Technical Operations Engineer

THE POSITION

Saildrone is seeking a Technical Operations Engineer to join our European Fleet Management team. Reporting directly to the Operations Director in Denmark with an indirect line to our Director, Technical Operations, you will play a critical role in ensuring the reliability, performance, and readiness of Saildrone’s autonomous surface vehicles across their full lifecycle—from production through global deployment in environments ranging from the eye of a hurricane to the Arctic.

We are looking for a systems-minded engineer who thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly from problem to root cause, and translates real-world vehicle performance into actionable engineering and operational improvements.

THE TEAM

The Technical Operations team ensures Saildrone’s autonomous systems perform reliably in the world’s most demanding maritime environments. We partner with Engineering, Production, and Operations to bridge design and deployment, accelerate product iteration, and deliver resilient systems that support national security and maritime intelligence missions.

Based in Copenhagen, you will thrive in an ambitious, fast-paced Nordic culture. We maintain a flat organizational structure where open communication with leadership is encouraged daily. This role offers the opportunity to integrate with both our local Danish entity and our broader US operations, working alongside dedicated professionals passionate about maritime innovation. We offer comprehensive onboarding and a clear path for professional growth. Compensation includes an attractive salary and pension package, supplemented by health insurance to support your well-being.

This position provides a varied and exciting daily experience, featuring meaningful challenges and significant opportunities to impact our global autonomous operations.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advanced Diagnostics: Resolve complex hardware, software, and networking issues using Linux command-line tools, telemetry, and shell scripting to ensure mission success.
• Technical Accountability: Take responsibility for technical outcomes for assigned vehicles, including reliability, performance indicators (SLIs/SLOs), and operational readiness.
• Root Cause Analysis: Coordinate root-cause analysis for field failures, assess likely causes using available data, and support corrective actions across design, process, and tooling.
• Engineering Collaboration: Work closely with Engineering design teams to provide feedback on system architecture and help evaluate solutions through system integration testing.
• Global Deployment: Support global deployments, typically up to 30% travel, including vehicle preparation, troubleshooting, mission execution, and coordination with third-party contractors.
• Incident Response: Participate in on-call rotations to provide real-time troubleshooting for high-priority autonomous fleet incidents.
• Documentation & Knowledge Sharing: Develop clear work instructions, process standards, and technical guidance to support the transition from prototype work to scalable operations.
• Operational Maintenance: Maintain accurate records and inventories while following and contributing to improvements in safety and work standards.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering preferred; Electrical, Mechanical, Systems, Robotics, Software, Aerospace or a related technical discipline.
• 2+ years of experience supporting complex embedded systems, robotics, or autonomous hardware in production or field environments.
• Ability to interpret electrical diagrams, schematics, and mechanical drawings to support repairs and modifications.
• Hands-on experience with serial and network protocols (CAN, RS-485, RS-232, SPI, I2C, and TCP/IP).
• Comfortable working with Linux OS and able to write or understand shell scripts for diagnostic tasks; experience with APIs is an advantage.
• Ability to communicate complex technical failures clearly to cross-functional partners and leadership, including practical narratives, findings, and recommended next steps.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• All work must be performed in accordance with Arbejdsmiljøloven, company safety procedures, required training, risk assessments, and PPE requirements.
• Able to lift and move items up to 14 kg / 30 lbs and perform role-related physical tasks such as bending, kneeling, and standing during a shift, with appropriate safety controls in place.
• Able to use manual precision and visual inspection skills needed for safe operation of tools, precision assembly, and repair work.
• Comfortable working, where properly trained and authorised, in confined spaces, at heights, and outdoors in variable weather conditions, including heat, cold, and wind.
• Able to work around industrial materials while following applicable safety procedures and using required PPE, such as respirators and eye or hearing protection, when needed.
• Travel and vehicle operation: Ability and willingness to undertake planned domestic and international travel, typically up to 30%, including renting and operating motor vehicles where legally permitted and required for the role.
• On-call and working-time arrangements: Ability to participate in agreed on-call rotations/vagttelefon where operational support is required. Any travel, overtime, and on-call arrangements will be planned and managed in accordance with the employment contract, company policy, applicable Danish working-time rules, and the Danish Working Environment Act.
• Able to participate in planned on-call rotations for operational support, working hours will be planned, compensated or handled according to contract/company policy, and aligned with applicable Danish working-time rules.