Saildrone

Manager, Mission Solutions & Integration

Saildrone$120K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in intelligence studies, maritime operations, or related field.
  • 7+ years in intelligence operations, ISR, or maritime domain awareness, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
  • Experience managing operational teams within a 24/7 watch floor or command center environment.
  • Strong analytical skills to make decisions under ambiguity or pressure.
  • Excellent communication skills for conveying intelligence assessments to various stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of ISR workflows and maritime intelligence operations.
  • Ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Direct daily operations across shifts to ensure continuous data processing and workflow functionality.
  • Hire and manage Mission Support Specialists to ensure high data quality and customer support.
  • Synthesize multi-source maritime data while maintaining quality control standards.
  • Diagnose technical issues and lead solutions to enhance mission efficacy.
  • Make crucial decisions during critical maritime events for timely information dissemination.
  • Collaborate with technical teams to resolve performance issues and improve processes.
  • Provide data-driven updates and facilitate customer training sessions.

Benefits

  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and sick leave for a balanced work-life culture.
  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant employer contributions.
  • Equity grants, enabling long-term participation in the company's growth.
  • 401(k) plan with flexible contribution options for retirement savings.
  • Annual reimbursement for professional development to enhance your skills.
  • Relocation assistance for eligible candidates.
Full Job Description
THE POSITION

Saildrone is seeking aManager, Mission Solutions & Integration to join our Mission Solutions & Integration (MSI) team. Reporting directly to the Head of Mission Solutions & Integration you will play a critical role in the full operational performance, supervision, and mission effectiveness of a global mission success center. We are looking for a skilled leader who creates clarity from ambiguity, drives execution in a fast-paced environment, and can lead a team of, Mission Support Specialists, and maritime domain experts to support Saildrone's global customers.
THE TEAM

The MSI team serves as "customer zero" for the continuous delivery of high quality maritime data collected by Saildrone's global fleet of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) . This team will ensure the timely and relevant delivery of data to government customers operating in a maritime security environment.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Direct and oversee daily watch floor operations across all shifts to ensure continuous ingestion, processing, and synthesis of received data and maintain full functionality of workflows.
  • Hire and manage a small team of Mission Support Specialists that will serve as "Customer Zero" to ensure high-integrity data quality, deliver tailored maritime domain insights, and operational training and integration support to global customers
  • Be accountable for the synthesis of multi-source maritime data ensuring analytic rigor, accuracy, and relevance while enforcing quality control standards.
  • Work closely with MDA product leads to diagnose technical issues and architect future solution improvements to enhance mission efficacy and customer adoption
  • Serve as the senior on-floor decision authority during operational periods, leading the response to time-sensitive maritime events or anomalies and ensuring rapid dissemination of high-priority information
  • Coordinate with engineering and technical teams to resolve system performance issues and identify process improvement opportunities.
  • Provide timely updates and insights to customers, serving as the primary functional interface to translate data into relevant information and facilitate customer training.
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and conduct after-action reviews to refine procedures and mitigate risks or blockers.
  • Manage staffing schedules for global coverage, conduct performance evaluations, and foster a high-performance, mission-focused team culture.
  • Establish a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, and engineering excellence while mentoring a strong team of analysts and senior technical leaders.
  • Recruit, retain, and develop world-class talent in a highly competitive market to continuously improve team effectiveness.
THE QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in intelligence studies, maritime operations, defense, or a related field.
  • 7+ years of experience in intelligence operations, ISR, or maritime domain awareness, performing work related to mission-critical operations. Min of 5+ years in leadership positions.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in leading operational teams within a 24/7 watch floor, command center, or mission operations environment.
  • Proven ability to analyze complex issues and make decisions regarding intelligence findings in situations involving ambiguity or time pressure.
  • Ability to clearly communicate intelligence assessments and operational status updates to peers, managers, and government or defense customers.
  • Working knowledge of ISR workflows, maritime intelligence operations, and operational escalation procedures.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance, as required for national security business reasons.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Ability to support a 24/7 operational environment, which may include working varied shifts (day, night, or weekend) as required by the mission.
  • Willing to travel up to 20% travel for customer site visits.


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

$120,000-$160,000 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.

About Saildrone

Saildrone designs and manufactures wind and solar-powered autonomous surface vehicles called saildrones, which make cost-effective ocean data collection possible at scale. The company's vehicles are equipped with a variety of sensors that can collect data on oceanic and atmospheric conditions, including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Saildrone's customers include government agencies, academic institutions, and private companies that use the data to improve weather forecasting, monitor fisheries, and track climate change. The company was founded in 2012 by Richard Jenkins and is headquartered in Alameda, California.
Learn more about Saildrone
Size
100 employees
Industry
Founded
2012

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