Staff Software Engineer, Machine Learning

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

45d • $189,000 - $243,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Saildrone is seeking a Staff Machine Learning Engineer to join our team. Reporting directly to the Engineering Manager, Machine Learning, you will play a critical role in designing, deploying, and scaling machine learning systems that enable autonomy and real-time intelligence across Saildrone’s global fleet. You will expand Saildrone’s model portfolio and ensure reliable, high-performance inference on edge hardware in complex maritime environments. We are looking for a technical leader who creates clarity from ambiguity, drives end-to-end execution, and takes ownership of production ML systems in mission-critical environments.
This role is required to be onsite in Alameda, CA in the Bay Area 3 days per week - this is our hybrid model. This is not a remote position.

Requirements

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, as required for the design of complex autonomous systems.
• 8+ years of experience in Machine Learning or Software Engineering, performing work related to the full ML lifecycle, from cloud-based training to edge deployment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Python, ML frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow), and runtime libraries (TensorRT) required to deploy performant computer vision and sensor fusion models.
• Proven ability to resolve technical ambiguity and make architectural decisions in situations involving high-stakes mission requirements and resource-constrained environments.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical vision, project roadmaps, and model performance metrics to peers, senior leadership, and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to work effectively in remote or hybrid environments, including supporting a fleet that operates 24/7/365 in harsh and hostile maritime conditions.
• Working knowledge of CI/CD best practices, Linux/Unix environments, and MLOps pipelines relevant to maintaining production-grade software at scale.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring senior and junior engineers and leading end-to-end technical projects from initial concept to mission-ready fielding.

Responsibilities

• Production & Mission Impact: Design and deploy production-grade ML models for real-time perception to detect, classify, and track high-value targets. Your work directly enables USVs to operate 24/7/365 in harsh, remote, and hostile maritime environments.
• Edge Architecture & Autonomy: Own the full ML lifecycle architecture, ensuring models run reliably on NVIDIA Jetson/AGX platforms. Drive the intelligence that advances autonomous decision-making and behavior for a growing fleet of robotic systems.
• Multi-Modal Sensor Fusion: Lead the integration of Saildrone’s unique sensor suite—including cameras, radar, lidar, hydrophones, and bathymetric sensors—to maintain situational awareness in complex, resource-constrained environments.
• Dataset & Robustness Engineering: Drive the rapid expansion of proprietary maritime datasets and develop rigorous evaluation frameworks to ensure model performance remains stable across variable sea states and extreme weather.
• Strategic ML Ops: Architect and scale cloud-based training pipelines and CI/CD workflows. You will resolve technical ambiguity to ensure the "full stack" from data ingestion to edge deployment is performant and maintainable.
• System-Wide Optimization: Lead technical decisions for onboard compute efficiency using runtime libraries like TensorRT, ensuring that rapid model iterations enhance rather than disrupt the overall software stack stability.
• Technical Leadership and Vision: Direct large-scale ML projects from concept to completion. Mentor junior and senior engineers while shaping the technical roadmap for the global ML organization.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Collaborate across the organization—from Perception to Frontend—to ensure ML-driven insights are actionable for mission pilots and critical to disrupting illegal maritime activity.

Benefits

• Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave ensure you can rest, reset, and sustain performance over time.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents—providing security and peace of mind.
• Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants are a core part of our compensation, allowing you to participate in the long-term value you help create through meaningful, operational work.
• Retirement Savings: Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options supports long-term financial planning.
• Investment in Your Growth: We support your continuous learning through an annual professional development reimbursement program, empowering you to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
• Relocation Support: For eligible roles, we offer relocation assistance to help bring the world’s best talent to our mission-critical locations.

What This Job Offers

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