Facilities Engineer

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 an experienced Facilities Engineer to join our Facilities team. Reporting to the Director of Facilities, you will play a critical role in maintaining uptime across our Alameda HQ by ensuring facility systems, manufacturing equipment, and material handling assets operate reliably and safely, minimizing disruption to production and R D. We are looking for a skilled, hands-on operator who takes ownership of the physical workspace, moves quickly to resolve issues, and consistently drives execution in a dynamic, hardware-focused environment.

THE TEAM

The Facilities team is responsible for maintaining and improving Saildrone’s physical infrastructure, equipment, and work environment. We support manufacturing, R D, and corporate operations by delivering safe, reliable, and scalable facility systems. Our work enables continuous operation of mission-critical systems in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

System Engineering Support: Provide mechanical and electrical engineering support for all industrial facility systems, including the design, layout, installation, and modification of complex HVAC, plumbing, compressed air, vacuum systems.

CAD Layout Design: Utilize AutoCAD/Autodesk to prepare, update, and maintain comprehensive building layouts, equipment placement,, and emergency evacuation routes.

Sustainability Metrics: Develop, track, and report on facility performance metrics, including energy and water consumption or carbon footprint tracking. Research and execute programs to reduce emissions and lower energy costs.

Documentation: Maintain equipment manuals and equipment work orders for all equipment and systems, updating as necessary and ensuring work orders are scheduled as needed.

Direct Troubleshooting: Personally diagnose, repair, and maintain HVAC systems, electrical distribution,, and heavy material-handling equipment (forklifts, boom lifts, boat lifts, overhead cranes, pumps, compressors and motors).

Preventative Maintenance: Design, implement, and track rigorous preventative maintenance schedules to minimize production downtime.

Inbound Request Triage: Take accountability for the internal ticketing system, resolving issues ranging from precision mechanical calibration to general workspace adjustments and event setups.

Project Management: Manage small to medium projects, including vendor selection, design layout and work with key stakeholders ensuring projects are completed in a timely manner and on budget.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure full facility alignment with local building codes, OSHA, EPA, and NFPA regulations, particularly regarding hazardous materials and industrial safety.

Safety Leadership: Actively participate in Safety Committees, manage industrial safety protocols (Lockout/Tagout, Job Hazard Analysis), and maintain emergency response preparedness.

Vendor Management: Select, coordinate, and hold external contractors to Saildrone's standards for specialized/large-scale capital infrastructure projects, ensuring they finish on time and within budget.

Waste Management: Maintaining waste disposal, satellite waste pickup. Ensure proper labeling and storage of materials and chemicals. Coordinate with waste vendors to schedule pickups as needed.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 7+ years of facilities engineering or operations management experience within a fast-paced hardware manufacturing, aerospace, marine, or heavy R D environment.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering, or equivalent trade certifications/formal apprenticeships paired with extensive engineering experience.

Technical Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of Autodesk/AutoCAD.

Systems Expertise: Demonstrated ability to read, interpret, and troubleshoot architectural, mechanical, and electrical blueprints and schematics.

Safety Mindset: Deep understanding of industrial safety protocols (LOTO, JHA Risk Matrices) and handling of industrial/hazardous materials (dust, adhesives, fumes).

Project Management: Proven ability to scope, budget, and exe…