Senior Manager, Structures

About the role

Joining REGENT as the Senior Manager, Structures means you will own the technical leadership and execution of the structural discipline critical to the Seaglider's safe operation and regulatory approval. You will guide a team of engineers responsible for ensuring every structural component of the vehicle can endure the demanding conditions of service while meeting the rigorous requirements of certification authorities. This role requires you to translate high-level vehicle requirements into robust structural solutions that balance performance, manufacturability, and safety. You will be the definitive technical authority for all structural matters, fostering a culture of rigor and continuous improvement within your function. Your work will directly enable the vehicle to achieve the necessary structural integrity for both passenger confidence and regulatory compliance. You will build the long-term capability and standards that allow REGENT to scale production without sacrificing engineering excellence.

Key facts

What you'll do

Lead and Develop the Structures

Team: Own the people side of the Structures function - conducting 1:1s, building development plans, identifying skill gaps, and creating a team identity engineers want to be part of. In a matrix org, you're their functional home.

Establish Structural Analysis Standards: Define and enforce the discipline's standards for analysis methods, documentation, configuration control, and review processes - ensuring consistent quality and traceability regardless of which program the work supports.

Own Structural Substantiation and Certification Approach: Lead the team's work toward certification-ready artifacts - margin documentation, allowables basis, and compliance approaches for structural substantiation across programs.

Drive the Composites Knowledge Base: Own the composites allowables and design-values roadmap - understanding what data exists, what testing is needed, and what interim assumptions are in use. Build the team's depth in composite laminate design and analysis.

Manage Key Cross-Functional Interfaces: Partner with Loads & Dynamics on load application, margining conventions, and FEM integration. Coordinate with Flight Physics on CFD-to-FEM workflows. Work with Manufacturing on design-for-manufacturability and how process constraints feed into structural design.

Own Structural Test Planning and Correlation: Define test plans, manage building-block test programs, and own the process for closing the loop between analysis predictions and test results - building a reusable capability the function can apply across programs.

Perform detailed structural analysis for primary and secondary airframe components using current engineering judgment and established methodologies.

Interpret and apply regulatory guidance and certification standards to ensure structural designs satisfy all necessary safety and performance criteria.

Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation that supports design decisions, verification activities, and regulatory submissions.

Collaborate with external partners and suppliers to ensure deliverables meet REGENT's exacting structural and quality requirements.

Champion continuous improvement initiatives within the structural engineering group to enhance efficiency, reliability, and technical insight.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive experience in structural engineering, with a demonstrated track record of managing complex aerospace projects from concept through detailed design.

Holds a Bachelor's or advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related technical field, with a strong foundation in mechanics of materials, structural mechanics, and composite design.

Possesses deep, hands-on expertise in both composite and metallic structural analysis, including experience with laminate theory, failure criteria, and detailed layup design.

Demonstrated ability to lead and develop technical teams, including mentoring junior engineers, conducting performance discussions, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance environment.

Proven experience using finite element analysis tools such as Nastran to build detailed models, conduct trade studies, and interpret results for complex loading conditions.

Direct experience in structural substantiation for certification programs, including managing margin philosophy, allowables, and safety factors in accordance with regulatory expectations.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical findings into clear documentation and compelling arguments for regulatory review and cross-functional stakeholders.

U.S. citizenship or eligibility is required to meet ITAR and other regulatory compliance needs for this role.

Nice to have

Extensive hands-on experience with composite manufacturing processes such as autoclave, infusion, and out-of-autoclave techniques and a clear understanding of how process choices influence structural performance.

Prior exposure to wing-in-ground-effect vehicle design or high-speed marine craft structural concepts, providing context for unique vehicle challenges.

Experience with structural test planning, hardware qualification, and test correlation activities in a regulated environment.

Practical notes

Full-time onsite role based in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA.

U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required due to ITAR and regulatory constraints.

Travel is generally minimal but may be required for supplier visits, regulatory meetings, or testing activities.