How Many People Work at Saildrone? Headcount and Employee Trends

Saildrone Inc. employs roughly 220 people who design, build, and operate uncrewed surface vehicles that collect ocean data for governmental, commercial, and research customers. Recent records show 18 new hires and 24 departures, resulting in a modest contraction in total headcount. The company spans a range of technical, operational, and corporate roles that support both hardware manufacturing and data services.

Engineering is the largest team with 101 employees—about 46 % of the organization—highlighting the strong emphasis on product development, software, and autonomy research. Operations follows with 33 staff members who manage mission planning, fleet logistics, and customer delivery. Business Management (22 employees) and Finance & Administration (17 employees) handle corporate strategy and back-office functions, while Marketing & Product (10 employees) focuses on market positioning and user experience. Smaller groups in IT, Sales & Support, Human Resources, Program Management, and an "Other" category make up the balance of the workforce.

Saildrone’s personnel are primarily concentrated in Northern California. Approximately 131 employees are listed in San Francisco, while 32 are based in Alameda—home to the company’s manufacturing and mission control facility—and 17 work from Oakland. Additional team members operate out of Washington, DC and several smaller hubs, including San Jose, Honolulu, St. Petersburg, Boston, and Colorado Springs. A further 17 employees are distributed across various remote or unspecified locations, underscoring a flexible approach to talent placement.