Staff Embedded Software Engineer

Saildrone; California (MO); On-site; USD 189,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Time Off

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Equity grants

401(k) plan

Annual professional development reimbursement

Relocation Support

Job summary

Saildrone is seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer in California to lead firmware design for their autonomous unmanned surface vehicles. Applicants should have a Master's degree and over 8 years of experience in embedded systems and firmware development. The role involves driving firmware development, ensuring system reliability, and collaborating across teams. Benefits include generous paid time off, comprehensive health coverage, and equity grants. Salary ranges from $189,000 to $243,000 USD.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience designing embedded systems and firmware.
• Deep expertise in C/C++ for real-time operating systems.
• Significant experience with embedded microcontrollers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of embedded software systems.
• Own the strategic direction for device architecture.
• Drive end-to-end development of mission-critical firmware.

Skills

C/C++ development

Embedded systems design

Real-time operating systems

Low-level driver development

Cybersecurity for embedded systems

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Tools

FreeRTOS

Zephyr

Cortex-M microcontrollers

Job description

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.

Position

We are seeking a Staff Embedded Software Engineer to join our Firmware team. Reporting to the Director of Firmware Engineering, you’ll be leading the definition, design, and validation of firmware and embedded systems deployed across our entire fleet of world‑class USVs. The role focuses on real‑time operating systems, low‑level drivers, and power‑efficient edge computing, as well as integrating the diverse suite of sensors, actuators, and communication devices essential for each vessel's autonomous navigation at sea.

Firmware Team

The Firmware team is responsible for the architecture, development, and sustainment of the embedded software and real‑time control systems that power Saildrone’s Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). We engineer the resilient, high‑performance devices that form the mission‑critical foundation of our fleet, delivering dependable and persistent operations in some of the most extreme environments in the world.

Responsibilities

• Embedded Architecture: Lead the design, implementation, and validation of embedded software systems to meet stringent performance and safety requirements for reliable and successful long‑duration missions.
• Technical Ownership: Own the strategic direction for device architecture, hardware abstraction layers, and embedded computing subsystems, ensuring a robust backbone for all autonomous platforms.
• Firmware Delivery: Drive the end‑to‑end development of mission‑critical firmware targeting RTOS‑based or bare‑metal applications, balancing real‑time constraints with system‑level reliability.
• Validation Strategy: Define and execute comprehensive test and quality assurance strategies, including hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, to ensure every system meets maritime, defense, and regulatory standards.
• Cross‑Functional Integration: Partner with Mechanical, Electrical, and Software teams to resolve sensor integration, communication protocols, and system‑level dependencies for seamless vehicle integration.
• Fleet Reliability: Act as the guiding source of root‑cause analysis and diagnosis of complex firmware failures within R&D and across deployed global fleets of drones.
• Design Standards: Establish and institutionalize embedded design standards, coding guidelines, and CI/CD workflows to ensure technical rigor and team scalability.
• Technical Mentorship: Provide high‑level technical leadership and mentorship across programs, building the technical depth of the engineering team and ensuring design excellence.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience designing embedded systems and firmware for complex, high‑reliability products.
• Deep expertise in developing C/C++ for both real‑time operating systems (such as FreeRTOS or Zephyr) and bare‑metal applications.
• Significant experience working with embedded microcontrollers (such as Cortex‑M) and their corresponding toolchains, programming models, and resource constraints.
• Proven proficiency in low‑level driver development (such as SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, or Ethernet) and board bring‑up.
• Working knowledge of sensors, actuators, and control systems as they apply to industrial robotics or vehicle applications.
• Practical experience in secure boot mechanisms, OTA update architectures, and embedded system design for modern cybersecurity requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems in fast‑paced and high‑reliability environments.

Salary Range

Base salary: $189,000 — $243,000 USD.

Benefits

• Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi‑tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents.
• Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants as part of compensation.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with flexible pre‑tax and Roth payroll contribution options.
• Investment in Your Growth: Annual professional development reimbursement program.
• Relocation Support: Assistance for eligible roles.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Saildrone is an equal opportunity employer 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.