Ocean Career: Saildrone Ocean Mapping Account Manager

Account Manager, Ocean Mapping

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 an Account Manager, Ocean Mapping to drive business development and manage relationships with US Government agencies, with a particular focus on the US Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In this role, you will lead day-to-day engagement with key government stakeholdersanticipating forthcoming opportunities, understanding evolving USG mapping requirements, lead bid-development for prospective work, and position the company for continued capture and follow-on work. Working closely with our internal hydrography experts and mission operations teams, you will maintain awareness of bathymetry operations and execution of complex task orders. This is a highly strategic, relationship-driven role perfect for an account management professional who thrives at the intersection of government acquisitions, maritime operations, and emerging autonomous technology.

The Team

Saildrone's Business Development team identifies and secures new opportunities for our hydrographic, meteorological, oceanographic, and maritime intelligence solutions. Partnering with government and commercial sectors, we provide the world's most capable unmanned surface vehicles.

The Responsibilities

• Serve as the main primary contact for key U.S. government mapping clients, including NOAA and the Navy; manage ongoing relationships to promote customer retention.
• Proactively track and anticipate forthcoming call orders, task instructions, and long-term USG requirements to ensure Saildrone is positioned to be competitive.
• Lead account expansion and capture efforts, positioning the company for continued success on recompetes, follow-on contracts, and new task orders within the government mapping ecosystem.
• Partner with Saildrone's internal hydrographic surveyors, project managers, and product teams to scope government requirements, ensuring accurate pricing, operational feasibility, and timely data delivery.
• Maintain an accurate, up-to-date sales pipeline and customer relationship management (CRM) database to track USG opportunities, budget cycles, and forecast revenue.
• Navigate federal acquisition processes and coordinate with the contracts team to manage proposal generation, contract modifications, and reporting requirements.
• Represent Saildrone at government-focused industry conferences, regional trade shows, and agency networking events to build brand awareness and strengthen key relationships.
• Gather and report on agency feedback, federal budget trends, and competitor activities to assist leadership in refining USG sales strategies and product offerings.

The Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in account management, technical sales, business development, or program management within the government contracting, marine survey, or geospatial industries.
• Solid understanding of USG mapping operations and the hydrography market, with specific knowledge of the data needs and acquisition cycles of the US Navy and NOAA.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-year government relationships, anticipate agency needs, and position a company for continued capture and account growth.
• Strong foundational knowledge of marine survey technologies, such as multibeam echosounders (MBES) and autonomous unmanned maritime systems (USVs/AUVs).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write compelling government proposals and deliver engaging presentations to senior military and civilian leaders.
• Highly organized and self-motivated, with a proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Hydrography, Oceanography, Marine Science, Geomatics, or a related discipline.
• An active professional network within NAVO, NOAA, or the broader USG oceanographic community.
• Familiarity with USG contracting vehicles, FAR/DFARS, OTA's and the federal procurement process is highly desirable.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance (Secret or higher) is preferred.

Salary range: $150,000 $180,000 USD

Environment Coastal & Offshore (eco) Magazine