Head of Hardware Engineering

Roadrunner Venture Studios is recruiting a Head of Hardware Engineering for a portfolio company developing rainfall enhancement technology.

You will lead the deployment system from architecture and prototyping through operational qualification and production-scale manufacturing.

You will apply aerospace rigor to industrial hardware that must operate reliably in the field and support repeatable manufacturing at automotive scale. The work spans mechanical, thermal, combustion, fluid, structural, controls, and instrumentation systems.

This is a hands-on role. You will work with internal science and field teams and lead external engineering firms, fabricators, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.

This role includes significant equity.

This is an early-stage startup building something that has not been built before. Priorities will change quickly. If this working environment does not excite you, this role is probably not for you.

What You Will Do

Technical Leadership

• System Architecture: Own requirements and architecture across mechanical, thermal, combustion, structural, fluid, gas-handling, controls, and instrumentation systems.
• Hardware Development: Lead the system from early design through prototypes, integrated builds, field-ready hardware, and production planning.
• Combustion and Thermal Systems: Lead the design and qualification of combustion hardware, fuel and gas handling, flow and pressure systems, and thermal management.
• Qualification and Field Operations: Define verification methods and lead shop tests, integrated system tests, field qualification, troubleshooting, and failure reviews.

Manufacturing and External Partners

• Turn engineering concepts into computer aided design models, drawings, bills of materials, 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.

Business and Team Management

• Outcome Ownership: Own the hardware schedule, budget, qualification timeline, technical quality, partner deliverables, and production plan.
• Team Building: 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 hardware program moving.