Director, Defense Mission Integration

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 The Director, Defense Mission Integration is the bridge between REGENT's technical subject-matter experts and our government partners, turning Seaglider capability into operations a service member can plan, train for and execute. You will take mission needs from the Navy, Marine Corps, Joint Force and allied partners and shape them into concepts of operation, vignettes, test events and deliverables that engineering, test and maritime operations teams can build to. In the other direction, you will brief the government on what the vehicles can and cannot do today, so expectations stay honest and credibility builds with every event. REGENT Defense is the business unit within REGENT focused on the defense market: business development, proposal, capture and execution, international engagement, and capability development. You will sit at the center of that work, reporting to the VP, Defense, managing a Mission Assurance Manager, and working daily with Engineering, Performance, Test, Maritime Ops, Manufacturing and Contracts. 🔧 WHAT YOU'LL DO Operationalize the Seaglider - Translate Navy, Marine Corps, SOF and allied mission needs into concepts of operation, mission vignettes and operational requirements for all Seaglider variants - Define mission profiles (ISR, ASW and mine warfare, logistics, search and rescue, contested logistics) and the conditions under which each is demonstrated, tested and eventually fielded - Develop the concepts, procedures and training material that make Seaglider operations repeatable for service members, working closely with Maritime Ops, which owns launch and recovery, on sustainment and support - Own the path from experiment to program of record: capture what each exercise proves, what it does not, and what the next event must demonstrate Be the interface between technical SMEs and the government - Translate government requirements into engineering, test and performance inputs, and translate test data, signatures and limitations back into language operators and program offices act on - Chair the integration working group across Engineering, Performance, Test, Maritime Ops and Manufacturing, and keep payload, interface and power requirements aligned with mission plans - Own the interface documentation and customer-facing technical products: ICDs, payload integration plans, mission plans and test and demonstration reports - Track technical risks, action items and open issues that affect demonstrations and deliveries, and escalate early Plan and lead exercises, demonstrations and experiments - Plan and execute demonstrations and joint exercises with U.S. and allied partners, from the first planning conference through the after-action debrief - Integrate partner and third-party payloads, sensors, comms and autonomy onto REGENT platforms, including government-furnished equipment and CRADA or consortium partners - Run lessons-learned cycles after every event and feed them into design, procedures and the next test plan Execute contract deliverables - Plan and deliver contractual reports, demonstrations and analyses across multiple defense awards (OTAs, CRADAs, FAR-based contracts), on schedule and to a high standard - Work with Contracts and your Mission Assurance Manager on deliverable schedules, data rights and distribution restrictions, security requirements (DD-254, CUI) and customer-furnished equipment custody - Contribute operational and technical content to proposals, white papers and quad charts (see basic business development below) Engage government and allied stakeholders - Build and maintain relationships with program offices, warfighting labs, test and experimentation organizations, fleet and component staffs, and allied defense partners - Represent REGENT at exercises, working groups, site visits and industry events, and brief senior government and military leaders Lead the team and support growth - Manage a Mission Assurance Manager who owns contract deliverable tracking, reporting and compliance, and set priorities so deliverables stay tied to mission plans - Support basic business development: shape opportunities with customers, contribute to capture plans and briefings, and carry operational insight from events back into proposals and follow-on work - Travel of up to 20% is required, including customer sites, exercises, test events and industry events, in the U.S. and occasionally abroad WHAT YOU'LL BRING - Significant experience in military operations, operational planning, test and experimentation, acquisition, or research and development, ideally in maritime, naval, expeditionary or unmanned systems - A record of working between operators and engineers: writing concepts of operation, scoping requirements, and explaining technical limits to non-technical senior audiences - Experience planning and leading exercises, demonstrations or fleet experiments from planning conference through debrief - Working knowledge of DoD contracting vehicles (OTAs, CRADAs, FAR-based contracts, BPAs, IDIQs) and how deliverables, data rights and security requirements are managed - Strong written and verbal communication, including briefing flag officers, program managers and allied counterparts - Grit, a bias for action, and comfort in a fast-moving startup environment where hardware is still maturing and plans change - Eligibility for, or an active, Secret clearance or higher Bonus experience - Experience with defense innovation organizations (DIU, DARPA, NavalX, AFWERX, Army Applications Lab) or experimentation venues such as fleet exercises and warfare center test events - Mine warfare, ASW, ISR, logistics or search and rescue mission experience - Experience with unmanned or autonomous maritime or aviation systems, including launch and recovery and payload integration - Experience working with allied and international defense partners - Familiarity with safety, test and evaluation processes, and security programs (DD-254, CUI, NIST 800-171, CMMC) 🔍 WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR - Translator: You can move between an engineer's whiteboard and a flag officer's brief without losing either audience - Operator at heart: You think about how a sailor, Marine or airman will actually use the system, in weather, at night, with limited support - Honest broker: You set expectations the vehicle can meet, and build trust by delivering what you said you would - Adaptable and calm under pressure: You keep progress moving when schedules compress, weather slips or a prototype breaks - Mission-driven: You take pride in delivering capability that supports the warfighter, with startup speed and defense-program discipline 🌟 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. 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.