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

Saildrone is seeking a Security Engineer to join our Security team. Reporting directly to the Director of Security, you will play a critical role in safeguarding Saildrone’s fleet, platform, and data, ensuring reliable service across global autonomous operations. We are looking for a technical expert who proactively identifies and mitigates security risks, drives improvements across hardware, software, and cloud systems, and responds effectively to emerging threats. You thrive in complex, distributed environments and take ownership of security end-to-end.

THE TEAM

The Security team is responsible for protecting Saildrone’s fleet, systems, and customer data across maritime operations worldwide. We focus on building robust, automated security solutions, maintaining compliance with industry standards, and enabling safe, continuous operation of autonomous vehicles in challenging and remote environments.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Security Systems Engineering: Design, build, and operate automated security systems for autonomous drones, shore-side infrastructure, and cloud services across single- and multi-cloud environments.

• Secure Architecture Ownership: Be accountable for the security integrity of the platform, ensuring hardware-to-cloud data protection across global maritime operations.

• Design & Code Review: Work closely with Engineering teams to review designs and code, proactively identifying and remediating security defects and architectural vulnerabilities.

• Incident Response & Triage: Carry out incident response activities as part of an on-call rotation, performing root cause analysis and implementing long-term mitigations for emerging threats.

• Compliance & Frameworks: Monitor and maintain the company's compliance with NIST 800-171, ISO27001, FedRAMP, and applicable export control requirements (ITAR/EAR).

• Proactive Defense Testing: Adhere to a rigorous testing schedule, including tabletop exercises, penetration testing, and the deployment of offensive scanners to assess security posture.

• Cross-Functional Security Culture: Provide timely updates and collaborate with teams across the company to integrate security-by-design into development, operations, and fleet management.

• Crypto & PKI Strategy: Perform all responsibilities with an eye toward applied cryptography and PKI standards, specifically securing firmware and real-time operating systems (RTOS).

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred

• 8+ years of progressive experience in security, software, or infrastructure engineering, with experience across security development, infrastructure security, and/or security operations.

• Demonstrated proficiency in at least two languages from {Python, C/C++, TypeScript, Go}, plus familiarity with at least one additional programming language.

• Experience with cloud providers and their security services, especially AWS, and familiarity with multi-cloud architectures.

• Proven ability to analyze and mitigate risks in complex distributed environments, particularly those involving IoT, robotics, or hardware-level security (CAN bus).

• Ability to clearly communicate technical security risks and tradeoffs to both executive leadership and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment onsite in Alameda, CA at least 3 days per week to support hardware-based security testing.

• Eligibility to work on export-controlled projects in compliance with ITAR/EAR requirements.

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.