Manager, Robotics Software

About Us

Saildrone builds autonomous systems that dominate the world’s oceans

With more than 2 million nautical miles sailed and 50,000 days at sea, Saildrone has earned the trust of governments worldwide. Our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) deliver continuous, real-time intelligence in the toughest oceans on Earth—giving our partners faster awareness, stronger security, and a decisive edge at sea.

Our USVs are long-range, extreme-endurance platforms powered by advanced sensors and proprietary AI - they have been designed to operate where no crewed vessel can. They collect critical insights above and below the surface to support border security, law enforcement, naval operations, and undersea infrastructure protection.

Headquartered in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington, DC, and global deployment hubs, Saildrone operates missions worldwide. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense technology—where data turns into intelligence, and intelligence drives action.

The Role

We’re seeking a highly skilled and experienced Robotics Software Engineer who will lead our core vehicle systems team. You will drive your team’s growth while ensuring the successful execution of the roadmap in alignment with software, firmware, and hardware teams, as well as overall business objectives. The scope of the core vehicle systems team encompasses:

• On-board control of core hardware and software systems
• Logging and relay of information into the data pipeline up to the cloud
• Integration of new hardware components and monitoring, in collaboration with firmware and hardware teams

This role is required to be onsite in Alameda, CA in the Bay Area 3 days per week - this is our hybrid model. This is not a remote position

What you’ll do

• Work with your team and engineering leaders and other technical and non-technical stakeholders to develop a high quality on-board software stack.
• Develop, review and ensure quality design of on-board software components that align to a consistent architectural approach.
• Utilize your engineering management skills to plan and execute along a roadmap defined by business objectives and informed by rigorous engineering design.
• Ensure software releases are delivered on time and meet the established quality standards.
• Work with our technical program management team to align work to schedules and ensure delivery.
• Communicate in a friendly, supportive manner with engineers or other stakeholders, ensuring alignment and advocating for effective solutions.
• Engage with cross-functional teams of product managers, technical program managers, technical leads, hardware engineers, software engineers and infrastructure engineers.
• Mentor and facilitate career development for individual contributors.
• Work with engineering leadership to define and measure success of the vehicle systems software stack using rigorous key performance metrics.
• Drive and support a culture of rigorous design and test around software features.

Required Skills

• 8+ years of experience in software engineering, most of those in embedded, realtime software, robotics, working with sensors, actuators, motors, engines, etc. and proficiency in C++
• 1+ years people management experience, including technical team leadership, scheduling, and resource planning
• Experience in robotics middleware (e.g., ROS, custom stacks)
• Able to provide clear priorities, and be hands on as needed to ensure successful delivery.
• Knowledge of software processes to produce sustainable and maintainable code.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in related field (Robotics, CS, EE, etc) preferred

Desired Skills

• Experience reviewing hardware and offboard software designs (example: schematics, UI design), and translating the impacts on onboard software
• Experience with oceanographic, navigation, or environmental sensors, including calibration and validation
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, tooling, and data analysis
• Familiarity with simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing environments
• Knowledge of communication protocols (TCP/IP, CAN, J1939, NMEA-2000) and interfacing with embedded firmware

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.
  

Location: This position is hybrid in Alameda, CA (Onsite 3 days per week required) Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda.

All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. Please note that the Company does not sponsor employees for work visas or permanent resident cards to work in the U.S. If you need sponsorship for a work visa or green card, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.

Benefits:

• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time and parental leave
• Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching.
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Stock Options
• Annual stipend for continued learning and development
• Quarterly company BBQs at our Alameda HQ (bring your friends and family!)
• Free Bay Area Public Transportation via AlamedaTMA with the BayPass Clipper Card

Catch up on the latest news about us:

The British Engineer Behind the US Navy’s High-tech Ocean Drones – The Times of London

Denmark to Field Unmanned Vessels for Monitoring Busy Shipping Routes – Defense News

Counter-drug Sea Drones Utilized by Navy as Trump Ramps Up Military Resources at the Border

Saildrone, Palantir Partner to Use AI to Streamline USV Manufacturing, Operations – Breaking Defense

An Underwater Mountain was Newly Discovered off California Coast – San Francisco Chronicle

USVs Could Deter IUU Fishing – USNI Proceedings

TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2024: Saildrone

Saildrone Featured Videos Playlist

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, relevant experience, and the ability to deal with complexity and problem solve within our organization, among other factors.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of employees of Saildrone are considered property of Saildrone and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

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