Head of Hardware Engineering - Equity & Startup Impact

Roadrunner Venture Studios; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Hardware Engineering to lead a portfolio company developing rainfall enhancement technology. The role spans architecture, prototyping, qualification, and production-scale manufacturing, applying aerospace rigor to industrial hardware.

You will guide mechanical, thermal, combustion, and controls systems, work with field teams and external partners, and own the hardware program with equity involvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher in mechanical/aerospace or systems engineering.
• Experience leading hardware from concept to production planning.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (SolidWorks/NX) and PLM systems.
• Experience with manufacturing release, drawings, BOMs, and supplier docs.
• Experience with combustion hardware, thermal, fluid, or power systems.

Responsibilities

• Own system architecture across mechanical, thermal, combustion, structural, fluid, and controls.
• Lead hardware development from design through prototypes and production planning.
• Direct combustion/thermal hardware design, fuel handling, and thermal management.
• Define verification methods, lead shop tests, field qualification, and readiness reviews.
• Manage external partners, suppliers, and fabrication firms.
• Drive design for manufacturing and assembly to mature prototypes into production hardware.

Skills

System architecture

Hardware leadership

Thermal & combustion

Mechanical design

Project management

Team leadership

Startup environment

CFD experience

Field operations

Design for manufacturing

Supplier coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in ME / Aerospace / Systems Eng

Tools

SolidWorks

NX CAD

PLM systems

Job description

Roadrunner Venture Studios is seeking a Head of Hardware Engineering to lead a portfolio company developing rainfall enhancement technology. The role spans architecture, prototyping, qualification, and production-scale manufacturing, applying aerospace rigor to industrial hardware.

You will guide mechanical, thermal, combustion, and controls systems, work with field teams and external partners, and own the hardware program with equity involvement.