Staff Electrical Engineer - W Tower Ave Alameda, California, United States
1 day ago

Job description
Job Description
About Us
With more than 2 million nautical miles sailed and 50,000 days at sea, Saildrone has earned the trust of governments worldwide. Our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) deliver continuous, real-time intelligence in the toughest oceans on Earth—giving our partners faster awareness, stronger security, and a decisive edge at sea.
Our USVs are long-range, extreme-endurance platforms powered by advanced sensors and proprietary AI - they have been designed to operate where no crewed vessel can. They collect critical insights above and below the surface to support border security, law enforcement, naval operations, and undersea infrastructure protection.
Headquartered in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington, DC, and global deployment hubs, Saildrone operates missions worldwide. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense technology—where data turns into intelligence, and intelligence drives action.
The Position
As a Staff Electrical Engineer, you'll be leading the definition, design, and validation of electrical components and subsystems deployed across our entire fleet of world-class USVs. Your technical depth and significant experience will be a driving force in the creation of our next generation of autonomous sea vehicles. The products you will be impacting include the power storage, distribution, and charge/discharge hardware which fuel all of our platforms, as well as the broad suite of sensors, actuators, and computing devices which guide each vessel along their autonomous journey at sea. This role will report to the Electrical Engineering Manager.
The Responsibilities
Represent the team across programs as a technical lead for all electrical systems
Design PCBs ranging from power distribution units to precision sensors and actuators
Perform schematic capture and layout for custom PCBAs in Altium 365
Create architecture and design documents for electrical systems and custom components
Define testing, validation, and quality assurance procedures for electrical components
Advise systems and vehicle integration teams on signal integrity, shielding, and grounding
Support R&D and operations teams to diagnose and resolve issues related to electrical systems
Collaborate with mechanical and vehicle integration teams on enclosure and harness design
Interface with firmware and software teams to ensure compatibility and establish integration plans
Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance both within and outside the team
Participate in compliance activities related to defense, maritime, and electrical safety standards
The Qualifications
Masters degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field
8+ years of experience in designing electrical systems and PCB-based components
Expertise in both AC and DC power generation, control, and distribution systems
Expertise in PCB design, covering both high-power devices and embedded processors
Proficiency with Altium or Altium 365 electrical CAD tools
Experience with battery-powered systems and charging circuits
Experience with serial, CAN, and Ethernet communication interfaces
Experience in grounding, shielding and design for low EMI environments
Comfort and enthusiasm working in fast-paced environments
Desired Skills and Experience
Experience in maritime, aerospace, or defense applications
History of taking new products from early concept through to production
History of supporting and sustaining products through obsolescence
Knowledge of IPC, MIL-STD, UL, ABS, DNVGL, and other applicable standards
Physical Requirements
Able to climb stairs/ladders
Able to work for short periods outdoors in a variety of conditions
Comfortable working near open water
Location: This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always-sunny Alameda.
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.
Benefits:
- Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time and parental leave
- Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching.
- Company sponsored life insurance
- Stock Options
- Annual stipend for continued learning and development
- Quarterly company BBQs at our Alameda HQ (bring your friends and family)
- Free Bay Area Public Transportation via AlamedaTMA with the BayPass Clipper Card
Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, and relevant experience, among other factors.
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.#LI-Onsite
Similar jobs
We are seeking outstanding electrical engineers with a passion for solving some of neuroscience's hardest problems and most serious unmet medical needs. · Role responsibilities: Architect, design and characterize electrical systems, generally at the PCB level, for advanced medic ...
1 month ago
Job summary · We are seeking outstanding electrical engineers with a passion for solving some of neuroscience's hardest problems and most serious unmet medical needs. · Architect, design and characterize electrical systems,Electronic device bring-up and characterizationTest and q ...
5 days ago
We are seeking outstanding electrical engineers with a passion for solving some of neuroscience's hardest problems and most serious unmet medical needs. You will be responsible for designing, testing and maintaining electronics for cutting edge medical devices. · ...
6 days ago
We are seeking outstanding electrical engineers with a passion for solving some of neuroscience's hardest problems and most serious unmet medical needs.You will be responsible for designing, testing and maintaining electronics for cutting edge medical devices. · ...
1 month ago
We are seeking outstanding electrical engineers with a passion for solving some of neuroscience's hardest problems and most serious unmet medical needs. · The role involves designing testing maintaining electronics for cutting edge medical devices · Architect design characterize ...
1 month ago
We are seeking an · ELECTRICAL ENGINEER · to design and develop hardware that powers intelligent robotic UAS systems. · We will work at the intersection of software hardware and autonomy building robust high performance systems that integrate perception planning control and comm ...
2 weeks ago
Electrical Engineer · Overview of the Position: ECOMPEX, Inc., a premiere Government Contract (Gov-Con) service provider, is seeking an Electrical Engineer to provide supportive services for our government client. · Primary Responsibilities: · Provide design services to rework/r ...
23 hours ago
ECOMPEX, Inc., a premiere Government Contract (Gov-Con) service provider, is seeking an Electrical Engineer to provide supportive services for our government client. · ...
3 weeks ago
We are seeking proficient Electrical Engineering candidates with experience in medium to high-voltage power distribution systems. · ...
3 weeks ago
Saildrone seeks a Staff Electrical Engineer to lead the definition and design of electrical components and subsystems for its unmanned surface vehicles. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in designing electrical systems and PCB-based components., · ,Masters degr ...
4 weeks ago
The Staff Electrical Engineer will lead the definition, design and validation of electrical components and subsystems deployed across our entire fleet of world-class USVs. · Represent the team across programs as a technical lead for all electrical systems. · ...
1 week ago
We design develop and manufacture an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software avionics high power density motors motor controllers batteries and custom carbon fiber composite airframes. · ...
1 month ago
AMP is seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Engineer to lead complex substation projects. · ...
1 month ago
The City of Alameda is searching for its next Senior Electrical Engineer to support Alameda Municipal Power (AMP). · As a senior-level professional engineer classification this role requires advanced technical expertise sound engineering judgment and strong leadership skills. · T ...
2 weeks ago
+The City of Alameda is searching for its next Senior Electrical Engineer to support Alameda Municipal Power (AMP). As a senior-level professional role requiring advanced technical expertise and strong leadership skills AMP has provided safe reliable power at lower rates without ...
1 week ago
Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our mission is to make next-generation therapies broadly available to patients. · Ownership of the design, schematic capture, and layout of PCB assemblies for control, sensing, and power distribution. · Assis ...
1 week ago
We're looking for an Electrical Engineering Intern to support our Electrical Engineering team in the design, testing, and validation of aircraft subsystems. · ...
1 week ago
We are looking for a Staff Electrical Engineer to lead the definition, design and validation of electrical components and subsystems deployed across our entire fleet of world-class USVs. · ...
4 weeks ago
We are looking for an Electrical Engineer to join our team of engineers.In this role, you will be responsible for system level and component level design and testing across a wide range of subsystems. · Familiar with high power motor controller hardware design (120V, 30 kW). · Ha ...
1 month ago
Pyka's goal is to provide society with a new form of safe, clean, and cost-effective transportation enabled by autonomous electric aviation. We design and develop an ecosystem of technologies including proprietary flight control software. · ...
1 month ago