Manager, Homeland Security Growth

Saildrone • Washington, DC

9d • $150,000 - $180,000

About The Position

Saildrone is seeking an energetic, proactive Manager, Homeland Security Growth to drive new business and manage accounts within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies, particularly the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection. The role focuses on developing government customers who need maritime domain awareness, coastal surveillance, and illicit-trafficking interdiction solutions.

The manager will lead day-to-day federal sales, from prospecting and qualifying leads through proposal development, presentations, contract coordination, and closing. They will work with product, engineering, and mission operations teams to translate national security requirements into feasible autonomous maritime surveillance missions and support clients through the transition from contracting to mission execution and intelligence delivery. The position also involves representing Saildrone at industry events and sharing agency feedback, budget trends, and competitive information to inform sales strategy.

Saildrone is a maritime defense company and a global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles. Its Business Development team secures opportunities for hydrographic, meteorological, oceanographic, and maritime intelligence solutions in government and commercial sectors, coordinating with account management and mission operations teams to turn client needs into real-world deployments.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in technical sales, account management, or business development selling directly to the federal government, specifically focused on DHS, USCG, or CBP.
• Solid understanding of homeland security maritime operations, border protection, and coastal surveillance requirements.
• Foundational knowledge of maritime security technologies, ISR payloads, and autonomous marine systems (USVs/AUVs).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write government proposals and present to military and civilian leadership.
• Highly organized and self-motivated, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time to client sites, deployment hubs, and industry events.

Nice To Haves

• An active professional network within DHS and its component agencies.
• An active Secret or Top Secret U.S. security clearance is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prospect, qualify, and develop sales leads within targeted DHS components, including the USCG and CBP.
• Manage the end-to-end sales cycle for federal government accounts, including agency outreach, RFI/RFP responses, technical capabilities presentations, and contract coordination.
• Maintain an accurate sales pipeline and CRM database to track federal opportunities and forecast revenue.
• Partner with mission operations, product, and engineering teams to scope DHS requirements and assess the feasibility of proposed Maritime Domain Awareness missions.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for homeland security clients and facilitate handoff from sales and contracting to mission execution and intelligence delivery.
• Represent Saildrone at federal and defense industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events to build brand awareness.
• Gather and report agency feedback, federal budget trends, and competitor activities to help leadership refine government sales strategies.

Benefits

• Competitive paid time off accrual, annual holiday schedule, and paid sick leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents.
• Equity grants.
• 401(k) retirement plan with pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options.
• Annual professional development reimbursement.
• Relocation assistance for eligible roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager