Software Certification Engineer

REGENT; North Kingstown (RI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity incentive plan

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Flexible time off and parental leave

Relocation packages available

Free catered lunches

Learning & professional development

Job summary

REGENT is hiring a Software Certification Engineer to lead software and airborne electronic hardware (AEH) certification for the Seaglider program. You’ll review and approve certification artifacts and act as REGENT's software certification lead with USCG and LR, shaping a DO-178C-like process for certification and liaising with regulators and suppliers.

You’ll work across engineering teams, suppliers, and authorities, ensuring compliant artifacts and audit readiness, while helping build

Qualifications

• Experience approving certification artifacts and interfacing with regulators.
• Knowledge of RTCA DO-178C and ideally DO-254.
• Ability to oversee supplier artifacts and audits.
• Strong cross-functional communication with engineers and regulators.

Responsibilities

• Develop and approve compliance artifacts and certification data as software certification lead.
• Liaise with USCG and Lloyd's Register on software and AEH compliance.
• Tailor DO-178C-like processes for Seaglider certification and methods of compliance.
• Oversee supplier artifacts to meet regulator expectations.
• Audit internal processes and prepare for external audits by regulators.
• Maintain an audit-ready record of findings and compliance data.

Skills

DER experience

Regulatory liaison

Auditing experience

Cross-functional communicator

Tools

RTCA DO-178C

DO-254

Job description

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

REGENT is hiring a Software Certification Engineer to hold engineering approval authority for Viceroy's software and airborne electronic hardware (AEH), and to help guide REGENT and its suppliers through a certification process built on RTCA DO-178C but tailored for Seaglider certification with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and a classification society such as Lloyd's Register (LR). You'll review and approve software and AEH compliance artifacts, both REGENT's own and those produced by key suppliers like motor, battery, and actuator vendors, act as an internal software quality assurance auditor, and help facilitate external software process audits from regulators.

What You'll Do

• Develop and approve compliance artifacts. Help develop and review software and AEH certification data, and approve findings as REGENT's software certification lead on the program.
• Liaise with certifying and classification authorities. Serve as a primary point of contact with USCG and Lloyd's Register on software and AEH compliance, with the FAA available in a supporting role to USCG.
• Guide certification strategy. Help tailor REGENT's DO-178C-like process for Seaglider certification and establish methods of compliance for software and AEH.
• Oversee supplier artifacts. Work with key suppliers, including motor, battery, and actuator vendors, to help them produce software and AEH certification artifacts acceptable to USCG and LR.
• Audit internal process adherence. Act as REGENT's internal software quality assurance auditor, confirming the software team follows its defined development and verification processes.
• Facilitate external audits. Help prepare for and facilitate software process audits from USCG, LR, and the FAA (under direction of USCG).
• Maintain the compliance record. Keep an audit-ready record of findings, methods of compliance, and supporting data, for REGENT and supplier artifacts alike.
• Build the practice. Help REGENT establish a durable, in-house software and AEH certification capability as Viceroy scales toward entry into service.

What We're Looking For

• Software Designated Engineering Representative (DER), or an equivalent experience, ideally covering airborne electronic hardware (AEH) as well.
• Experience in software or AEH certification, including direct experience with RTCA DO-178C (and ideally DO-254).
• Experience approving certification artifacts and representing an engineering organization directly with a certifying or classification authority.
• Experience overseeing supplier or subcontractor software/AEH design assurance.
• Experience with internal software process audits and/or facilitating external regulatory or classification-society audits.
• Working knowledge of SAE ARP4754A/ARP4761 and the means‑of‑compliance process.
• Comfort working across engineering teams, suppliers, and multiple certifying and classification authorities, without formal authority over any of them.

Who We're Looking For

• Trusted regulatory voice. You take delegated approval authority seriously and communicate clearly with regulators, engineers, suppliers, and leadership alike.
• Solutions-oriented. When a supplier's or engineering team's artifacts don't yet meet a compliance requirement, you help find a path to yes.
• Builder. You want to help stand up a new certification practice, not just operate inside an established one.
• Cross-functional connector. You're comfortable being the link between REGENT's engineering teams, outside suppliers, and certifying and classification authorities.
• Adaptable & agile. You adapt quickly to changing priorities in a fast-paced startup environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation including a robust equity incentive plan to reward your contributions to our success.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, we cover 100% of your premiums (including dependents!).
• 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 with the chance to make a direct impact on the company's growth and success.

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.