Mission Manager

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

We are seeking qualified Mission Managers to join the Mission Control Team, situated within the Operations Department at Saildrone, HQ. Mission Managers’ primary responsibilities are to plan the operational aspects of our varied projects and to monitor on-the-water vehicle operations both internally and externally in service to our customers.

During missions, data and vehicle telemetry is streamed in real time to Saildrone Mission Control. Mission Managers monitor the health of the saildrone fleet and will develop a deep understanding of the vehicles’ payload sensors, including their capabilities and calibrations, as well as the vehicles’ performance in the challenging ocean environment.

The Mission Management team is positioned at a crucial crossroads in the organization and is constantly collaborating with various internal teams as well as with Saildrone customers. Candidates for the Mission Management team can expect their day to day work to directly deliver the company’s primary mission of autonomously collecting and returning oceanographic data from remote corners of the world.

Responsibilities

• Customer Management & Interactions
  • Participate in collaborative meetings with customers alongside the Mission Control Manager before, during, and after missions.
  • Provide and execute vehicle routing suggestions to optimize mission outcomes.
  • Communicate clearly and professionally on the Saildrone customer-facing Mission Portal.
    • Be able to effectively field a variety of mission-related inquiries from customers.
  • Efficiently refer technical questions to Saildrone internal subject-matter-experts.
    
• Vehicle Management
  • Daily monitoring of vehicle and payload health:
    • Passage planning routes that are safe, efficient and meet the mission requirements.
  • Mission Managers must be able to remotely pilot our fleet of saildrones around the globe, ensuring mission execution & safety.
  • Daily monitoring of environmental conditions for areas of vehicle operation.
    
• Authorities Liaison and Administrative
  • Assist Mission Control Manager with USCG & Vessel Traffic communications.
  • Submit special notices for inclusion in Local Notices to Mariners for relevant missions.
  • Monitor and report on Reserves and Sanctuaries requiring special access permissions.
  • Actively contribute to the refinement and documentation of processes integral to Mission Control Operations.
    

Required Skills and Experience

• Deep understanding of maritime operations, including navigation, COLREGS and safety procedures.
• Deep intuitive understanding of how sailing vessels perform at sea.
• Candidate must possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work periodically irregular hours, rotating weekends, and shift work.
• Candidate is detail-oriented with a disciplined approach to communications, processes, and projects.
• Experienced problem solver unafraid of learning new skills and technologies.
• Able to interact fluidly with multiple audiences, including governmental agency leadership, senior executives, Engineers, and Operations personnel.
• Interest and passion for new technology applications for Maritime Awareness and Homeland Security.
• Proficiency with technology (GSuite, Slack, etc.) a plus.
  

Desired Skills and Experience

• Significant experience on deep sea vessels as officer in charge of a navigational watch.
• Offshore sailing experience.
• Experience within Command and Control Center environments.
• Experience leading a team in a maritime environment.
• Demonstrated record of success translating and prioritizing mission needs into actionable outcomes.
• Active or prior Security Clearance is a plus.
• Experience investigating and analyzing marine weather reports.
• Bachelor’s Degree a plus; or equivalent work experience.
  

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed on a computer and 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:

East Bay company Saildrone provided essential weather tool for Hurricane Milton - CBS News
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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