Director, Hardware Engineering

About the role

You will lead and strengthen the hardware engineering organization at REGENT, taking ownership of a growing team responsible for the design, development, and delivery of the Seaglider fleet. This role requires you to build and mature the people, processes, and culture necessary to move from a breakthrough prototype to certified production vehicles. You will own the hardware execution for key programs, establishing the rigor and accountability needed for complex marine aviation systems. A central part of your mission will be coaching functional managers to become stronger leaders who can scale their teams effectively. You will partner deeply with software and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and shared standards. Your work will directly shape the execution framework that enables REGENT's ambitious coastal transit vision. You will be accountable for delivering a more cohesive, scalable, and high-performing engineering organization.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead and strengthen the hardware engineering organization, managing a growing team focused on structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, electrical, and mechanical systems for the Seaglider program.
• Coach and develop functional managers, helping them build higher-performing teams and operate with greater ownership, consistency, and accountability in their decision-making.
• Establish and own the execution rhythm for hardware delivery, creating clear operating cadences, decision-making mechanisms, and accountability systems that keep critical work moving.
• Mature REGENT's hardware engineering processes, including configuration management, design review discipline, documentation standards, release processes, and requirements traceability to support both development and certification.
• Build a stronger leadership layer by creating systems and support that allow the next level of managers and senior technical leads to grow and operate independently at scale.
• Partner closely with software engineering to co-own shared standards and engineering culture, ensuring clear hardware and software integration points across the broader engineering organization.
• Remove blockers and resolve cross-functional tradeoffs quickly, escalating when necessary to maintain momentum and alignment with program priorities.
• Define and implement the hardware side of the engineering operating system, balancing the need for rigor in the current phase with building the foundation required for certification readiness.
• Strengthen execution across programs by translating strategic priorities into measurable progress, enabling teams to deliver consistently against demanding technical and operational goals.
• Build an organization that is stronger, more cohesive, and scalable, preparing the hardware engineering team to execute through certification and into sustained production of the Seaglider.

Requirements

You must possess a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. You must have a minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in engineering or technical roles, with at least 5 years managing people and programs. You must have deep experience in hardware product development, including complex electromechanical systems and integration challenges. You must be highly experienced in configuration management, design reviews, requirements traceability, and documentation standards essential for regulated programs. You must have a proven track record of building and scaling high-performing engineering organizations in a growth-stage environment. You must demonstrate strong execution discipline, including establishing operating cadences, decision-making frameworks, and accountability systems. You must have experience partnering with software and cross-functional teams to define and maintain engineering standards. You must be comfortable navigating ambiguity and leading through complex, multi-threaded programs that require rigorous technical and operational oversight. You must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship at this time.

Nice to have

Experience in the marine, aviation, or adjacent regulated industries is preferred. Experience with certification processes and quality systems relevant to hardware systems is a plus. Familiarity with scaling technology startups and building repeatable engineering processes is highly valued.

Practical notes

This role is based in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA. The engagement is full_time. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.