Senior Electrical Engineering Manager

About Us

With more than 2 million nautical miles sailed and 50,000 days at sea, Saildrone has earned the trust of governments worldwide. Our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) deliver continuous, real-time intelligence in the toughest oceans on Earth—giving our partners faster awareness, stronger security, and a decisive edge at sea.

Our USVs are long-range, extreme-endurance platforms powered by advanced sensors and proprietary AI - they have been designed to operate where no crewed vessel can. They collect critical insights above and below the surface to support border security, law enforcement, naval operations, and undersea infrastructure protection.

Headquartered in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington, DC, and global deployment hubs, Saildrone operates missions worldwide. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense technology—where data turns into intelligence, and intelligence drives action.

The Role

As the Senior Manager for Electrical Engineering, you’ll be responsible for the design, validation, production, and sustaining engineering for all electrical components and subsystems across our fleet of world-class USVs. This is a unique opportunity to lead within our R&D organization, as it encompasses the power storage, distribution, and charge/discharge hardware which fuel all of our platforms, as well as the broad suite of sensors, actuators, and computing devices which guide each vessel along their autonomous journey at sea. This role will manage a team of Electrical Engineers and report directly to the VP of Hardware.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the design, simulation, and production of electrical systems consisting of power components (batteries, solar panels, distribution, and charging) and custom hardware modules
• Lead all PCB design efforts by providing technical guidance to engineers, performing design reviews, and managing the entire process, including libraries, documentation, and releases
• Implement rigorous testing, validation, and quality assurance processes for electrical systems
• Mentor and grow the electrical engineering team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and accountability
• Coordinate with Vehicle Harnessing and Integration lead to ensure efficient and reliable integration of electrical systems into prototype, validation, and production hardware fixtures
• Collaborate with the mechanical, firmware, software, and systems teams to advocate for electrical design requirements and deliver state-of-the-art marine vehicle platforms
• Ensure compliance with relevant defense, maritime, and electrical safety standards, such as: IPC, MIL-STD, UL, IEEE, ABYC, and ABS

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field
• 10+ years of experience in designing electrical systems and PCB-based components
• 5+ years of experience managing teams of electrical engineers
• Expertise in both AC and DC power generation, control, and distribution systems
• Expertise in PCB design, covering both high-power devices and embedded processors
• Experience with battery-powered systems and charging circuits
• Experience with serial, CAN, and Ethernet communication interfaces
• Experience in grounding, shielding and design for low EMI environments
• Comfort and enthusiasm working in fast-paced environments

Desired Skills and Experience

• Experience in maritime, aerospace, or defense applications
• Proficiency with Altium or Altium 365 electrical CAD tools
• History of taking new products from early concept through to production
• History of supporting and sustaining products through obsolescence
• Knowledge of IPC, MIL-STD, UL, ABS, DNVGL, and other applicable standards

Physical Requirements

• Able to climb stairs/ladders
• Able to work for short periods outdoors in a variety of conditions
• Comfortable working near open water
  
  

Location: This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda.

All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. Please note that the Company does not sponsor employees for work visas or permanent resident cards to work in the U.S. If you need sponsorship for a work visa or green card, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.

Benefits:

• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time and parental leave
• Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching.
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Stock Options
• Annual stipend for continued learning and development
• Quarterly company BBQs at our Alameda HQ (bring your friends and family!)
• Free Bay Area Public Transportation via AlamedaTMA with the BayPass Clipper Card

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, and relevant experience, among other factors.

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