Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Saildrone; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 279,000 - 329,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Time Off

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Shared Ownership in the Mission

401(k) retirement plan

Professional development reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Saildrone is seeking a senior, hands-on leader to serve as the CFO’s right hand for capital raising, investor relations, and corporate development strategy. You will collaborate with the CEO, CFO, board, investors, banks, and strategic partners to advance Saildrone’s financing and growth agenda.

The role encompasses three parts: capital raising, ongoing investor relations, and strategic corporate development duties. Strong financial acumen and executive communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in private financing, IPO or M&A transactions from issuer, banker or investor side.
• Advanced financial modeling, valuation and cap table skills.
• Strong writing and presentation ability to craft investor stories and memos.

Responsibilities

• Capital raising: lead processes, manage investor universe, prepare materials, run data room.
• Investor relations: monthly updates, KPI reporting, shareholder communications.
• Corporate development: source and assess opportunities, run diligence, coordinate with advisors.

Skills

Investment banking

ECM coverage

Growth equity

Venture capital

Corporate development

Financial modeling

Valuation

Cap table

Executive memos

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, engineering or related field

MBA or CFA preferred

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 ROLE

This is a senior, hands-on position at the center of the company. You will work directly for the CFO and act as a trusted right hand on capital raising, build and run Saildrone’s investor relations function, and lead business‑opportunity assessments for corporate development and strategy. You will work daily with the CEO and CFO, and with the board, existing shareholders, investment banks, strategic partners and prospective investors.

The role has three parts: capital raising, ongoing investor relations, and corporate development strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Capital raising

• Act as day‑to‑day project lead for capital raising processes. Own the process calendar, work‑plan, investor tracker and regular status updates to the CEO and CFO.
• Build and maintain the investor universe and pipeline across venture and growth funds, crossover and hedge funds, family offices, sovereign and strategic investors. Prioritize and tier targets, and track engagement, confidentiality agreements and next steps.
• Prepare and keep current the investor presentation, financial model, executive summary, Q&A bank and management presentation, working closely with the CFO and finance team.
• Run the data room and diligence process, coordinating inputs from legal, finance, engineering and operations.
• Coordinate with investment banks and placement agents, and manage engagement terms and process discipline.
• Prepare the CEO for investor meetings with briefing notes, investor background, likely questions and post‑meeting follow‑ups.
• Support term sheet comparison, negotiation analysis, cap table and dilution modeling, and closing logistics.

Investor relations (ongoing)

• Build and run Saildrone’s IR program, including monthly investor and board updates, KPI reporting, a standing communication cadence and a shareholder information policy.
• Be the first point of contact for existing investors and for inbound enquiries from funds, banks and family offices, with a well‑kept record of pipeline for every conversation.
• Maintain relationships with key shareholders (venture, strategic and sovereign) and keep them informed ahead of financings and major announcements.
• Prepare board and investor materials alongside the CEO and CFO.
• Track the competitive and capital‑markets landscape (defense‑tech and autonomy financings, valuations, public comparables, M&A) and brief the CEO regularly.
• Over time, help build the IR foundation for a possible IPO or other liquidity event.

Corporate development and strategy

• Work with the CEO to help source, screen and assess business opportunities, including acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, strategic investments and international expansion.
• Assist the finance department with financial modeling and valuation analysis, and write concise recommendation memos for the CEO and board.
• Lead early‑stage diligence with internal stakeholders, and coordinate external advisors on active transactions.
• Manage a prioritized pipeline of strategic opportunities, with a clear view of the rationale, risks and next steps for each.
• Support the CEO on strategic projects as they arise.

Who You Are

Required

• 5 –10 years of experience in investment banking (M&A, ECM or growth/tech coverage), venture capital or growth equity, or corporate development at a high‑growth company. Experience across more than one of these is a strong plus.
• Direct experience on at least one private financing, IPO or M&A transaction from the issuer, banker or investor side.
• Advanced financial modeling, valuation and cap table skills, with rigorous attention to numbers.
• An excellent writer and presenter, able to turn complex material into a clear, persuasive investor story and executive‑ready memos.
• High energy, strong judgment and a bias for action. You are comfortable running many workstreams at once, working under tight deadlines and operating with limited direction.
• Credibility and presence with senior investors, bankers and executives. You build relationships quickly and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, engineering or a related field. An MBA, CFA or similar is a plus.

Strongly Preferred

• Background in defense, aerospace, maritime or other deep‑tech or hard‑tech sectors.
• Experience and relationships across the defense‑tech and deep‑tech investor space.
• Experience supporting a CEO or founder, for example as chief of staff or in a principal or associate role at a fund.

You will work directly with the CEO and CFO at a pivotal infection moment for the company, with real ownership over the company’s financing and business strategy.

Salary Range

$279,000—$329,000 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.