams, and uphold strict safety and quality standards while maintaining production pace.

Qualifications

• Experience building mechanical or electrical systems in low-volume production.
• Ability to interpret work instructions, technical drawings, and bills of materials.
• Clear communication and teamwork with a proactive, independent drive.
• On-site Alameda factory work with safety and quality focus.

Responsibilities

• Perform final drone assembly tasks meeting quality, safety, timing, or performance standards.
• Our daily schedule is 8am - 4:30pm with available overtime.
• Be accountable for process, system, product, area, or deliverable, including ownership of accuracy, reliability, throughput, cost, or impact.
• Work closely with teams to align on priorities, dependencies, or handoffs and ensure successful delivery of shared goals.
• Carry out day-to-day work using tools, equipment, systems, or methods provided in accordance with established standards, procedures, or expectations.
• Monitor for defects, risks, blockers, or inefficiencies, take action to resolve or mitigate, and elevate when necessary.
• Adhere to SOPs, safety protocols, management practices, and contribute suggestions that improve quality, efficiency, safety, or scalability.
• Provide timely updates on progress or issues to the manager or team.
• Meet commitments, manage assigned priorities or workload, and proactively raise concerns when risks, capacity, or priorities change.
• Perform all responsibilities in accordance with company values, safety expectations, quality standards, and ethical guidelines.

Skills

Hand tools

Mechanical assembly

Electrical systems

Reading drawings/BOMs

Soldering

MIG/TIG welding

Composite fabrication

Drill/mill/lathe

Teamwork

Self-starting

Tools

Drill/mill/lathe

MIG welding

TIG welding

Soldering equipment

Job description

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.

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, and deployment hubs in Europe and 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 an Assembly Technician to join our Final Drone Assembly Team. Reporting directly to the Production Manager, you will play a critical role in bringing our Voyager Class vehicles to life through final assembly and testing. We are looking for natural builders. Whether your experience comes from assembling bicycles, boats, or industrial machinery, we want people who take pride in putting things together and making them work. We are looking for agile, fast learners who are excited to adapt to our continuously evolving products and dynamic production floor.

THE TEAM

The Final Drone Assembly Team is responsible for the end of the line Voyager Class Drone final assembly. We are focused on delivering complete, accurate and operationally ready Voyager Class Drones for our ever growing fleet to support Saildrones work across scientific, marine domain awareness, national security and defense environments.

The Responsibilities

• Perform assembly tasks to complete drone assembly, while meeting quality, safety, timing, or performance standards.
• Our daily schedule is 8am - 4:30pm with available overtime.
• Be accountable for [process, system, product, area, or deliverable], including ownership of [accuracy, reliability, throughput, cost, or impact.
• Work closely with teams to align on priorities, dependencies, or handoffs and ensure successful delivery of shared goals.
• Carry out day-to-day work using tools, equipment, systems, or methods provided in accordance with established standards, procedures, or expectations.
• Monitor for defects, risks, blockers, or inefficiencies, take action to resolve or mitigate, and elevate when necessary.
• Adhere to SOPs, safety protocols, management practices, and contribute suggestions that improve quality, efficiency, safety, or scalability.
• Provide timely updates on progress or issues to the manager or team.
• Meet commitments, manage assigned priorities or workload, and proactively raise concerns when risks, capacity, or priorities change.
• Perform all responsibilities in accordance with company values, safety expectations, quality standards, and ethical guidelines.

The Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in most if not all the following qualifications.
• Hands-on experience using hand tools to build mechanical or electrical systems in a low-volume environment.
• A commitment to high-quality craftsmanship while maintaining the speed needed to hit production deadlines.
• The ability to seamlessly navigate work instructions, technical drawings, and bills of materials.
• Clear communication skills and a team-player mindset, paired with the drive to get things done independently.
• Ability to work on-site at our Alameda factory.
• Experience bringing new product prototypes to life.
• A knack for testing components against tight specs and diagnosing faults when things don’t work as planned.
• Practical machine shop skills (drill/mill/lathe) or MIG/TIG welding experience.
• Hands-on experience with light composite fabrication, soldering, and electrical assembly.

Physical Requirements

• Physical Strength & Agility: Ability to lift/move up to 50 lbs and maintain physical activity (bending, kneeling, standing) throughout a full shift.
• Manual Precision: High manual dexterity and visual acuity for the safe, prolonged operation of power tools and precision assembly.
• Environmental Adaptability: Comfort working in challenging settings, including confined spaces, heights, or proximity to water.
• Safety & PPE: Ability to work around industrial materials (dust, fumes, adhesives) while strictly adhering to PPE requirements, including respirators and eye/ear protection.

The base salary range for this position is shown below. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and qualifications. This range reflects the base salary for candidates in states requiring pay transparency disclosure.

Salary Range

$38—$45 USD

To view Saildrone's candidate privacy policy, please visit: https://www.saildrone.com/privacy-policy.

Benefits

At Saildrone, we’re building operational capability that matters—and that requires people who can do their best work over the long term. We invest in our team’s well-being, financial security, and professional growth so you can focus on delivering real-world impact with confidence and stability. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you and your family while you contribute to a mission with lasting significance.

• Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave ensure you can rest, reset, and sustain performance over time.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents—providing security and peace of mind.
• Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants are a core part of our compensation, allowing you to participate in the long-term value you help create through meaningful, operational work.
• Retirement Savings: Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options supports long-term financial planning.
• Investment in Your Growth: We support your continuous learning through an annual professional development reimbursement program, empowering you to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
• Relocation Support: For eligible roles, we offer relocation assistance to help bring the world’s best talent to our mission-critical locations.

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.