Director of Supply Chain

Overview

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  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.

Saildrone is seeking a Director of Supply Chain to join our Operations team. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, you will play a critical role in ensuring uninterrupted production, rapid scaling, and cost-effective delivery of Saildrone’s autonomous systems. This role owns end-to-end supply chain strategy and execution—from demand planning and sourcing to inventory, logistics, and supplier performance—directly impacting fleet readiness and mission success.

We are looking for a senior operations leader who creates clarity from ambiguity, drives execution in fast-moving environments, and builds scalable systems that perform under real-world constraints.

The Supply Chain team is responsible for enabling Saildrone’s manufacturing, field operations, and product development through reliable material flow and strategic supplier partnerships. We focus on delivering resilient, scalable supply chain solutions that support global operations in a national security and defense environment. This role works closely with Engineering, Production, Quality, Finance, Sales, and Field Operations to align priorities and ensure seamless execution.

• Lead demand planning and material forecasting to support current and future production, field service, and R&D needs.
• Own end-to-end supply chain operations, including procurement, inventory management, warehousing, logistics, and material control, meeting cost, quality, and delivery targets.
• Be accountable for inventory accuracy, material availability, supplier performance, and budget adherence.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Finance to manage engineering changes, new product introductions, and make/buy decisions.
• Establish and track supply chain KPIs; identify risks, constraints, and cost-reduction opportunities, and drive corrective actions.
• Lead supplier selection, qualification, contract negotiation (NDAs, SOWs, MPAs), and ongoing performance management in collaboration with Quality.
• Oversee warehouse operations, ensuring safe, efficient receiving, storage, and line-side delivery.
• Utilize MRP and analytics tools to improve forecasting, planning accuracy, and decision-making; contribute to the development of advanced planning and AI-enabled tools.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing supply chain organization, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide clear, timely communication on supply chain status, risks, and priorities to executive leadership and cross-functional partners.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
• 7+ years of supply chain experience supporting complex manufacturing environments; startup or high-growth experience strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of senior-level people leadership experience, building teams and scalable processes.
• Demonstrated expertise in demand planning, procurement, inventory management, and supplier negotiations.
• Proficiency with MRP/ERP systems such as Net Suite or SAP; experience with advanced analytics or Palantir Foundry is a plus.
• Proven ability to manage complex, cross-functional programs from concept through execution.
• Stro…