Director, Information Technology - North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA

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, ...

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

As Director of IT & Infrastructure, you'll build, lead, and scale REGENT's IT function across multiple locations - including RI HQ, DC office, remote employees, and our upcoming manufacturing facility. This is a foundational leadership role that bridges strategy, operations, technology, security, and compliance.

You'll own the design, implementation, and operation of the company's IT infrastructure - from networks, servers, and endpoints to SaaS systems, identity management, and cybersecurity. You'll establish the systems, processes, and team needed to support a growing workforce, a distributed office environment, and government compliance requirements. This role is critical in enabling both day-to-day operations and the launch of a manufacturing facility, ensuring technology supports speed, security, and scale.

You won't just manage IT - you'll build and grow the team that makes it possible, define scalable IT practices, and implement systems that allow REGENT to execute confidently across engineering, manufacturing, and business operations. If you thrive at the intersection of technology leadership, operational excellence, and team building, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

• Build and Lead IT Function: Own REGENT's IT strategy and operations across all sites. Hire, mentor, and grow a high-performing IT team capable of supporting a multi-location workforce and manufacturing operations.

• Design Scalable Infrastructure: Build and manage reliable, secure, and compliant networks, servers, cloud services, endpoints, and SaaS systems. Plan IT for the new manufacturing facility, including OT/IT segmentation and shop-floor connectivity.

• Drive Security & Compliance: Define and lead REGENT's security and compliance strategy, ensuring alignment with government regulations and frameworks (NIST, CMMC, ITAR). Establish the policies, controls, and technical foundations needed to protect systems and data across all environments. Oversee identity and access management, vulnerability management, patching, endpoint security, monitoring, and incident response to maintain a strong, scalable security posture that can scale as we grow.

• Enable Operational Excellence: Establish and oversee scalable IT operations across helpdesk, ticketing, onboarding/offboarding, asset management, and lifecycle planning. Define performance standards and implement the systems, workflows, and metrics needed to ensure reliability, responsiveness, and compliance across the organization.

• Manage Vendors and Budgets: Oversee technology vendors, contracts, and IT budgets, ensuring cost-effective solutions that support growth.

• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, and People teams to ensure IT enables business objectives, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.

What You'll Bring

• Proven IT Leadership: Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-site IT operations across infrastructure, networks, cloud services, SaaS platforms, and endpoints. Experienced in architecting, designing, and deploying solutions across diverse technology stacks to build reliable, scalable, and secure systems for distributed teams, including strengthening security posture through resilient network architecture, access controls, and proactive risk mitigation.

  • Startup Experience Preferred: Demonstrated success building IT systems and teams in fast-growing, high-change environments. Comfortable operating in ambiguity, prioritizing initiatives, and scaling processes from the ground up.

• Compliance & Security Expertise: Demonstrated experience implementing, managing, and maturing security and compliance programs aligned with government frameworks (NIST, CMMC, DFARS, ITAR). Able to translate regulatory requirements into practical controls, policies, and technical architectures that safeguard systems, protect sensitive data, and support audit readiness across a multi-site environment.

• Manufacturing or Production IT Experience: Demonstrated experience supporting high-reliability or manufacturing environments, including planning, deploying, and managing IT systems that integrate operational technology (OT) with corporate IT to ensure secure, reliable, and compliant production operations.

• Team Builder: Track record of mentoring and developing IT teams, scaling processes, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.

• Hands-On Strategic Operator: Comfortable working at both strategic and tactical levels in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

• Collaborative & Communicative: Able to align diverse teams, communicate clearly, and drive accountability while maintaining trust.

Who We're Looking For

• Collaborative Team Player: You believe great things happen when teams work together. You communicate effectively and partner with engineers, manufacturing, compliance, and business stakeholders to align on goals and move initiatives forward. You bring people together, ensuring everyone is on the same page while advancing IT strategy and operations.

• Creative Problem Solver: You excel at tackling complex IT and infrastructure challenges, from resolving critical system outages to designing scalable multi-site networks and cloud architectures. You navigate cross-functional dependencies, balance operational needs with strategic goals, and implement solutions that enhance reliability, security, and efficiency. You address immediate issues while building systems and processes that scale with the company's growth.

• Adaptable & Agile: In a fast-moving startup environment, you adjust quickly to changing priorities and requirements. You approach challenges with a calm, resilient mindset, pivoting as needed while maintaining continuity and progress across IT operations.

• Innovative Mindset: You're driven by curiosity and a passion for technology. You embrace new tools, methods, and approaches to improve systems, processes, and team performance, and you actively seek ways to make IT a strategic enabler for the business.

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.

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.