Senior Electrical Engineering Manager

Job Description

Job Description

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

The Electrical Engineering Manager will lead Saildrone’s electrical engineering team, responsible for the design, development, and integration of electrical systems for Saildrone’s autonomous surface vehicles. These systems include power generation and distribution, control electronics, PCB design, wiring harnesses, and integration with compute, payload, and communications systems. Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, this role will provide technical leadership to ensure delivery of reliable, efficient, and mission-ready electrical systems. This role is responsible for driving execution for all electrical aspects of the technical roadmap, ensuring high performance and innovation within the EE group, enforcing quality and compliance with relevant electrical and marine standards, while enabling close collaboration and seamless touch points with Mechanical, Firmware, and Software teams. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in electrical engineering and PCBA design. Proven leadership skills, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, ideally within the defense, aerospace, or maritime sectors.

Responsibilities

Electrical Engineering Leadership

• Lead and mentor the electrical engineering team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and accountability.
• Own the vehicle electrical architecture, ensuring performance, reliability, manufacturability, and scalability.
• Provide technical oversight across all electrical design and integration projects.
• Set clear priorities and goals that align with higher level company objectives.

System Design & Development

Technical Execution & Delivery

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Compliance & Standards

Talent Development

Required Skills and Experience

Physical Requirements

Location : This position is in Alameda, CA. 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 :

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $199,500-$256,500 annually.

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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