THE COMPANY

Saildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365.

Saildrone’s manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs in Europe and the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced and robust unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the forefront of maritime security and autonomous innovation.

THE POSITION

The Foundry Platform Lead will own and extend Saildrone’s use of the Palantir Foundry platform, supporting the full digital thread through design, manufacturing, test, fleet deployment, and operational feedback. Reporting to the CFO (Information Systems), this role will lead the roadmap, architecture, development, and scaling of Foundry workflows, data models, pipelines, ontologies, dashboards, and automations that support hardware production and operational readiness. The ideal candidate blends software architecture, data modeling, and applied manufacturing workflow understanding, and is comfortable operating directly across engineering, production, supply chain, finance, and mission execution. This role will take over and build upon the initial Foundry implementation completed with Palantir, evolving it into a Saildrone-owned, maintainable, and scalable internal platform.

This role is required to be onsite in Alameda, CA in the Bay Area 3 days per week - this is our hybrid model. This is not a remote position.

THE TEAM

The Information Systems team is responsible for building the data and software platforms that power Saildrone’s engineering, manufacturing, and operational workflows. We focus on delivering reliable, integrated systems that enable real-time decision-making across the lifecycle of uncrewed maritime systems, supporting mission-critical operations in demanding environments.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Platform Architecture & Roadmap: Own the architecture, ontology, workflows, dashboards, and technical roadmap of Saildrone’s Palantir Foundry platform to achieve a scalable digital thread across the hardware lifecycle.

• Digital Thread Integration: Be accountable for integrating CAD/PLM, ERP/MES, test systems, and field telemetry data to ensure accurate, reliable, and timely visibility into as-built versus as-deployed vehicle configurations.

• Cross-Functional Delivery: Work closely with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Finance, and Mission teams to align priorities and deliver tools that improve manufacturing throughput, quality, cost, and operational readiness.

• Data Engineering & Automation: Design, build, and scale data pipelines, automations, and workflows using Python, TypeScript, SQL, and CI/CD practices in accordance with established software engineering standards.

• Platform Governance & Risk Management: Monitor for data quality issues, schema drift, pipeline inefficiencies, and platform risks, and establish governance for dataset management, version control, and release processes.

• Developer Experience & Enablement: Establish reusable code patterns, tooling, and documentation, and enable teams to responsibly self-serve data products through training and adoption of platform best practices.

• Platform Ownership Transition: Provide timely updates on the transition from partner-led implementation to Saildrone-owned operations, ensuring the productionization and long-term maintainability of legacy workflows.

• Fleet Operations & Reliability: Deliver operational and reliability data products that support vehicle configuration management, scheduling, servicing, and continuous improvement in design and mission performance.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering or data platform development, including 2+ years of hands-on experience building in Palantir Foundry or an equivalent platform.

• Demonstrated proficiency in Python and/or TypeScript, SQL, Git-based version control, and CI/CD practices required to design and operate scalable data systems.

• Proven ability to translate ambiguous hardware or manufacturing workflows into structured data models, automated tools, and reliable operational systems under time pressure.

• Ability to clearly communicate platform architecture, technical risks, documentation, and data insights to executive stakeholders and cross-functional technical teams.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, security-conscious onsite environment in Alameda, CA, collaborating closely with manufacturing and engineering teams.

• Working knowledge of hardware lifecycle systems (CAD, PLM, ERP, MES, test systems) and their interaction within aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or maritime environments.

• Experience scaling platforms from prototype-level data to production telemetry, and familiarity with fleet telemetry, reliability engineering, or engineering leadership responsibilities.

The base salary range for this position is shown below. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and qualifications. This range reflects the base salary for candidates in states requiring pay transparency disclosure.

Salary Range**$189,000—$243,000 USD**
To view Saildrone's candidate privacy policy, please visit: https://www.saildrone.com/privacy.

BENEFITS

At Saildrone, we’re building operational capability that matters—and that requires people who can do their best work over the long term. We invest in our team’s well-being, financial security, and professional growth so you can focus on delivering real-world impact with confidence and stability. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you and your family while you contribute to a mission with lasting significance.

• 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.

Saildrone is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.