Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

6d • $279,000 - $329,000

About The Position

Saildrone is a maritime defense company and a global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles. The company operates combat-deployed systems supporting national security worldwide and combines autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and unmanned surface technology. Its manufacturing and R&D headquarters are in Alameda, California, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs in Europe and the Middle East.

This senior, hands-on role reports to the CFO and serves as a close partner to the CEO and CFO on capital raising, investor relations, corporate development, and strategy. The position will build and manage Saildrone’s investor relations function, lead capital-raising processes, assess business opportunities, and work with the board, shareholders, investment banks, strategic partners, and prospective investors. The role also supports financial modeling, valuation, diligence, transaction execution, and strategic projects, with the opportunity over time to help establish a foundation for a possible IPO or other liquidity event.

Requirements

• 5–10 years of experience in investment banking (M&A, ECM, or growth/tech coverage), venture capital or growth equity, or corporate development at a high-growth company.
• Direct experience on at least one private financing, IPO, or M&A transaction from the issuer, banker, or investor side.
• Advanced financial modeling, valuation, and cap table skills, with rigorous attention to numbers.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills, including the ability to make complex material clear and persuasive for investors and executives.
• High energy, strong judgment, and a bias for action; able to manage multiple workstreams, tight deadlines, and limited direction.
• Credibility and presence with senior investors, bankers, and executives; ability to build relationships quickly and handle sensitive information discreetly.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, engineering, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

• Experience across more than one of investment banking, venture capital or growth equity, and corporate development.
• MBA, CFA, or similar qualification.
• Background in defense, aerospace, maritime, or other deep-tech or hard-tech sectors.
• Experience and relationships across the defense-tech and deep-tech investor space.
• Experience supporting a CEO or founder, such as as a chief of staff or in a principal or associate role at a fund.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day capital-raising processes, including the calendar, work plan, investor tracker, and status updates to the CEO and CFO.
• Build, prioritize, and maintain an investor universe and pipeline across venture and growth funds, crossover and hedge funds, family offices, sovereign investors, and strategic investors; track engagement, confidentiality agreements, and next steps.
• Prepare and maintain investor presentations, the financial model, executive summary, Q&A bank, and management presentation in partnership with the CFO and finance team.
• Run the data room and diligence process, coordinating inputs from legal, finance, engineering, and operations.
• Coordinate with investment banks and placement agents, and manage engagement terms and process discipline.
• Prepare the CEO for investor meetings with briefing notes, investor background, likely questions, and post-meeting follow-ups.
• Support term-sheet comparison, negotiation analysis, cap table and dilution modeling, and closing logistics.
• Build and run Saildrone’s investor relations program, including monthly investor and board updates, KPI reporting, communication cadence, and a shareholder information policy.
• Serve as the first point of contact for existing investors and inbound enquiries from funds, banks, and family offices, maintaining a record of the pipeline for each conversation.
• Maintain relationships with key venture, strategic, and sovereign shareholders and keep them informed ahead of financings and major announcements.
• Prepare board and investor materials with the CEO and CFO.
• Track the competitive and capital-markets landscape, including defense-tech and autonomy financings, valuations, public comparables, and M&A, and regularly brief the CEO.
• Help build the investor-relations foundation for a possible IPO or other liquidity event.
• Work with the CEO to source, screen, and assess acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, strategic investments, and international expansion opportunities.
• Assist the finance department with financial modeling and valuation analysis, and prepare concise recommendation memos for the CEO and board.
• Lead early-stage diligence with internal stakeholders and coordinate external advisors on active transactions.
• Manage a prioritized pipeline of strategic opportunities, documenting rationale, risks, and next steps.
• Support the CEO on strategic projects as they arise.

Benefits

• Competitive paid time off accrual, annual holidays, 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 contribution options.
• Annual professional development reimbursement.
• Relocation assistance for eligible roles.

What This Job Offers

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