Unmanned Surface Vehicle Pilot

About Us

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

Saildrone Pilots are members of the Mission Control team at Saildrone. Pilots work on a rotating watch schedule monitoring our USV’s 24 / 7 / 365. As a USV Pilot at Saildrone, you’ll manage the navigational safety and vehicle health of the Saildrone fleet. You’ll work with Mission Control, Technical Operations, and Fleet Service teams to ensure vehicles are able to execute their mission.

Responsibilities

Vehicle Management

• Daily remote piloting of Saildrones around the globe, facilitating mission execution while ensuring vehicle safety

Daily monitoring of vehicle navigational and payload status

Environmental Conditions Monitoring

Team Collaboration

Required Skills and Experience

Labor Requirements :

Travel Requirements :

A willingness to travel to conferences to represent Saildrone, and engage with potential customers and data specialists

Location

This position is in Washington, D.C.

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.

Employees are eligible for sick time, accrued by hours worked.

The salary range for the role is $43.36-$56.34 per hour.

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, and relevant experience, among other factors.

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.

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