Senior Manufacturing Engineer

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 a Senior Manufacturing Engineer at REGENT, you’ll play a critical role in the way we build Manufacturing at REGENT. Over the next two years, you will help lock in our product cost, rate, and quality for years to come. This role exists because we are at the moment where prototype habits have to become production systems—and we need an owner who can bridge process engineering and floor-level execution to make that happen.

You will own manufacturing execution and process development across fabrication, assembly, finishing, and structural joining. You'll lead the transition from prototype builds on Paladin into a repeatable, production-capable system for Viceroy, while working directly with Advanced Engineering to make sure structures are designed to be built—not just designed to fly.

Success in this role looks concrete. In your first 12–18 months, manufacturing processes are defined, validated, and repeatable. Production runs are stable and not dependent on any single technician. Designs reflect real manufacturing constraints. Tooling, equipment, and processes pull in the same direction. The team is trained and ready to support our first low-rate production builds.

If you've spent your career wanting to build a manufacturing system from the ground up—rather than tuning one that already exists—this is the version of that job that exists right now. Bring your hands, your judgment, and your standards.

What You'll Do

• Lead production execution. Own day-to-day output across fabrication, assembly, and finishing—accountable for schedule adherence, yield, rework, and process stability.

• Define and industrialize the process. Build the standard work, process flows, work instructions, control plans, and PFMEAs that turn craft-level builds into a repeatable production system.

• Embed in design (DFX). Partner with Advanced Engineering through PDR and CDR to influence part segmentation, material and process selection, and assembly strategy before drawings lock.

• Drive process and production standards. Define and validate manufacturing processes; tighten variability drivers; lock down material handling and traceability.

• Integrate tooling, facilities, and automation. Work with tooling and facilities teams on equipment and material flow requirements, and support integration of automation and robotic systems where they earn their place.

• Build technician capability. Develop training paths, visual instructions, certification, and 5S practices so consistency lives in the system, not in a few star technicians.

• Drive continuous improvement. Use production feedback to attack yield loss, cycle time, and variability—measure the baseline, change the mechanism, and prove the improvement.

What You'll Bring

• Strong, hands-on depth in manufacturing. Demonstrated experience across fabrication, assembly, and finishing on real structural parts—not just process oversight.

• A combination of process engineering and production experience. A track record in both: defining processes, DFX, and work instructions on one side, and supporting or leading builds on the floor on the other.

• Proven experience scaling from prototype to early production. You've taken parts from one-offs into low-rate production and know what breaks when rate goes up.

• A record of improving yield, cycle time, or process stability. You can point to specific improvements you drove, with numbers, and explain the mechanism—not just the outcome.

• Working knowledge of manufacturing equipment. CNC machines, presses, and/or forming systems, with a defensible point of view on the tradeoffs between them.

• Comfort influencing design with data. You've pushed back on a design decision early in PDR or CDR because of a manufacturability concern, and you've changed minds.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

REGENT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.