Staff Software Engineer, Perception

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, 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 POSITION

Saildrone is seeking a Staff Software Engineer, Perception to join our Perception team. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, Perception, you will play a critical role in enabling real-time detection, tracking, and classification of vessels across Saildrone's autonomous fleet. You will architect and deliver perception systems that operate reliably in complex maritime environments, directly advancing Saildrone's mission to provide persistent maritime intelligence. We are looking for a technical expert who creates clarity from ambiguity, drives high-performance systems from concept to deployment, and thrives in solving hard autonomy problems in real-world conditions.

This role is required to be onsite in Alameda, CA in the Bay Area 3 days per week - this is our hybrid model. This is not a remote position.
THE TEAM

The Perception Engineering team is responsible for designing and deploying sensing and perception capabilities that power Saildrone's autonomous operations. We focus on building robust, scalable perception systems that fuse data from radar, cameras, and other sensors to deliver situational awareness at sea, supporting global maritime domain awareness in national security and defense environments.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Algorithm Development: Design, implement, and optimize perception algorithms (detect, track, classify) to achieve high-fidelity situational awareness in contested maritime environments.
• System Architecture: Be accountable for high-performance C++ systems on NVIDIA Jetson/AGX platforms, ensuring ownership of the real-time "digital overwatch" stack.
• Multi-Sensor Fusion: Work closely with Autonomy and ML teams to architect pipelines that fuse Radar, Camera, and AIS data, utilizing Kalman or Particle filtering to mitigate vehicle motion and wave clutter.
• Sensor Integration: Lead technical evaluation and integration of new sensing technologies, partnering with Hardware and Systems teams to harden hardware-software interfaces for months-long deployments.
• ML & Signal Processing: Monitor for end-to-end system performance bottlenecks, taking action to optimize GPU-accelerated signal processing and machine learning models for onboard execution.
• Regression & Data Science: Adhere to rigorous testing standards by developing large-scale regression frameworks and using Python to analyze mission telemetry and sensor performance.
• User Awareness: Provide timely updates and collaborate with UI/Platform engineers to ensure perception outputs are clearly visualized for remote pilots and navigational safety systems.
• Risk & Lifecycle Management: Perform all responsibilities with a focus on hardening algorithms against environmental degradation, identifying technical risks, and driving mitigation strategies for autonomous survival.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience building production perception or autonomy systems, including significant experience developing high-performance C++ software for real-time embedded or edge platforms
• Deep experience building and deploying Radar and Camera-based perception systems, including GPU-accelerated pipelines (CUDA) and robotics middleware (ROS), in real-time or edge-constrained environments.
• Proven ability to solve complex tracking and classification problems in high-noise maritime environments using advanced filtering techniques (Kalman/Particle).
• Strong track record of making and communicating system-level tradeoffs across sensing performance, compute constraints, power budgets, and deployment realities in cross-functional environments.
• Ability to work effectively in a high-stakes R&D environment, translating ambiguous mission needs (e.g., counter-smuggling) into structured technical requirements.
• Strong knowledge of signal processing fundamentals and the deployment of ML models to resource-constrained edge devices (NVIDIA Jetson/AGX).
• Experience with Python for prototyping, data analysis, and large-scale performance tracking preferred.

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

$215,000-$270,000 USD

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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.