About the role
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, an established European entity supporting regional business development, sales, and operations, and a deployment hub in 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
Autonomous systems cannot be developed and validated through field testing alone. As a Software Engineer, Simulation & Evaluation, you will build the infrastructure that lets Saildrone engineers replay real-world data, simulate autonomous behavior, measure performance, and turn failures into repeatable tests.
You will work across simulation, replay, resimulation, scenario generation, evaluation, and automated regression.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
* Build production-quality simulation, replay, resimulation, and evaluation infrastructure for autonomous systems. * Discuss pain points with simulation users to understand what is difficult to express in the scenario definitions, what’s difficult to maintain and propose and implement solutions. * Connect recorded vehicle data, simulated environments, and production autonomy software into repeatable test workflows. * Develop open-loop and closed-loop testing for autonomous behavior. * Build quantitative metrics, evaluation pipelines, and regression tests. * Turn real-world failures and edge cases into repeatable scenarios and automated tests. * Analyze logs, telemetry, simulation results, and test failures to identify root causes. * Integrate simulation and evaluation into the software development lifecycle.
THE QUALIFICATIONS
* Strong C++ software engineering skills and experience building production systems. * Experience with simulation, emulation, replay, resimulation, hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, or comparable robotics testing infrastructure. * Strong systems fundamentals, including concurrency, performance, reliability, and Linux. * Experience building quantitative evaluation or validation systems. * Understanding of simulation fidelity and the limitations of simulated or replayed behavior. * Experience building infrastructure used by other engineers. * Strong communication skills to partner with stakeholders across teams
NICE TO HAVE
* Experience with autonomous vehicles, robotics, aerospace, or other physical autonomous systems. * Python for analysis, automation, or test tooling. * Large-scale simulation or high-throughput data processing. * CI/CD and automated regression testing. * Vehicle or field-test data.
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 $144,500—$300,000 USD
To view Saildrone's candidate privacy policy, please visit: https://www.saildrone.com/privacy-policy.
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.