Software Engineer, Autonomous Systems

THE COMPANY

Saildrone 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, an established European entity supporting regional business development, sales, and operations, and a deployment hub in 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 POSITION

Saildrone is building autonomous maritime systems that must perceive, reason about, and respond to the physical world without continuous human intervention. As a Software Engineer, Autonomous Systems, you will develop the software that turns autonomy algorithms into reliable capabilities running on real vehicles.

You will work across the autonomy stack, applying strong software engineering and robotics expertise to problems such as perception, localization, planning, decision-making, and vehicle behavior. The work spans algorithm implementation, system integration, testing, and field validation, with the opportunity to work on autonomous systems operating for long periods in challenging environments far from human operators.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

Design, implement, and deploy production autonomy software in C++.

Develop and integrate algorithms for autonomous perception, localization, planning, navigation, decision-making, or vehicle behavior.

Evaluate algorithmic approaches and make practical tradeoffs among accuracy, robustness, computational cost, latency, and reliability.

Integrate autonomy software with sensors, vehicle systems, and other components of the autonomous system.

Use simulation, testing, telemetry, and real-world vehicle data to validate behavior and diagnose failures.

Improve the robustness and performance of autonomous capabilities as they move from development into fielded systems.

Contribute to the architecture and evolution of Saildrone's next-generation autonomy stack.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

Strong C++ software engineering skills and experience building production-quality software.

Hands-on experience developing software for autonomous systems, robotics, or other complex physical systems.

Deep technical expertise in at least one area of autonomy, such as perception, localization, state estimation, planning, navigation, controls, or decision-making.

Strong understanding of the algorithms and engineering tradeoffs relevant to autonomous systems.

Experience integrating algorithms into larger software systems and debugging behavior using real-world data.

Ability to reason about system behavior, performance, and reliability rather than treating algorithms as isolated components.

Experience developing and validating software that ultimately runs on real hardware.

NICE TO HAVE

Experience with autonomous vehicles, aerospace, defense, maritime systems, or other safety- or mission-critical applications.

Experience with real-time or resource-constrained systems.

Experience taking autonomy software through simulation, hardware integration, and field testing.

Experience with Python for analysis, experimentation, or tooling.

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 $210,000 — $300,000 USD

To view Saildrone's candidate privacy policy, please visit: https://www.saildrone.com/privacy-policy .

BENEFITS

At 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.