Quality Technician

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 - Please note that this is a temporary to permanent position.

Saildrone is seeking a highly organized, passionate individual to join our quality assurance team. As part of this team, you will perform incoming, in process, and final inspection of electro-mechanical assemblies for our autonomous surface vehicles. The inspection process will help baseline the company’s electro-mechanical design efforts and pave the way for production to meet customer demand. The Saildrone team is made up of extremely talented, hardworking, proactive, and hands-on individuals, operating in a very fast-paced and rewarding environment. We are looking to expand this team with like-minded individuals looking to make a mark in the ocean data industry.

Responsibilities

• The QA Technician reports to the Manager, Quality Programs, with the objective of maintaining high Quality Standards for product quality control and operational compliance. As part of this team, you will be responsible for performing inspections on complex parts and assemblies to ensure that they meet engineering specifications and tolerances.
• Conduct routine physical inspections & audits related to incoming materials, in-process assemblies, and finished assemblies following standardized process and procedures.
• Perform visual, measured, and dimensional inspection according to current specifications/procedures. Ensure all data is recorded and properly logged.
• Notify any product or process non-conformance and escalate as appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge of all procedures, change to specifications, and quality alerts related to their areas of responsibility.
• Support production and final assembly on defect awareness and specification requirements.
• Aid in problem solving, and support quality engineering in root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Help implement and monitor all production corrective actions, both temporary and permanent.
  
  

Required Skills and Experience

• High-school diploma or GED plus three (3) years of on-the-job experience as an electronics or mechanical inspector in related disciplines.
• This role requires a technical skill set combined with solid soft skills.
• Proficient use of inspection tools or machinery (i.e. surface plate, thread gauges, pin gauges, micrometers, calipers etc..).
• Ability to read and interpret quality control specifications, drawings and engineering specifications including mechanical and electrical symbols and conventions, key, critical, major and minor characteristics.
• Able to identify/recognize inspection errors and nonconformances and initiate corrective action.
• Know basic quality terms, definitions and concepts.
• Know the difference between accuracy and precision and be able to select the appropriate measuring tools and techniques.
• Have basic calibration knowledge.
• Understand sample size requirements for lots and pulling random samples.
• Understand traceability (product, material and calibration).
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Work requires the ability to be stationary for extended periods of time.
• Work requires the ability to transverse the manufacturing facility multiple times a day.
• Work requires the following motions: bending, twisting, squatting, walking, and reaching.
  
  

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.

#LI-Onsite

#LI-LP1