Facilities Engineer

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 execute small-to-medium capital facility improvement projects while communicating clearly with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift/move up to 75 lbs and maintain physical activity (bending, kneeling, standing, climbing, and reaching) throughout a full shift.
• High manual dexterity and visual acuity for the safe, prolonged operation of power tools, testing equipment, and precision mechanical assembly.
• Comfort working in challenging settings, including confined spaces, working at heights, and working outdoors in variable weather conditions for prolonged periods.
• Ability to work around industrial materials (dust, fumes, adhesives) while strictly adhering to PPE requirements, including respirators and eye/ear protection.