Chief Hardware Engineer — Frontier Tech Leader

Roadrunner Venture Studios; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Hardware Engineering for a portfolio company building rainfall enhancement technology. This hands-on role leads architecture and development across mechanical, thermal, combustion, and control systems.

You will drive prototypes, field-ready hardware, and production planning while coordinating with internal science teams and external partners. Expect travel and long weeks in a fast-paced startup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, systems engineering, or related field.
• Experience leading hardware from concept through prototype builds, operational qualification, and production planning.
• High proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks or NX and PLM systems.
• Experience with engineering release processes, configuration control, drawings, bills of materials, and supplier documentation.
• Experience with design for manufacturing and assembly for industrial/high‑reliability hardware.
• Experience with combustion hardware, thermal, fluid, gas handling, and large field equipment.
• Experience leading hardware development and developing engineering talent.

Responsibilities

• Own requirements and architecture across mechanical, thermal, combustion, structural, fluid, gas-handling, controls, and instrumentation systems.
• Lead the hardware 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 CAD models, drawings, BOMs, 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.

Skills

Hardware leadership

Mechanical design

Thermal systems

Combustion systems

Fluid systems

CFD

Prototype to production

Education

Bachelor's or higher in Mechanical/Aerospace/Systems Eng

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

CAD/PLM

Job description

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Hardware Engineering for a portfolio company building rainfall enhancement technology. This hands-on role leads architecture and development across mechanical, thermal, combustion, and control systems.

You will drive prototypes, field-ready hardware, and production planning while coordinating with internal science teams and external partners. Expect travel and long weeks in a fast-paced startup.