Staff Mechanical Engineer

About Us

At Saildrone, we sustainably explore, map, and monitor the oceans to understand, protect, and preserve our world. We provide real-time access to critical data from any ocean on earth, 24/7/365, and use proprietary software applications to transform that data into actionable insights and intelligence. Our fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), powered by renewable wind and solar power, have a minimal carbon footprint and operate without the need for a crewed support vessel.

Saildrone works with governments, civil agencies, foundations, universities, and private companies around the globe to drive better information about our oceans and seas—from sailing into the eye of a category 4 hurricane to obtain new data about how storms intensify, collecting new CO2 data in hard-to-reach areas, and counting fish biomass to inform sustainable fishery management, to mapping the ocean floor and reducing illegal fishing and drug trafficking. As a result of our work, we have been included on TIME's List of the 100 Most Influential Companies in 2024, Fast Company’s list of the "World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2022," and earned the Ocean Awards’ Innovation Award, presented by the Blue Marine Foundation. Saildrone's hurricane mission was included as one of The New York Times' "Top 21 Things that happened (for the first time) in 2021" and Popular Science's "100 Greatest Innovations of 2021," and entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for recording the "highest windspeed recorded by a USV."

We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington DC and St. Petersburg, FL, and operate our missions worldwide. Saildrone is backed by top-tier investors in the frontier tech and sustainability sectors, including Social Capital, Capricorn, Lux Capital, BOND Capital, and Emerson Collective.

This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting-edge intersection of big data services and autonomous hardware. You will be an integral part of a high-performing multi-disciplinary team that delivers high impact for humanity and future generations.

The Role

The Hardware Engineering Team is seeking an experienced, ambitious, and hardworking Mechanical Engineer to join our Mechanical Design team. The ideal candidate will bring relevant experience from the Marine Industry with knowledge of composite structures, mechanisms, actuated and electro-mechanical assemblies, thermal and power generation systems, and an understanding of the challenges associated with developing reliable autonomous systems that operate for months on end in the open ocean.

Responsibilities

• Owns the design and development of complex electro mechanical parts and assemblies related to unmanned autonomous surface vehicles.
• May act as a technical lead for a small team of engineers in the development of a complex and embedded electro-mechanical system.
• Performs necessary calculations and testing to de-risk, validate, and inform design decisions.
• Willingness and desire to be hand-on during proof of concept and prototype phases with basic fabrication and assembly skills.
• Communicates proactively across department boundaries to enable success of their design.
• Interprets and applies guidelines and requirements from Third Party Authorities such as ABS, DNVGL, and Bureau Veritas to ensure compliance with Marine Regulations.
• Works closely with Manufacturing Engineering to ensure a smooth handoff of design to production.
• Is responsible for project completion from early conception through design and production.
• Supports scheduling efforts and coordinates with Project Managers.
• Collaborates with Electrical Engineering and reviews harness designs.
• Maintains drafting standards and helps to improve the quality of work across the mechanical team.
• Provides mentorship for junior mechanical engineers.
  
  

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline (preferably mechanically focused) or equivalent field experience.
• 10+ years of industry experience.
• Expertise designing for a variety of manufacturing processes such as welding, composite layups, CNC machining, sheet metal, castings, 3d printing and structural bonding.
• Experience creating electro-mechanical assemblies and an understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals.
• Experience performing structural and thermal analysis using both hand calcs and computer aided simulation.
• Experience with 3d modeling software, Nx preferred.
• Desire and ability to thrive in a fast-paced R&D and manufacturing setting.
• Experience in the Marine Industry preferred.
• Experience with multiple product launches.
• Experience working with fabrication shops and contract manufacturers.
• Proactive problem-solving skills.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand, walk, use hands to grasp, push and pull, bend, lift up to 50 lbs, and reach with your hands and arms. Must be able to perform work on a computer that requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.

Location: This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda. Even our walls have good karma, our offices mix software development with a hardware production line in the former airplane hangar used to film 'The Matrix'.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents.
• Short and relaxing ferry ride from the Ferry Building for SF residents
• Enhanced Parental Leave Programs
• Competitive benefits including excellent medical, life insurance, 401k plan
  
  

Catch up on the latest news about us:

The Tiny Craft Mapping Superstorms at Sea – The New York Times
TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2024: Saildrone
An Underwater Mountain was Newly Discovered off California Coast – San Francisco Chronicle
Hacking the Anthropocene with Survivalist Robots [VIDEO] – Freethink
An Unprecedented View Inside a Hurricane – EOS
Saildrone’s First Aluminum Surveyor Autonomous Vessel Splashes Down for Navy Testing – TechCrunch
USVs Could Deter IUU Fishing – USNI Proceedings
Saildrone Vehicles Track Whales around Offshore Wind Power – Workboat
Mullen, Former Joint Chiefs Chairman, to Lead Board for Unmanned Tech Firm Saildrone – Breaking Defense
The Navy Is Using Robot Ships to Deter Human Smuggling out of Haiti – Defense One
Saildrone's Quiet Voyage: Autonomous Vehicle Aids Great Lakes Fish Stock Study – Up North Live
Saildrone Featured Videos Playlist

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

At Saildrone, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team leads to innovation and better problem-solving. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, disabilities, and backgrounds.

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, relevant experience, and the ability to deal with complexity and problem solve within our organization, among other factors.

All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. Please note that the Company does not sponsor employees for work visas or permanent resident cards to work in the U.S. If you need sponsorship for a work visa or green card, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.

Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of employees of Saildrone are considered property of Saildrone and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

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Last updated on Sep 30, 2024