Manager, Aerodynamics

About the role

At REGENT, we’re on a mission to revolutionize regional transportation between coastal cities. We're not just building vehicles, we're creating a new category of transportation: the Seaglider. These groundbreaking wing-in-ground-effect craft travel just above the water’s surface, combining the speed of an airplane with the low operating costs of a boat.

Capable of 180 miles at 180 mph on today's battery tech (and up to 400 miles with next-gen batteries), Seagliders will unlock fast, affordable, and sustainable coastal transit for passengers and cargo - connecting cities, islands, and communities like never before.

Backed by leading investors and powered by a team of passionate, forward-thinking engineers, builders, and operators, we’re now scaling from a breakthrough prototype to full production - and building the team to make it happen.

Role Overview

As the Manager of Aerodynamics, you will lead a talented team ranging from early-career engineers to subject matter experts in aerodynamic methods. You will build on the team’s strengths, support each engineer’s development, and foster a collaborative working environment.

You will own the aerodynamic configuration across our product range, directing the development and validation of models that capture the complex effects of ground effect and distributed electric propulsion (DEP). Your team’s scope will also include internal flows, thermal analysis, intake design, and avionics cooling.

Working closely with hydrodynamics and other engineering teams, you will translate analysis into design, integration, and test decisions. Your team will develop models for Mission Performance and Stability and Control (S&C), provide linearized aerodynamic models to Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), and deliver aerodynamic inputs to Loads and Dynamics (L&D).

If you’re energized by working at the intersection of cutting-edge innovation, real-world impact, and hands-on engineering, you’ll be in the right place - and we’d be thrilled to have you on the team!

What You'll Do

• Lead the aerodynamics group: set priorities, review work, mentor engineers alongside senior staff, and hire as the team grows. Stay hands-on in CFD and test.
• Represent aerodynamics in design reviews, test planning, and certification discussions under the U.S. Coast Guard Design Basis Agreement.
• Set priorities for and sign off on CFD methods and workflow standards for tools such as Star-CCM+ and Flow360, working with the engineers who develop them.
• Own the aerodynamic design and analysis from the current prototype through the production vehicle: wing, high-lift system, control surfaces, and their behavior across hull-borne, hydrofoil-borne, and wing-borne ground-effect operation.
• Provide aerodynamic input to air data system specification, selection, and calibration
• Review and approve wind tunnel and flight-test plans as well as the the correlation of results against prediction, directing model and design updates based on what the data shows.
• Set priorities and approve release of versioned aero databases and reduced-order models to GNC, Structures, and Loads & Dynamics, including CFD-to-loads pressure mapping.
• Analyze effects of blown-wing lift and ground effect, and translate the results into configuration decisions and trade studies.

What You'll Bring

• Hands-On Aerodynamic Design and Configuration Ownership. You have demonstrated professional, hands-on aerodynamic design and analysis experience and have owned the aerodynamic configuration on at least one aerospace, high-speed maritime, or advanced mobility vehicle program from trade studies through design freeze and testing.
• Technical Leadership and Team Development. You have experience mentoring or leading technical teams. You set direction, stay close to the analysis, and help engineers build their skills. You draw on your team’s expertise and bring structure as the vehicle, team, and processes evolve.
• Fluency in CFD and Aerodynamic Modeling. You’ve worked with multiple Navier-Stokes CFD workflows and can run at least one end to end on high-performance computing (HPC) systems. You exercise sound judgment in mesh design, turbulence modeling, convergence, and uncertainty. You’re proficient in empirical methods such as DATCOM and those described by Roskam and Hoerner, and you’ve used doublet-lattice (DLM), vortex-lattice (VLM), and lifting-line methods in aerodynamic modeling.
• Depth in Complex Lifting-Surface Aerodynamics. You have experience analyzing phenomena such as blown-wing or powered lift, ground effect, high-lift systems, or free-surface interaction, and can translate that analysis into design decisions.
• Hands-On Test and Model Validation Experience. You’ve defined and run wind tunnel, flight, or comparable tests. You know how to compare measured results with predictions, use discrepancies to calibrate models, and apply what you learn to improve the design.
• Experience Building Aerodynamic Databases for Commercial Vehicles. You’ve built and maintained aerodynamic databases with reliable version control. You understand how Loads & Dynamics, Structures, and Guidance, Navigation & Control use aerodynamic data, and you coordinate updates so those teams can act on them.
• Experience Applying Certification Requirements. You know how to apply relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) requirements to aerodynamic design and analysis and explain how the evidence supports certification decisions.
• Clear, Evidence-Based Communication. You make trade studies actionable for engineering, program, certification, and leadership teams. You explain what the data supports, where uncertainty remains, and what it means for the decision at hand, even under schedule pressure.

Bonus Experience

• Distributed electric propulsion (DEP), wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicles, seaplanes, or hydrofoils.
• Fluid-structure interaction workflows.
• Preparing aerodynamic data packages for certification.
• Early-stage vehicle development.

Who We're Looking for

• Collaborative Team Player: You believe that great things happen when teams work together. You communicate effectively and collaborate with engineers, stakeholders, and other cross-functional teams to align on goals and move projects forward. You bring people together, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and moving towards a shared vision.
• Creative Problem Solver: You thrive on tackling complex challenges and finding innovative solutions. You don't just patch issues - you improve processes, anticipate downstream impacts, and help turn one-off fixes into scalable solutions that raise the bar for future builds.
• Adaptable & Agile: In a fast-paced, ever-evolving startup environment, you quickly adapt to changing priorities and requirements. You approach challenges with a calm, resilient mindset, and know how to pivot and adjust your approach as needed, ensuring that progress continues without missing a beat.
• Innovative Mindset: You’re driven by curiosity and a passion for technology. You’re passionate about driving continuous improvement, embracing new technologies and methodologies to enhance efficiency, quality, and team performance.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation including a robust equity incentive plan.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance - we cover 100% of your premiums.
• 401(k) with company matching, so you can plan for the future.
• Generous flexible time off, paid parental leave, and company-wide holiday breaks.
• Relocation packages available for those moving to join our team.
• Daily, free catered lunches
• Learning & professional development opportunities

• If you’re ready to take on an exciting challenge, grow with us, and make a lasting impact, we want to hear from you.
• Even if you don’t meet every requirement, but you see yourself contributing to our mission, we encourage you to apply!
• We value diverse skillsets and experiences and believe in the potential of passionate individuals to make a big impact.