Senior Systems Engineer

Saildrone; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 176,400 - 226,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Time Off

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Equity grants

401(k) retirement plan

Professional development reimbursement

Relocation support

Job summary

A maritime defense company located in Alameda is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer. This role involves leading systems engineering efforts, ensuring hardware, software, and mission systems work cohesively. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in systems engineering within fast-paced, high-stakes environments, collaborating across disciplines to deliver advanced autonomous systems. Benefits include competitive salary, generous PTO, comprehensive health coverage, and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in systems engineering, including leadership of complex, multidisciplinary programs.
• Proven experience delivering integrated systems in defense, aerospace, maritime, robotics, or autonomy domains.
• Strong communication and leadership skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain system architectures and interface control documents.
• Lead the technical execution of key R&D programs.
• Execute comprehensive verification campaigns to confirm system performance.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

Integration

Requirements engineering

Verification methodologies

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, or related engineering discipline

Tools

MBSE tools

Job description

About 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 a Senior Systems Engineer to join our Engineering organization. Reporting directly to the VP of Hardware, you will establish and lead Saildrone’s systems engineering function, ensuring hardware, software, firmware, and mission systems operate as a cohesive, mission‑ready platform. Your work will directly impact vehicle performance, reliability, and the successful deployment of autonomous systems at sea. We are looking for a technical leader who brings systems‑level rigor, creates clarity across complex architectures, and drives disciplined execution across multidisciplinary teams in fast‑moving, mission‑critical environments. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in systems engineering and program execution within the defense, aerospace, or maritime industries. They must be a strategic yet hands‑on leader who thrives in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment and can lead multidisciplinary teams through complex technical challenges with clarity, precision, and rigor.

The Team

The Systems Engineering function is responsible for technical leadership of key R&D programs, establishing clear system‑level requirements and interfaces at the onset, ensuring technical progress and coordination for the duration, then leading the test phase to verify system performance against the pre‑defined requirements and goals. They will partner closely with Hardware, Firmware, Security, Software, and Project Management teams to ensure delivery of robust, scalable, and high‑performance systems.

Responsibilities

• Architecture & Rigor: Define and maintain system architectures and interface control documents (ICDs) to achieve high platform reliability and performance across hardware, firmware, and software domains.
• Requirements Decomposition: Be accountable for the full system requirements lifecycle—from decomposition to traceability and verification—ensuring all subsystems align with pre‑defined mission goals and performance metrics.
• Program Leadership: Lead the technical execution of key R&D programs, ensuring technical progress across multidisciplinary teams from project onset through final sea trials.
• Cross‑Functional Handoffs: Work closely with Hardware, Firmware, and Security teams to align on staffing needs, project dependencies, and interface definitions to ensure the successful delivery of technical milestones.
• Verification & Validation (V&V): Execute comprehensive verification campaigns—including lab, dockside, and at‑sea testing—to confirm system performance against governing defense and maritime safety standards.
• Configuration & Change Management: Adhere to and establish rigorous configuration control and change management processes to prevent technical debt and ensure system‑level safety in fast‑moving development cycles.
• Risk & Compliance Management: Monitor for system integration gaps and governing compliance risks, taking action to resolve technical blockers and elevate when program safety or performance thresholds are exceeded.
• Function Building: Meet commitments to build and scale the systems engineering team, recruiting world‑class talent and establishing the MBSE tools and standards necessary for global fleet expansion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems, Mechanical, Electrical, or related engineering discipline.
• 12+ years of experience in systems engineering, including leadership of complex, multidisciplinary programs.
• Proven experience delivering integrated systems in defense, aerospace, maritime, robotics, or autonomy domains.
• Deep understanding of systems architecture, requirements engineering, integration, and verification methodologies.
• Experience with MBSE tools, system modeling, and configuration management practices.
• Demonstrated ability to make technical decisions in environments with high complexity, ambiguity, and time pressure.
• Strong communication and leadership skills across technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to operate effectively across lab, field, and operational environments.

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: $176,400—$226,800 USD

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

Benefits

• 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.