Fleet Operations Project Controller
SaildroneTHE COMPANY Saildrone is a maritime defense company and the global leader in autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). With more ocean miles and real-world operational experience than any USV manufacturer or operator, Saildrone maintains active, combat-deployed systems supporting national security and force projection around the world, 24/7/365. Saildrone's manufacturing and R&D headquarters are located in Alameda, CA, with business development and sales operations in Washington, DC, and deployment hubs in Europe and the Middle East. By combining proven autonomous operations, edge computing, advanced sensing, renewable power, and the most advanced and robust unmanned surface technology on the planet, Saildrone is shaping how the Navy of the future operates. Join a fast-moving, mission-driven team at the forefront of maritime security and autonomous innovation. THE POSITION Acts as the data-driven engine for scheduling, cost, and execution across Saildrone's fleet programs. The Project Controller owns the integrated project schedule and cost/budget visibility end to end, not just tracking activity, but driving milestones, budget performance, dependencies, and cross-functional accountability from design through commissioning, deployment, and closure. This embedded, highly visible role partners with Engineering, Fleet, Manufacturing, and Program teams, and provides leadership with a clear, data-driven "Single Source of Truth" on schedule, cost, and performance. THE RESPONSIBILITIES Integrated Scheduling & Execution Ownership: Own and maintain integrated mission and drone build schedules in Smartsheet or Microsoft Project, tracking dependencies, milestones, and critical path across design, build, commissioning, deployment, and closure to keep fleet programs on schedule. Cost & Budget Management: Own budget tracking, spend forecasting, and cost performance reporting across fleet programs and missions, identifying variances and cost risks early to keep programs within approved budgets. Foundry/WARP Speed Analytics: Design and maintain executive-level dashboards in Palantir Foundry (WARP Speed) and other reporting tools to visualize drone readiness, schedule, cost, and performance. Variance & Trend Analysis: Identify schedule, cost, and resource risks early through variance and trend analysis; present concise, data-driven updates to leadership (VP/C-level) highlighting progress and risk areas. Cross-Functional Coordination: Act as a central, embedded point of coordination across Engineering, Fleet, Manufacturing, and Program teams, driving accountability and on-time, on-budget delivery across complex, multi-year fleet programs. Systems Integration: Support and enhance Smartsheet, Jira/Atlassian (Confluence), Palantir Foundry, and NetSuite integrations to improve schedule and cost reporting traceability and data flow across departments. Compliance, Documentation & Commissioning Support: Support drone commissioning activities and documentation in alignment with American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and ISO requirements; manage document control for controlled records such as plans, procedures, test reports, and Statements of Work. THE QUALIFICATIONS 5+ years of experience in project controls, project management, or scheduling within a complex or regulated industry (maritime, aerospace, defense, or construction). Demonstrated ownership of integrated project schedules using Smartsheet or Microsoft Project (required); proficiency with Jira and the Atlassian suite (Confluence preferred) for engineering coordination. Experience tracking, forecasting, or reporting on project budgets and cost performance in a program or project-controls environment. Experience developing and presenting dashboards or analytics tools (Power BI, Tableau, Palantir Foundry, or equivalent). Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in business, operations, engineering, or a related field. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and communicate cost, …