Software Engineer, Vehicle Platform

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

2d

About The Position

Saildrone is a maritime defense company and a global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). Its vessels combine autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and unmanned surface technology to support maritime security and national defense.

The Software Engineer, Vehicle Platform develops production C++ software that integrates sensors, onboard computers, power systems, and control systems on autonomous vessels. This hands-on systems role works across software and hardware, from subsystem integration through testing, deployment, and field troubleshooting, helping autonomous vehicles operate reliably for extended periods without human operators nearby.

Requirements

• Strong C++ software engineering skills and experience building production systems.
• Strong systems understanding and comfort working across software and hardware boundaries.
• Experience developing software that interfaces with sensors, actuators, or other physical systems.
• Experience debugging complex systems using logs, telemetry, test data, and system behavior.
• Experience deploying and maintaining software on physical products or other systems operating in the field.
• Ability to understand and reason about interactions between software, hardware, and larger system behavior.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerospace, defense, maritime, industrial systems, or other complex physical products.
• Experience with embedded Linux, real-time systems, hardware bring-up, or vehicle communications.
• Experience with remote software deployment, configuration management, or fleet diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain production C++ software running onboard autonomous vessels.
• Integrate sensors and physical vehicle subsystems into the onboard software stack.
• Interface with power, battery-management, propulsion, and other vehicle control systems.
• Diagnose complex vehicle and software issues using telemetry, logs, testing, and direct system investigation.
• Develop software supporting vehicle configuration, deployment, upgrades, and migration across the fleet.
• Validate software and hardware integrations on real vehicles and improve their reliability in field operations.

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 program.
• Relocation assistance for eligible roles.

What This Job Offers

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