Mission Manager

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

13d • $135,000 - $160,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Saildrone is seeking a Mission Manager to join our Mission Execution team. Reporting to the Manager of Mission Control, you will play a critical role in planning, coordinating, and executing on-the-water operations for Saildrone’s global USV missions. You will translate customer objectives into executable mission plans, ensure fleet readiness, and maintain real-time operational alignment across internal teams and external stakeholders. We are looking for a skilled operational leader who creates clarity from complexity, communicates with precision, and thrives in fast-paced, mission-critical environments.

Requirements

• Experience in maritime operations, autonomous systems, defense, aerospace, or complex technical operations.
• Working knowledge of navigation, COLREGS, and maritime safety practices.
• Experience in command-and-control, operations centers, or real-time mission environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills across technical, operational, and executive stakeholders.
• Proven ability to prioritize, troubleshoot, and make decisions in dynamic, high-pressure environments.
• Ability to translate mission requirements into actionable operational plans.
• Passion for autonomous technology, maritime awareness, and ocean data.
• Willingness to travel as required to support missions and customer engagements.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate global mission operations to achieve schedule and performance targets, serving as the primary lead for mission feasibility assessments in partnership with Sales and Program Delivery.
• Be accountable for liaison with Coast Guard, Port Captains, and VTS, including the management of Reserves and Sanctuaries access permissions and required reporting.
• Work closely with customers via the Mission Portal to align on routing, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and technical troubleshooting by connecting clients to internal SMEs.
• Carry out daily coordination with Surveyor, Voyager, and Explorer Fleet Captains to manage drone allocation, deployments, and recoveries in accordance with mission requirements.
• Monitor for fleet navigational anomalies, weather risks, and payload status issues, taking action to resolve or mitigate via real-time 24/7 tasking of the piloting team.
• Adhere to and refine Mission Control SOPs, contributing to the development of customer training materials and internal process documentation to improve operational scalability.
• Provide timely updates on vehicle performance and health issues to Product and R&D teams to support quality improvements and the execution of new product test plans.
• Meet watch and mission commitments, managing timelines and providing status updates to executive stakeholders while ensuring all operations follow COLREGS and maritime safety standards.

Benefits

• Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave
• Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents
• Equity grants
• 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options
• Annual professional development reimbursement program
• Relocation assistance for eligible roles

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed