Senior Project 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 a hands-on individual to take on the exciting role of Senior Project Manager for our Vehicle/Onboard workstream! You’ll work with teams across our matrixed organization to facilitate both short-term tactical work and longer-term strategic initiatives.

In this role you may be working on project management (e.g. agile-based scheduling and reporting), communicating updates to internal stakeholders, prioritizing work, and identifying and mitigating risks to projects (e.g. coordinating and defining test plans, maintaining a backlog). We will rely on you to ensure both product and engineering requirements are tracked and met in a timely manner across multiple programs and projects, and to hold our teams accountable to producing cutting-edge technology on time. You have strong execution abilities and will drive cross-functional teams towards shared outcomes through coordination, communication, and collaboration.

You will get leadership visibility and have a direct impact on the technology we use to sail around the world, collecting first-in-class data. You will be a part of a team of talented individuals who are just as passionate about supporting one another as they are about our planetary mission. We celebrate honesty and a sense of humor and generally having fun! These are part of our PJM team values!

Responsibilities

• Lead Project Management for a specific drone vehicle class, overseeing R&D and other Vehicle/Onboard workstream initiatives
• Facilitate and drive effective project team meetings
• Develop, communicate, and manage project schedules for subsystem design and development, adapting to changes as needed
• Coordinate cross-functionally with Hardware, Software, and Product Engineering teams
• Ensure timely product delivery, validation testing, and reliability through close collaboration with Engineering teams
• Optimize Engineering work management using Jira and Confluence
• Enhance release management and hardware revisioning processes in partnership with Engineering, NPI, Production, and Supply Chain teams
• Compile and distribute concise weekly status reports to keep senior leadership and cross-functional partners informed
• Guide projects through the Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC), managing priorities and resources
• Monitor and track engineering-derived requirements relative to timely milestone completion

Required Skills and Experience

• 7+ years of experience in a project/program management role focused on cross-functional engineering of hardware and software products
• Experience working on complex hardware systems with electrical and software integration points. Experience with sensors and robotics a plus.
• Experience working with and managing relationships with contract manufacturers and vendors
• Familiarity with CAD, PLM, and project management tools (Teamcenter, Jira, Office Timeline)
• Ability to quickly pick up new concepts, and dive into a problem with a solutions-oriented, outcome-focused mindset
• Strong technical understanding and ability to establish credibility with engineers
• A clear and concise communicator, who can ensure that all parties are on the same page and working towards a shared plan
• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience

Desired Skills and Experience

• Technical background in systems engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, other related disciplines, or ocean scientific field
• Experience with Systems Engineering within a marine vehicle or robotics company
• Ability to thrive within a fast-paced, ever-changing startup environment

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:

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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