Surveyor Fleet Manager

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

17d • $140,000 - $175,000

About The Position

Saildrone is seeking a Surveyor Fleet Manager to join our Surveyor Fleet Team. Reporting directly to the Surveyor Fleet Director, you will play a critical role in managing the global fleet of surveyor vehicles, supporting commissioning, deployments, recoveries, and on-going maintenance to ensure high mission uptime. We are looking for a skilled leader who has a proven track record of independently driving execution in a fast-paced maritime environment and can establish regional operating locations with a focus on flexibility and ease of access.
The Surveyor Fleet Team is responsible for the end-to-end operational readiness and logistics of Saildrone’s largest vehicle class. We are focused on delivering robust and scalable solutions for global maritime missions to maintain a high level of vehicle uptime and on-time deployments, operating in a complex national security and defense environment.

Requirements

• Licensed Captain preferred, with formal Bachelor degree in Marine Transportation/Engineering or equivalent training in maritime operations as required for regulatory and safety reasons.
• 15+ years of experience in the maritime industry, performing work related to fleet management, vessel operations, or marine logistics.
• Demonstrated proficiency in vehicle handling, deployments, and recoveries required to perform global Surveyor fleet operations.
• Proven ability to manage emergency recoveries and troubleshoot complex logistical problems in situations involving high sea states, remote locations, and time pressure.
• Ability to clearly communicate mission feasibility studies and drone performance status to Program Managers, cross-functional partners, and customers.
• Ability to work effectively in a field-heavy environment, including the ability to travel as much as 60% to support fleet health and mission capability.
• Working knowledge of international shipping regulations and ITAR relevant to global maritime operations and logistics.
• Commitment to safety with a proven history of maintaining a "Zero Injuries" record.

Responsibilities

• Fleet Performance: Manage Saildrone’s fleet of Surveyor vehicles to achieve high levels of uptime (>70%) and on-time deployments, while meeting all maritime safety and customer mission standards.
• Operational Accountability: Be accountable for the yearly operating budget and mission profitability, including ownership of monthly budget-to-actual spend analysis and the identification of regional forward operating locations to protect Saildrone’s interests.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work closely with Program Management, Technical Operations, Finance, and Logistics to align on mission planning, vehicle assembly, insurance coverage, and ITAR-compliant international shipping to ensure successful delivery of shared goals.
• On-Water Leadership: Oversee Fleet Captains in the day-to-day management of drones during launch and recovery—using specialized tow procedures and dockside management—to ensure the safety of the vehicle and support resources.
• Risk & Response Management: Monitor for fleet performance issues and blockers, take action to coordinate emergency Surveyor recoveries based on sea state complexity, and escalate technical risks to support root cause analysis.
• Standards & Compliance: Adhere to and establish maritime SOPs, training materials, and safety protocols regarding vehicle handling, marine services, and equipment to improve operational scalability and safety.
• Reporting & Forecasting: Provide timely updates on drone performance status (uptime and utilization) to leadership and provide cross-functional teams with workload estimation and forecasts for fleet scheduling and staffing.
• Organizational Scaling: Establish a culture of precision and operational discipline; build the technical leadership bench and recruit high-caliber maritime and technical talent to meet business growth and global expansion targets.

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: Manager