About the job
ABOUT SAILDRONE
Saildrone is a pioneering maritime defense company, recognized globally as the leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With unparalleled operational experience and more ocean miles traversed than any other USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone actively deploys combat-ready systems that support national security and force projection worldwide, operating 24/7/365.
Located in Alameda, CA, Saildrone's manufacturing and R&D headquarters drive innovation, with business development and sales operations based in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs strategically positioned in Europe and the Middle East. By merging proven autonomous operations, cutting-edge edge computing, advanced sensing technologies, and renewable energy sources, Saildrone is redefining the operational capabilities of the Navy for the future. Join a dynamic, mission-focused team that is leading the charge in maritime security and autonomous advancements.
ROLE OVERVIEW
We are in search of a Staff Machine Learning Engineer to join our innovative team. Reporting to the Engineering Manager of Machine Learning, you will be integral in designing, deploying, and scaling machine learning systems that foster autonomy and deliver real-time intelligence across Saildrone’s global fleet. You will enhance Saildrone’s model portfolio and ensure robust, high-performance inference on edge hardware within complex maritime environments. We seek a technical leader who excels in navigating ambiguity, drives holistic project execution, and assumes ownership of production ML systems in mission-critical scenarios.
This position requires onsite presence in Alameda, CA three days a week as part of our hybrid work model. Remote work is not an option.
TEAM INSIGHT
The Machine Learning team is tasked with developing and deploying models that enhance perception, autonomy, and intelligence across Saildrone’s fleet of autonomous surface vehicles. Our focus is on constructing scalable, high-performance ML systems that convert multimodal sensor data into actionable insights, facilitating continuous maritime awareness in national security and defense contexts.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Production & Mission Impact: Create and implement production-grade ML models for real-time perception to identify, classify, and track high-value targets, enabling USVs to function continuously in challenging and hostile maritime environments.
- Edge Architecture & Autonomy: Oversee the complete ML lifecycle architecture, ensuring model reliability on NVIDIA Jetson/AGX platforms and advancing autonomous decision-making processes.