About Us

Saildrone is an oceanographic survey and maritime defense company creating a paradigm shift in how navies, civil governments, and commercial organizations obtain the real-time, accurate data required to monitor and protect our oceans. Saildrone’s fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) carry purpose-built payloads supporting border protection, critical infrastructure security, hydrographic survey, offshore energy, and metocean monitoring. Powered by renewable wind and solar energy, Saildrone USVs provide long-duration operations measured in months, not days. Proprietary software applications and machine learning technology transform collected data into actionable insights and intelligence.

We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington DC and St. Petersburg, FL, and operate missions worldwide. We are backed by top-tier investors in the frontier tech and sustainability sectors, including Social Capital, Capricorn, Lux Capital, BOND Capital, and Emerson Collective.

This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting-edge intersection of big data services and autonomous hardware. You will be part of a high-performing, multidisciplinary team that delivers high impact for humanity and future generations.

The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Business Operations Specialist supporting Drone Fleet operations with a focus on finance, utilization, and planning to join our dynamic team. This role will be responsible for optimizing financial operations, streamlining processes, and supporting the operational health of the drone fleet. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in finance, business analysis, and operational management, with the ability to work cross-functionally to enhance the company’s overall efficiency and profitability.

The business operations specialist will create and manage all purchase orders required to support fleet and field teams, globally. They will also work to align all spending to budget accounts and track accuracy of spending across multiple projects and missions. In addition, the person will work to track drone utilization metrics, measuring against defined KPI’s and tracking and managing drone communication costs through multiple sources.

This role reports into Fleet Operations Director.

Responsibilities

• Financial Operations Management:
  • Oversee day-to-day financial operations of the fleet organization, including budgeting, forecasting, PO creation, invoice approvals, and cost reconciliation.
  • Manage Corporate Credit Card spending and align with required tracking tools for proper cost accounting.
  • Support the finance team in maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting and cost accounting.
  • Monitor key financial metrics, analyze variances, and assist in the preparation of financial statements.
  • Setup new vendors into Netsuite.
• Process Improvement:
  • Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs within financial operations.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and enhance financial controls.
  • Lead or participate in finance-related system implementation or upgrades, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Strategic Support:
  • Drone Utilization Tracking: monitor and update drone tracking tools which capture the functional drone utilization for a mission life cycle. Create reports to senior leadership regarding defined KPI’s related to drone health and mission success.
  • Manage drone communications tracking and invoicing related to all communication and data transfer systems from the drone via satellite based systems (Certus & Starlink).
  • System Administrator: Help administer some of the operational systems used by the department. Set-up and maintain processes in our ERP (Netsuite), administer our fleet management system (Fleetio), and technician work hour tracker (Harvest) for time tracking.
  • Work closely with senior leadership to align financial operations with company goals and strategies.
  • Provide recommendations on business strategies based on financial performance analysis.
• Compliance and Risk Management:
  • Ensure adherence to financial regulations, internal controls, and company policies, working with Financial teams.
  • Identify potential risks in financial operations and recommend mitigation strategies.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Operations Research, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in financial operations, business analysis, or a similar role.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data.
• Proficiency in financial software (ERP systems, Netsuite, SAP) and advanced MS Excel skills.
• Experience with process improvement initiatives, related to business administration processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work cross-functionally.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management abilities.

Key Competencies

• Strong financial acumen and business operations knowledge.
• High throughput administrator of financial and operational processes
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Collaborative team player with a solution-oriented mindset.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to work in an office and manufacturing environment.
• Able to sit for periods of time working at a desk and computer.

Location: This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda. Even our walls have good karma, our offices mix software development with a hardware production line in the former airplane hangar used to film ‘The Matrix’.

Benefits:

• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, jury duty, sick time and parental leave
• Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision plans, and HSA with employer matching.
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Stock Options
• Annual stipend for continued learning and development
• Quarterly company BBQs at our Alameda HQ (bring your friends and family!)
• Free Bay Area Public Transportation via AlamedaTMA with the BayPass Clipper Card
• Plenty of snacks in our 3 office locations
• Dog-friendly work environment