Head of Mission Execution

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 at sea.

Our 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.

The Role

The Head of Mission Execution is a strategic leadership position responsible for overseeing the successful operational delivery of our USV-powered customer missions globally. This role is pivotal for driving revenue and customer satisfaction by ensuring our fleet is maximized for performance, reliability, schedule attainment, and cost-efficiency.

You will lead global, 24/7 operational teams to maintain, allocate, and execute customer missions. In collaboration with the Fleet Captains, who manage USV class types (Explorer, Voyager, Surveyor, and Spectre), you will plan and schedule missions and develop forward operating bases based on regional growth and specific customer needs. Supporting teams—Bridge, Service, Logistics, and Technical Engineering—provide navigation, maintenance, troubleshooting, spare parts, and logistical support across international locations, providing real-time feedback to the supporting organizations within Saildrone for rapid response to mission uptime.

This role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and is located in Alameda, California.

Responsibilities

Key outcomes

• Maximize fleet performance and utilization: Ensure peak operational control and maximize USV uptime to meet business objectives and growth targets.
• Optimize operational efficiency: Right-size the fleet and balance the costs of maintenance and operation. Following standard commissioning procedures introducing new USV’s into the fleet.
• Drive mission and customer success: Oversee mission execution, measured by USV performance, cost-efficiency, and on-schedule delivery working directly with Customer Success and Account Managers.
• Develop global operational strategy: Lead a 24/7 global team, including Fleet Captains who manage specific USV classes (Explorer, Voyager, Surveyor, Spectre), to plan and schedule missions.
• Strategize logistical deployment: Plan and develop forward operating bases based on regional growth and customer requirements, balancing costs with fleet readiness.
• Drive Safety Culture: Establish and train the team based on standardized work and best operating practices, focused on safety first mind-set. Monitor, investigate, and report all incidents.
• Ensure Operational Excellence: Manage organization through defined metrics and KPI’s monitoring uptime, return to mission, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction.

Leadership & Team Management

• Crew development: The ability to build a cohesive and high-performing crew, often from various nationalities, focusing on mutual respect and a shared goal.
• Motivational skills: The capacity to inspire a team under immense pressure, making unpopular but necessary decisions for overall success.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills are vital for coordinating the crew and ensuring precise teamwork.

Teams Reporting to the Head of Mission Execution

This position oversees a global team of specialists who ensure the operational success and reliability of our USV fleet.

Fleet Captains

• Mission Readiness: Hold full operational command of the assigned USV fleet (Explorer, Voyager, Surveyor, and Spectre), guaranteeing vehicle availability for contracted missions.
• Mission Planning: Collaborate with Program Managers on mission feasibility studies and operational planning.
• Fleet Management: Allocate USVs to missions, manage fleet performance, and identify long-term fleet size requirements to meet business demands.
• Standardization and Training: Develop standardized training materials for regional teams on proper USV handling, deployment, and recovery protocols.
• Budgeting: Prepare and manage the annual operational budget, including ongoing analysis and financial reporting.

Fleet Bridge

• 24/7 Mission Execution: Provide continuous operational piloting, monitoring, and route tasking for all USVs.
• Navigation and Safety: Oversee all USV navigation to ensure safe operations at sea, adhering to customer requests, mission requirements, data quality, and environmental conditions.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor and ensure customer missions are executed according to contractual agreements and revenue targets.
• Operational Communication: Serve as the primary communication link with mission operational teams.

Vehicle Assembly & Service

• Fleet Health and Uptime: Maintain a healthy and operational USV fleet, maximizing uptime to meet performance expectations.
• Team Leadership: Lead a multidisciplinary team of Service Engineers, Vehicle Assembly Service Technicians, Shore Operations, and Project Engineers.
• Performance Metrics: Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Mean-Time-To-Repair (MTTR), based on specific USV designs and operating environments.
• Logistics and Maintenance: Oversee the assembly and disassembly of USVs and manage all engineering or reliability campaigns across the fleets.

Vehicle Logistics

• Global Logistics: Plan and execute the global logistics for all USV and service materials.
• Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to Federal Trade Regulations, including ITAR.
• Cost Management: Balance logistics costs against timing and mission uptime requirements.

Vehicle Technical Operations

• First-Line Response: Provide initial technical response for all USV health-related incidents.
• Escalation Management: Determine escalation paths and priorities for breakdowns, performance issues, or vehicle capture.
• Readiness and Certification: Manage the readiness and commissioning process to achieve USV Class certification (e.g., ABS).
• System Expertise: Act as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for all USV functional capabilities, monitoring telemetry and leveraging feedback to engineering teams.
• On-Call Support: Provide 24/7 on-call system troubleshooting and coordinate field investigations with Service teams.
• Test and Validation: Conduct testing and validation of all engineering changes.

Required Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of maritime experience leading teams and organizations. Overseeing campaigns, which included; readiness, logistics, training, and execution of a successful outcome.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical fleets, with a focus on service and maintenance.
• Understanding advanced boat technology and the development from design through manufacture.
• Proven expertise in profit and loss (P&L) analysis related to system uptime.
• Track record of successful project delivery, budget control, and operational scaling in a high-growth startup environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to operating safely in maritime environments.
• Ability to travel based on mission demands and schedules.

Desired Skills and Experience

3+ years of experience with maritime rules, regulations, and proper seamanship, including familiarity with shipyards, marinas, and ports (relevant certifications or experience to be provided).

Location

This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always-sunny Alameda.

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.

Benefits

• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time and parental leave
• Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching.
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Stock Options
• Annual stipend for continued learning and development
• Quarterly company BBQs at our Alameda HQ (bring your friends and family!)
• Free Bay Area Public Transportation via AlamedaTMA with the BayPass Clipper Card

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, and relevant experience, among other factors.

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