Technical Operations Engineer

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

3h • $132,000 - $155,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Saildrone is seeking a Technical Operations Engineer to join our Fleet Operations Team. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Technical Operations Engineer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the reliability, performance, and readiness of Saildrone’s autonomous surface vehicles across their full lifecycle; from research and development, production, through global deployments, in all operating environments. We are looking for a systems-minded engineer who thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly from problem to root cause, and translates real-world vehicle performance into actionable engineering and operational improvements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering preferred; Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, Robotics, Software, Aerospace or a related technical discipline.
• 2+ years of experience supporting complex embedded systems, robotics, or autonomous hardware in production or field environments.
• Ability to independently interpret electrical diagrams/schematics and mechanical drawings to execute repairs and modifications.
• Hands-on experience with serial and network protocols (CAN, RS-485, RS-232, SPI, I2C, and TCP/IP).
• Comfortable with Linux OS and the ability to write/understand shell scripts for diagnostic tasks; experience with APIs is a plus.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical failures into clear narratives for cross-functional partners and executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Resolve complex hardware, software, and networking issues using Linux command-line tools, telemetry, and shell scripting to ensure mission success.
• Own technical outcomes for assigned vehicles, including reliability, performance (SLIs/SLOs), and operational readiness.
• Lead deep-dive RCA for field failures; order causes by likelihood using imperfect datasets and drive corrective actions across design, process, and tooling.
• Embed with Engineering design teams to provide feedback on system architecture and help evaluate solutions via system integration testing.
• Deploy globally (up to 30% travel) to lead vehicle preparation, troubleshooting, and mission execution, including the oversight of third-party contractors.
• Participate in on-call rotations to provide real-time troubleshooting for high-priority autonomous fleet incidents.
• Develop clear work instructions, process standards, and technical training to bridge the gap from prototype to scalable operation.
• Maintain appropriate records and inventories while following and improving strict safety and work 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
• Access to a 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