Manager, Flight Controls & GNC
REGENT · North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
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The posting, as REGENT wrote it
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
We're looking for a Manager, Flight Controls & GNC to lead and grow the group that decides how a Seaglider is controlled from dock to dock: floating, foiling, and flying in ground effect. Three connected areas, across every REGENT vehicle program:
- Guidance and navigation: the autopilot, the layer that turns a route into heading, speed, and altitude commands, state estimation, and height above a moving sea surface.
- Control laws and mode management: the control laws for each regime, the transitions between them, and the mode logic that decides which is active and when.
- Sensors, inceptors, and input selection: the navigation and air-data sensor suite, pilot inceptors and throttles, and the selection and monitoring logic that decides which inputs the vehicle trusts.
You'll do this across multiple vehicle programs at once: a full-scale prototype in flight test today, and our first certified production vehicle, where the control system carries the highest design assurance level on the vehicle. You'll be in the models and on console while you build the team that owns each area. If you've developed control laws that flew, led controls engineers, and you're looking for a control problem nobody has solved yet, you’ll be in the right place!
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Build and develop the team. Lead and develop the strong team already in place while growing it to meet what’s ahead. Identify the structure, capabilities, and additional expertise the group needs; hire thoughtfully to fill those gaps; and create clear ownership and high standards that help the team grow in both scope and impact.
- Stay hands-on where it counts. Review the control models, analyses, and generated code your team ships, and rework them when that's what the next flight calls for. This part of the job will shrink as the team grows, but note that it does not shrink to zero.
- Own the controls release train into flight test. Decide what clears to the vehicle, be on console when it flies, and turn a test day into a tuning decision before the next one.
- Carry the production control system to certifiable. Work with o
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happening, ask the right questions, and step in when your expertise is needed. You know when to dig into a model or flight-test result yourself and when to give your team the space to own the solution.
- Calm Under Pressure: Flight test doesn’t always go according to plan. You bring sound judgment when the data is incomplete, priorities shift, or something unexpected happens - helping the team work through the problem without sacrificing rigor or safety.
- Builder Mindset: You’re excited to build on the strong team and technical foundation already in place. You look ahead to what the controls organization will need next - developing people, strengthening how the team works, and evolving the tools, processes, and capabilities needed as REGENT moves from prototype through flight test and toward production.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Competitive compensation including a robust equity incentive plan.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance - we cover 100% of your premiums.
- 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
If you’re ready to take on an exciting challenge, grow with us, and make a lasting impact, we want to hear from you. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, but you see yourself contributing to our mission, we encourage you to apply! 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.