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 Platform Engineer to join our team. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, Platform, you will play a critical role in building and scaling the systems that power Saildrone’s autonomous fleet and customer-facing products. You will design, develop, and operate core platform services that enable secure, reliable fleet operations and data delivery at global scale. We are looking for a skilled engineer who thrives in complex distributed systems, drives improvements in performance and reliability, and collaborates effectively across software, autonomy, and product teams.

THE TEAM

The Platform Engineering team is responsible for the foundational systems that enable Saildrone’s fleet operations and customer experiences. We focus on building scalable APIs, identity and access systems, automated vehicle configuration, and fleet monitoring platforms to deliver robust, secure, and high-availability solutions that support global maritime domain awareness in national security and defense environments.

THE RESPONSIBILITES

• Core Platform Development: Design, build, and operate scalable platform services and REST/gRPC APIs to support real-time fleet operations and customer-facing data products.

• System Ownership: Be accountable for foundational systems including OAuth/OIDC authentication, fleet monitoring, and automated drone configuration management.

• Architectural Scaling: Improve system performance and reliability through microservice and event-driven architectures, ensuring the cloud backend can handle global fleet growth.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work closely with Autonomy, Infrastructure, and Product teams to align platform capabilities with onboard-to-cloud telemetry requirements.

• Service Deployment: Carry out the development of cloud-native services using AWS Lambda, SNS/SQS, and PostgreSQL, following Infrastructure-as-Code (Ansible/Terraform) best practices.

• Technical Risk Mitigation: Monitor for system bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities, taking action to harden production environments and optimize database performance.

• Engineering Standards: Adhere to and establish standards for code design patterns, container orchestration (Kubernetes), and rigorous automated testing.

• Strategic Communication: Provide timely updates on technical tradeoffs and roadmap progress to cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring platform clarity across the organization.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

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

• 5+ years of professional software development experience with a focus on distributed backend systems.

• Demonstrated proficiency in Python (FastAPI/Django) and/or TypeScript (Node.js), including deep expertise in relational database design with PostgreSQL.

• Proven ability to design and operate Event-Driven architectures (SNS/SQS) and gRPC/Protobuf communication layers in complex, high-latency environments.

• Ability to clearly communicate complex architectural decisions and security protocols (OIDC/API Gateways) to both technical peers and product stakeholders.

• Ability to work effectively in a modern DevOps environment, including hands-on experience with Linux/Unix, Kubernetes, and Ansible.

• Working knowledge of Cloud Infrastructure (AWS) and the appropriate use of design patterns to solve for scalability and system reliability.

• Experience with maritime, robotics, or defense systems telemetry and data lifecycle management is preferred.

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**$176,400—$214,200 USD**
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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.