Senior Software Engineer, Frontend

Job Description

Job Description

About Us

Saildrone builds autonomous systems that dominate the world’s oceans

With more than 2 million nautical miles sailed and 50,000 days at sea, Saildrone has earned the trust of governments worldwide. Our unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) deliver continuous, real-time intelligence in the toughest oceans on Earth—giving our partners faster awareness, stronger security, and a decisive edge at sea.

Our USVs are long-range, extreme-endurance platforms powered by advanced sensors and proprietary AI - they have been designed to operate where no crewed vessel can. They collect critical insights above and below the surface to support border security, law enforcement, naval operations, and undersea infrastructure protection.

Headquartered in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington, DC, and global deployment hubs, Saildrone operates missions worldwide. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense technology—where data turns into intelligence, and intelligence drives action.

The Role

You will develop and maintain the web applications that enable Saildrone operators to control our global fleet of autonomous drones, as well as the customer-facing platforms that deliver actionable maritime intelligence to users around the world. Furthermore, you will work on the internal tools that support the production and maintenance of our drones, helping teams operate efficiently at scale. We’re looking for a self-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments and is willing to dive deeper into the stack when needed. You should be comfortable taking ownership of complex features from concept to deployment without the close support of product managers or designers.

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.

Required skills and experience

• 5-8 years of software development experience
• BA / BS in related field or equivalent experience
• Extensive experience with modern frontend development frameworks (React + Redux or equivalents)
• Have written production-grade ES6+ JavaScript
• Working knowledge of jQuery / VanillaJS
• In-depth knowledge of HTML and the DOM
• CSS and related preprocessors
• Experience with testing frameworks such as Jest, Cypress, Vitest, React Test Library etc.
• Experience working with CI / CD
• Solid understanding of common software design patterns
• Experience leading and executing on projects at the team level
• Experience working with agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)

Desired skills and experience

Physical requirements : Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.

Location : This position is hybrid in Alameda, CA (Onsite 3 days per week required). Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda.

All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. Please note that the Company does not sponsor employees for work visas or permanent resident cards to work in the U.S. If you need sponsorship for a work visa or green card, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.

Benefits :

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $176,400-$226,800 annually.

Catch up on the latest news about us :

Danish Military Using Robotic Sailboats for Surveillance in Baltic and North Seas – AP

USVs Guarding the Global Backbone – Inside Unmanned Systems

NATO Testing Baltic Sea Drones to Track Russian Warships, Freighters – Defense News

US Navy Saildrones On – SIGNAL Magazine

The British Engineer Behind the US Navy’s High-tech Ocean Drones – The Times of London

Counter-drug Sea Drones Utilized by Navy as Trump Ramps Up Military Resources at the Border – Fox News

Saildrone, Palantir Partner to Use AI to Streamline USV Manufacturing, Operations – Breaking Defense

An Underwater Mountain was Newly Discovered off California Coast – San Francisco Chronicle

TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2024 : Saildrone

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, relevant experience, and the ability to deal with complexity and problem solve within our organization, among other factors.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Any unsolicited resumes / candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of employees of Saildrone are considered property of Saildrone and are not subject to payment of agency fees.

#LI-Hybrid

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