Christian

Composites Lead

Saildrone has so much to offer in terms of the work, the people, and the ingenuity driving the company forward.

I have been around Saildrone since the beginning. I did not come from the composites industry, and I had never built anything that sails. But I wanted the chance to learn a completely new skill from the ground up. For me, that was composites.

Composites is a field where you are always learning. There are different ways to make the same part, and every project teaches you something new. Those new challenges mean that a big part of the work is learning how to adjust with your team and get the work done regardless of the obstacles that come along the way.

Production is the foundation of every mission. Before a vehicle can collect data, cross oceans, map the seafloor, or support a customer, it has to be built. Knowing that our work is part of every mission gives a lot of meaning to what we do.

Working at Saildrone can feel like being out on the open ocean. The winds can shift without much warning, but everyone works together to keep the company moving in the right direction. One day, I might be focused on the production schedule and making sure we meet our deadlines. Another day, I’m jumping into a new project or helping repair a vehicle. You never really know where the day will take you.

Working at Saildrone can feel like being out on the open ocean. Everyone has to work together to keep the ship moving in the right direction.

The work is always changing. One day might be production, the next is a new project or repair.

Production is the foundation that makes every mission possible, which makes the work always feel meaningful.

There are always curveballs—that’s what I enjoy most about the job. The direction can change quickly, but the deadlines are the same. You have to think, adjust, work with your team, and find a way to make things happen. That’s what I really enjoy—using my experience, intelligence, and determination to get it done.

What keeps me motivated is knowing that I have watched Saildrone grow from the very beginning and have been part of that growth. It is not easy to stay with a company for so long and hold on to the same drive you had at the start, but seeing Saildrone continue to reach new horizons keeps me engaged. The company has grown from a few guys working in a small room to hundreds building saildrones in a massive hangar.

Saildrone has given me the opportunity to learn a new trade, build a career in composites, and grow into helping manage a small team. The culture here is hard to describe because there is so much inside one company: people from all over the world, with different skills, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. You have to be ready for the challenge, ready to adjust, and ready to be part of the team.