THE COMPANYSaildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365.
Saildrone's manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs in Europe and the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced and robust unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the forefront of maritime security and autonomous innovation.
THE POSITIONSaildrone's autonomous vessels generate continuous streams of sensor, detection, and operational data that must become useful information for engineers and mission operators. As a Software Engineer, Cloud, you will build the cloud services that ingest, process, store, and expose that information across a distributed fleet.
You will work across backend software, data systems, and cloud infrastructure, building reliable services that connect autonomous vessels to the applications used to monitor and operate them.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES- Design, build, and operate production cloud services supporting autonomous vessels.
- Develop backend services and APIs in Python and TypeScript.
- Design data models and database systems for operational and sensor-derived data.
- Build services that ingest and process data from distributed, intermittently connected vehicles.
- Expose detection and operational information to downstream applications and mission operators.
- Design for reliability, scalability, observability, and graceful handling of delayed or incomplete data.
- Deploy, monitor, debug, and improve services running in AWS.
THE QUALIFICATIONS- Strong software engineering skills in Python, TypeScript, or both.
- Experience building and operating production cloud or distributed systems.
- Strong understanding of database fundamentals and data modeling.
- Experience designing APIs and services that integrate distributed systems.
- Experience with AWS or another major cloud platform.
- Strong systems thinking and an ability to reason about reliability, performance, and failure modes.
- Experience owning production software from design through deployment and operation.
NICE TO HAVE- Experience with real-time or streaming data systems.
- Experience with robotics, autonomous vehicles, IoT, aerospace, defense, or other distributed physical systems.
- Experience processing sensor, telemetry, video, or geospatial data.
The base salary range for this position is shown below. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and qualifications. This range reflects the base salary for candidates in states requiring pay transparency disclosure.
Salary Range
$144,500-$322,742 USD
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BENEFITSAt Saildrone, we're building operational capability that matters-and that requires people who can do their best work over the long term. We invest in our team's well-being, financial security, and professional growth so you can focus on delivering real-world impact with confidence and stability. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you and your family while you contribute to a mission with lasting significance.
- Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave ensure you can rest, reset, and sustain performance over time.
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents-providing security and peace of mind.
- Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants are a core part of our compensation, allowing you to participate in the long-term value you help create through meaningful, operational work.
- Retirement Savings: Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options supports long-term financial planning.
- Investment in Your Growth: We support your continuous learning through an annual professional development reimbursement program, empowering you to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
- Relocation Support: For eligible roles, we offer relocation assistance to help bring the world's best talent to our mission-critical locations.
Saildrone is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
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