Vehicle Assembly & Service Technician

About Us

Saildrone is a defense company delivering maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance products to military, homeland security, and commercial customers. Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are endurance platforms equipped with sensors and proprietary AI to provide persistent insights above and below the sea surface. Insights support border security, law enforcement, undersea infrastructure protection, hydrography, and naval power applications. Saildrone has sailed more than 2,000,000 nautical miles and accumulated 50,000 days at sea;

our USVs are trusted by governments and set the standard for cost-efficient maritime intelligence in harsh environments.

We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington DC and St. Petersburg, FL, operating missions worldwide. This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting edge of big data services, autonomy, and AI. You will be part of a high-performing, multidisciplinary team delivering data, intelligence, and firepower for strategic superiority.

Saildrone s autonomous surface vehicles operate for unprecedented periods in the most unforgiving environments. The technical execution of preparing the vehicles for their mission and servicing their parts must be performed with a high degree of skill and consistency. As a Vehicle Assembly & Service Technician, you will be responsible for constructing and servicing Saildrone vehicles as well as training and leading others to do the same.

You will collaborate with engineering, operations, and production teams. You will interact with clients and lead teams, both in the shop and around the world, to execute assembly and service operations. You will help turn in-field realities into product improvements, serving as a link between end users and Saildrone teams that design our products.

• Lead the assembly and service workflows for Saildrone’s vehicle fleet, ensuring drones are fully mission capable with high uptime.
• Travel domestically and internationally to deploy and repair Saildrone vehicles.
• Train contractors, clients, and other third-parties on how to assemble and service Saildrone vehicles.
• Provide input on improving in-field assembly, service procedures, and vehicle designs.

A top performer in this role will be highly motivated by and skilled in the following areas:

• A skilled technician who applies strong mechanical and electrical skills in a field environment.
• Professional and respectful interaction with Saildrone clients and colleagues.
• Passion for teaching and coaching others on technical procedures.
• High standards and the ability to lead and hold others accountable to those standards.
• Ability to assess current processes and identify improvements for safety, consistency, and efficiency.
• Willingness to take ownership of the outcome of operational execution.

Skills necessary to execute the core functions of this role:

• Commitment to industry-defining customer service for external customers and Saildrone colleagues. Ability to simplify technical concepts for end-user training on vehicle assembly and service.
• 5 or more years of experience in operations involving mechanical and electrical skills in field, shipyard, or heavy industrial environments; following service instructions/diagrams; using tools from basic hand tools to heavy equipment and rigging.
• Ability to lead and work in teams, including third-party contractors, to execute operational plans and meet contractual obligations.
• Capability to maintain records and inventories; strong safety, process, and work standard habits.
• Willingness to support 50% travel, domestically and internationally. U.S. Person status and eligibility for a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance are required for this role.

Non-exhaustive list of preferred skills and experiences:

• Experience planning, leading, and performing technically complex field operations for a global OEM in automotive, aerospace, shipyard, offshore oil and gas, heavy civil/mining, renewable energy, or telecommunications.
• Experience in fast-paced startup environments or in advanced…