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Merlin Labs

Autonomous flight control for aircraft

Engineering Manager - Autonomy Planning & Behaviors

Engineering LeadershipConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeBoston, MA, USA$180k - $240k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

  • A degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related subject is required.
  • Strong experience developing software for autonomous systems is required.
  • Several years of experience providing direct management and technical leadership to a team of at least 10 engineers at different levels is required.
  • Broad understanding and familiarity with one or more mission management frameworks, such as behavior trees, hierarchical task networks, state machines, or Petri nets, is required.
  • Familiarity with single- and multi-vehicle autonomy, resource allocation, and decision-making algorithms is required.
  • Familiarity with airborne contingency and emergency management is required.
  • Familiarity with machine learning for complex decision making and behavior generation is required.
  • Familiarity with modern software development workflows and practices, including version control, pipelines, unit testing, and peer review, is required.
  • Experience with the overall product development cycle, including design, testing, and troubleshooting at the system and software component levels, is required.
  • Proficiency writing Python and C++ is required.
  • Familiarity with simulation software, especially aircraft simulation, is required.
  • Experience with proposal writing and technical roadmap development is required.

Responsibilities

  • Drive the technical direction and delivery of autonomous decision-making, behavior execution, and motion-planning capabilities for airborne systems.
  • Guide, mentor, and manage a team of engineers across a broad range of experience levels in developing software capabilities.
  • Identify gaps and define staffing needs to develop and deliver decision-making and behavior capabilities.
  • Ensure decision-making, behavior, and motion-planning technical plans align with short-term research and development objectives, long-term objectives, and the Merlin technology roadmap.
  • Support simulation, integration, and flight-test activities to validate real-world performance.
  • Collaborate across Merlin to develop novel systems addressing aviation and autonomy problems.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience with Zenoh, ROS, DDS, or similar middleware for robotics or autonomy systems.
  • Experience with government open architectures such as A-GRA, OMS, and FACE.
  • Experience developing or using modern avionics systems.
  • Experience with hardware and software integration and debugging.
  • Experience with flight testing uncrewed or crewed aircraft.
  • Awareness of aviation certification standards such as DO-178.
  • A pilot license and flight experience.

About the Company

Merlin Labs

Autonomous flight control for aircraft

Merlin Labs builds autonomous flight technology, focusing on the Merlin Pilot, an autonomous flight system designed to be deployed across aircraft of any size or age. How it works: the Merlin Pilot is an autonomous pilot system that can operate with a human pilot during a transitional phase, increasing safety and trust. It’s designed to be integrated into existing and future aircraft through partnerships with aviation authorities and manufacturers; revenue comes from selling and licensing the technology to operators and OEMs. What makes Merlin different: it emphasizes a scalable, adaptable platform that is validated through regulatory engagement (FAA, CAA NZ) and a phased approach to autonomy rather than immediate full automation. What is the goal: to enable safe, scalable autonomous flight across commercial airlines, cargo operators, and potentially private aircraft, by providing a certified, integrated autonomous flight solution that can be adopted across fleets.

Company size
201-500
Company stage
IPO
Headquarters
Boston, MA
Founded
2019

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