Director, Mission Autonomy

Merlin (NASDAQ: MRLN)

is a publicly traded aerospace and defense company building a non-human pilot to deliver full-stack autonomy for any aircraft from takeoff to touchdown. The Merlin Pilot autonomy system powers a growing range of aircraft and mission profiles and has been proven through hundreds of autonomous flights from Merlin's global flight test facilities, including Kerikeri, New Zealand; Smithfield, Rhode Island; and soon, Bedford, Massachusetts. Headquartered in Boston, Merlin is expanding its organization to accelerate the development and deployment of its autonomy platform, helping customers solve some of aviation's most pressing challenges, from pilot shortages to improving flight safety. Backed by some of the world's leading investors prior to its public listing, Merlin continues to advance the certification and commercialization of autonomous flight across commercial and defense aviation.

About You:

You are an accomplished and seasoned engineering leader with a strong background in developing, integrating, verifying, and delivering complex embedded software products. You have a proven ability to lead multidisciplinary software engineering organizations, establish rigorous development processes, and consistently deliver reliable, high-quality software into operational environments.

You combine deep software engineering expertise with an understanding of autonomous systems, AI-enabled applications, and the challenges of developing dependable software for safety-critical platforms. You understand how to architect software for modularity, scalability, performance, reliability, and maintainability, while maintaining rigorous standards for software testing, configuration management, and release discipline.

You are a firm believer in the potential of AI to solve some of the toughest problems in the domain you operate in and challenge the status quo by taking AI first approach to developing software solution design.

You have sufficient knowledge of aviation systems and operations to understand the environment in which your products operate, collaborate effectively with aviation domain experts, and make informed engineering decisions.

At Merlin, you will lead the engineering organization responsible for delivering the Mission Management Computer (MMC), the embedded software system that hosts Merlin's artificial airmanship capabilities. You will work closely with Feature Systems Engineering, Core AI, Core Compute, Vehicle Autonomy, and Flight Test to transform advanced autonomy technologies and mission requirements into integrated, production-quality airborne systems.

You are a strong technical and organizational leader who can build high-performing teams, develop engineering managers, establish clear accountability, and execute complex development programs with predictable quality and delivery.

Responsibilities:

Qualifications:

Nice to Have:

• Experience delivering airborne mission systems, mission computers, avionics software, or autonomous aircraft capabilities.
• Experience with DO-178C, DO-330, ARP4754A/B, or related aviation development and assurance processes.
• Experience with real-time operating systems, embedded Linux, GPU or AI accelerators, and constrained computing environments.
• Experience integrating AI models and managing their lifecycle within deployed embedded systems.
• Experience with robotics and distributed-system frameworks such as ROS 2, DDS, or Zenoh.
• Experience with aircraft simulation, software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and flight-test integration.
• Familiarity with military mission systems, ISR operations, or commercial aviation operational requirements.
• Experience with government open architectures such as OMS, FACE, or A-GRA.
• Pilot qualifications or direct aviation operational experience.

This position is based on-site at Merlin HQ in Boston, MA.

Once you’re here, you’ll enjoy a variety of on-site perks designed to make your workday enjoyable and convenient. These include catered lunches featuring a rotating menu of delicious options, an assortment of snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day, and a selection of beverages, including coffee, tea, and other drinks, to keep you refreshed.

Our goal is to create an environment where you can thrive both professionally and personally.

Merlin Labs offers an innovative, entrepreneurial, and team-focused startup environment. We also offer a top-notch benefits package (health, dental, life, flexible paid time off, and 401k with match) and work/life integration. Being part of the Merlin team allows you to become part of a small team that supports professional development while working together to achieve our mission.

Merlin Labs is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, military service or obligation or disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All job offers are contingent upon the candidate passing background and reference checks.

At this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or consider candidates who require visa transfers. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to: [email protected]

Merlin Labs does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates.

Compensation: USD 220,000 – 290,000 per year salary