Head of Hardware Engineering - Combustion Systems - Remote

Roadrunner Venture Studios is recruiting a Head of Hardware Engineering for a portfolio company developing rainfall enhancement technology. The role leads the deployment system from architecture and prototyping through operational qualification and production-scale manufacturing, while managing internal teams and external engineering and manufacturing partners.

Responsibilities:

• Own requirements and architecture across mechanical, thermal, combustion, structural, fluid, gas-handling, controls, and instrumentation systems
• Lead the system from early design through prototypes, integrated builds, field-ready hardware, and production planning
• Lead the design and qualification of combustion hardware, fuel and gas handling, flow and pressure systems, and thermal management
• Define verification methods and lead shop tests, integrated system tests, field qualification, troubleshooting, and failure reviews
• Turn engineering concepts into computer aided design models, drawings, bills of materials, supplier packages, build instructions, and acceptance criteria
• Lead design for manufacturing and assembly so prototypes can mature into reliable production hardware
• Manage engineering, procurement, and construction firms, fabricators, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and other external partners
• Use test data, field observations, supplier feedback, and failure analysis to drive design improvements and production readiness
• Own the hardware schedule, budget, qualification timeline, technical quality, partner deliverables, and production plan
• Recruit, mentor, and manage a small team of hardware engineers
• Work across science, field operations, business, and external partners to resolve technical risks and keep the hardware program moving

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or a related field
• Experience leading complex hardware from concept through prototype builds, operational qualification, and production planning
• High proficiency with computer aided design software such as SolidWorks or NX and product lifecycle management systems
• Experience with engineering release processes, configuration control, drawings, bills of materials, and supplier documentation
• Experience with design for manufacturing and assembly for industrial, aerospace, automotive, robotics, energy, or other complex hardware
• Experience with combustion hardware, thermal systems, fluid systems, gas handling, pressure systems, large field equipment, or power systems
• Experience with test instrumentation, data acquisition, controls interfaces, inspection methods, qualification plans, and operational readiness reviews
• Experience managing engineering firms, fabrication shops, suppliers, contract manufacturers, or engineering, procurement, and construction partners
• Experience supporting field tests or deployments and making engineering decisions under changing operating conditions
• At least three years of experience leading hardware development and developing engineering talent
• Ability to move quickly, take broad ownership, and solve complex problems with limited resources in a startup environment
• Experience with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), especially for combustion, heat transfer, fluid flow, or gas-handling systems
• Experience taking hardware from prototype builds into first-article or low-rate production
• Experience with aerospace, defense, energy, automotive, robotics, or other high-reliability hardware programs
• Experience building a hardware engineering function at an early-stage company