Chief Hardware Architect for Field-Ready Systems

Roadrunner Venture Studio; Albuquerque (NM); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Significant equity

Job summary

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Hardware Engineering to lead the portfolio company’s hardware program, from architecture to production. You will oversee system architecture across mechanical, thermal, combustion, and controls, and manage external partners while driving design for manufacturing and qualification.

This hands-on role requires significant equity and demands startup agility, frequent travel, and potential weeks with 50–60 hours.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field.
• Experience leading hardware from concept through prototype to production.
• Strong CAD and design-for-manufacturing experience.
• Experience with propulsion, combustion hardware, thermal systems, CFD.

Responsibilities

• Own system architecture across mechanical, thermal, combustion, structural, fluid, gas-handling, controls, and instrumentation systems.
• Lead hardware development from early design through prototypes, integrated builds, field-ready hardware, and production planning.
• Lead combustion and thermal system design and qualification for 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 CAD models, drawings, BOMs, supplier packages, build instructions, and acceptance criteria.
• Lead design for manufacturing and assembly so prototypes mature into 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 program moving.

Skills

System Architecture

Hardware Development

Combustion & Thermal Systems

Qualification & Field Operations

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

Job description

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Hardware Engineering to lead the portfolio company’s hardware program, from architecture to production. You will oversee system architecture across mechanical, thermal, combustion, and controls, and manage external partners while driving design for manufacturing and qualification.

This hands-on role requires significant equity and demands startup agility, frequent travel, and potential weeks with 50–60 hours.