Mission Manager – Middle East

About the role

Saildrone is seeking a Mission Manager to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of autonomous surface vehicle missions across the Middle East. Reporting to the Manager of Mission Control, you will translate customer objectives into actionable mission plans, ensure fleet readiness, and maintain real‑time operational alignment with internal and external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate global USV missions, conducting feasibility assessments with Sales and Program Delivery.
• Manage regulatory liaison with Coast Guard, Port Captains, and VTS, securing access permissions and reporting.
• Interface with customers via the Mission Portal to align routing, CONOPS, and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Allocate drones daily with Fleet Captains, overseeing deployments, recoveries, and payload status.
• Monitor fleet navigation, weather risks, and anomalies, providing 24/7 tasking to the piloting team.
• Maintain and improve Mission Control SOPs, create training materials, and document processes.
• Provide vehicle performance feedback to Product and R&D teams for quality improvements.
• Ensure operational continuity, meet watch commitments, and uphold COLREGS and maritime safety standards.

Required profile

• Experience in maritime operations, autonomous systems, defense, aerospace, or complex technical environments.
• Working knowledge of navigation, COLREGS, and maritime safety practices.
• Background in command‑and‑control or real‑time mission centers.
• Strong written and verbal communication with technical, operational, and executive audiences.
• Proven ability to prioritize, troubleshoot, and make decisions under pressure.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% and provide on‑call support.

Required skills

• Maritime safety practices
• Maritime operations
• Autonomous systems
• Navigation
• Defense
• COLREGS
• Aerospace
• Command‑and‑control operations
• Real‑time mission environments

What we offer

• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• Equity grants allowing participation in long‑term company value.
• Retirement savings plan with flexible contribution options.
• Annual professional development reimbursement.
• Relocation assistance for eligible candidates.