Vehicle Operations Technician Jobs

About Us

At Saildrone, we sustainably explore, map, and monitor the oceans to understand, protect, and preserve our world. We provide real-time access to critical data from any ocean on earth, 24/7/365, and use proprietary software applications to transform that data into actionable insights and intelligence. Our fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), powered by renewable wind and solar power, have a minimal carbon footprint and operate without the need for a crewed support vessel. Saildrone works with governments, civil agencies, foundations, universities, and private companies around the globe to drive better information about our oceans and seas—from sailing into the eye of a category 4 hurricane to obtain new data about how storms intensify, collecting new CO2 data in hard-to-reach areas, and counting fish biomass to inform sustainable fishery management, to mapping the ocean floor and reducing illegal fishing and drug trafficking. As a result of our work, Saildrone has been included on Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, earned an Ocean Awards’ Innovation Award, won Best Tech For Good from the Timmy Awards, and was recognized by Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism 50 list of the Top 50 Companies Kickstarting American Renewal. Our first-annual Atlantic hurricane mission with NOAA was included as one of The New York Times’ 21 Things That Happened for the First Time in 2021 and Popular Science's 100 Greatest Innovations of 2021.

We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington DC, St. Petersburg, FL, and Fall River, MA, and operate our missions worldwide. Saildrone is backed by top-tier investors in the frontier tech and sustainability sectors, including Social Capital, Capricorn, Lux Capital, BOND Capital, and Emerson Collective.

This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting-edge intersection of big data services and autonomous hardware. You will be an integral part of a high-performing multi-disciplinary delivering high impact for humanity and future generations.

About the Role

We are looking for a few good people to grow our Vehicle Operations team. You will be joining a talented, collaborative team at the forefront of exciting new ventures in the autonomous vehicle space. The key functions of this role include:

• Excellent communicator, team player, budget conscious, adapt to issues in the field, deliver on schedule, and interact with customers (scientists, commercial)
• Driving forklifts, lifting machines, crane operation
• Experience Driving 30+ ft twin-engine powerboat(s) with vehicles in tow, experience at sea
• Creative problem solving on location, drone assembly, troubleshooting, coordination with Mission Control team
• Logistics of shipping drones
• Sailing experience, a big plus
• Drone deployment/retrieval in locations around the globe including remote locations
• Health and Safety conscious

Responsibilities

• Operation and maintenance of Saildrone fleet assets, prototypes and associated instruments, sensors and equipment
• Apply health, security, safety and environmental (HSSE) best practices in all operational work
• Assistance with ocean testing and evaluation as well as integration support for internal & external customers
• Participate in and lead ongoing community outreach programs with local and regional partners
• Assist with the coordination, development, and execution of the Saildrone Operator Training Program conducted both on-site and at remote locations worldwide
• Pilot drones as needed
• Assemble, QC check, test, and Commission drones at Saildrone HQ and while on remote deployments/retrievals
• Participate in customer demonstrations for VIPs, for both internal and external customers
• Water operations and maintenance of support vessel and all related marine operations equipment assistance - tenders, docks and launch tools (crane/forklift)
• Operation and development of a Saildrone’s systems by providing valuable feedback to internal teams

Required Skills and Experience

• BS in Mechanical, Electrical, Marine, or Ocean Engineering a plus,
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with marine technology, autonomous systems, and ocean robotics
• A love for the ocean and technology
• Highly motivated and organized self-starter
• Familiarity with maritime best practices
• Ability to travel in the region and internationally as required
• Exposure with small companies or startups is ideal, an entrepreneurial spirit is essential
• 5-10 yrs minimum experience in marine engineering, marine operations, and leadership roles
• 50% travel required

Physical Requirements: Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices. Required travel can include vehicle, train, or airplane as modes of transportation. Must be able to stand, walk, use hands to grasp, push and pull, bend, lift, and reach with your hands and arms.

Location: This position is in Alameda, CA. Only candidates with proper permits to work in the United States can be considered. Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda. Even our walls have good karma, our offices mix software development with a hardware production line in the former airplane hangar used to film 'The Matrix'.

Benefits:

• Short and relaxing ferry ride from the Ferry Building for SF residents
• Competitive benefits including excellent medical, life insurance, 401k plan
• Enhanced Parental Leave Programs
• Medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $75,200 to $100,000 annually.

Catch up on the latest news about us:

The Tiny Craft Mapping Superstorms at Sea – The New York Times

Saildrone Takes the Wraps Off its Voyager Autonomous Research Vehicle – TechCrunch

An Underwater Mountain was Newly Discovered off California Coast – San Francisco Chronicle

The Quest for CO2: You Can’t Capture What You Can’t Find – Inside Unmanned Systems

Hacking the Anthropocene with Survivalist Robots [VIDEO] – Freethink

Here’s What Hurricane Fiona’s Surf Looked Like, from Atop a 50-foot Wave – The Washington Post

An Unprecedented View Inside a Hurricane – EOS

Meet the sailing robots trying to solve climate change – The Hill

They Sailed Into a Hurricane, Now These Unmanned Saildrones are Seeking Data on Our Carbon Uptake – CNN

Saildrone Featured Videos Playlist

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Individuals who require employer sponsorship to remain employed in the United States now or in the future will not be considered for hire for certain positions.

Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of employees of Saildrone are considered property of Saildrone and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

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This is a remote position.