New Product Introduction (NPI) Lead

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 New Product Introduction (NPI) Lead will drive Saildrone’s transition from engineering prototype to production, ensuring new platforms, subsystems, and components are ready for scalable manufacturing and deployment. Reporting to the Head of Mechanical Hardware, this leader will oversee a small, high-performing team of manufacturing engineers and technicians dedicated to industrializing Saildrone’s next-generation products.

This role is critical in bridging the gap between engineering design and production execution. The Manager of NPI will develop and implement repeatable build processes, establish quality and reliability standards, and ensure manufacturability across complex electromechanical systems. Working closely with Hardware, Electrical, and Systems Engineering—as well as Supply Chain and Operations—the NPI leader will define how innovative ideas become mission-ready, production-grade reality.

The ideal candidate will be a hands-on manager with deep experience in product industrialization and design-for-manufacturing (DFM) within defense, aerospace, robotics, or maritime technology sectors, coupled with hands-on leadership skills in prototype refinement and production ramp-up. This role will begin as an individual contributor and grow into a team lead.

Key Responsibilities

New Product Introduction Leadership

● Lead all NPI activities from prototype handoff to full-rate production readiness.

● Partner with engineering teams to ensure designs are suitable for production then define work instructions, production build standards, workflows, and documentation.

● Establish design-for-manufacturing feedback loops to improve product manufacturability, reliability, scalability, and cost.

Process Development & Manufacturing Readiness

● Develop and validate assembly, integration, and test procedures for new systems.

● Drive pilot builds and readiness reviews to ensure smooth production transitions.

● Identify manufacturing partners and set up supply chains for sourcing new components.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

● Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure production feasibility and supplier alignment.

● Provide real-time feedback to design teams to optimize manufacturability and reduce build complexity.

● Support configuration management and engineering change implementation across NPI builds.

Qualifications

● Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or related technical field).

● 5+ years of relevant experience in new product introduction, manufacturing engineering, or similar.

● Ability to lead hands-on teams through prototype assembly, pilot runs, and full-scale production ramp-up.

● Proven track record bringing complex electro-mechanical or autonomous systems from prototype to production.

● Knowledge of manufacturing and quality standards.

● Excellent cross-functional communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

● Thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth, mission-driven environment.

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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