Full-Time
Merlin Labs
51-200 employees
Develops autonomous flight technology for aircraft
No salary listed
Expert
No H1B Sponsorship
Denver, CO, USA
This is a hybrid position, which implies that the candidate will need to work in-office some days.
- 15 + years of experience developing control systems for fixed wing aircraft, with demonstrated understanding of fixed wing aircraft dynamics, classical and modern control design / analysis
- Experience decomposing systems requirements into high level requirements for both outer loop and inner loop control design
- Experience working in Model Based Development and certification of flight control systems, including proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink or another model-based development toolset
- Experience designing, implementing, and testing software for real-time systems
- Experience developing certified software under RTCA DO-178
- BS in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
- Design and implement flight controls for our aircraft autonomy system.
- Write requirements for high level automation functions and low level flight control.
- Help create and use the simulation tools needed for development and testing including Simulink control law modeling, analysis using MATLAB and Python.
- Participate in flight testing to verify control law performance on multiple aircraft types.
- Write, test, and document Simulink control law models according to Merlin’s development standards, and participate in certification activities.
- Collaborate across Merlin to develop novel, certifiable systems to solve the toughest problems in aviation and autonomy.
- MS/PhD in Aerospace Engineering and/or Controls
- Experience developing aircraft simulations using system identification of flight test data to facilitate the rapid design and testing of flight control systems
- Experience analyzing certification guidance materials for impact on automatic control system design
- Flight test experience writing test cards to validate control system performance and perform failure testing
- Pilots license
- Proficiency in C/C++ or Python
Merlin Labs develops autonomous flight technology, specifically the Merlin Pilot, an advanced system designed to operate aircraft without human intervention. This system can be integrated into various types of aircraft, regardless of their size or age. The technology works by initially pairing the autonomous pilot with a human pilot, allowing for a gradual shift towards full autonomy, which enhances safety and builds trust in the system. Unlike competitors, Merlin Labs focuses on practical implementation and partnerships with aviation authorities and manufacturers to ensure compliance with safety regulations. The goal of Merlin Labs is to transform air travel by making autonomous flight a standard practice in the aviation industry.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$170.8M
Headquarters
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded
2019
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Growing demand for urban air mobility boosts Merlin Labs' market potential.
- Collaboration with Honeywell expands Merlin's reach into civil and military aviation.
- Merlin's Certification System Bench accelerates testing and certification processes.
What critics are saying
- Increased competition from established aerospace companies may challenge Merlin's market share.
- Potential regulatory delays could impact Merlin's commercialization timeline.
- Integration challenges from EpiSci acquisition may divert resources from core projects.
What makes Merlin Labs unique
- Merlin Labs' phased approach ensures safety and builds trust in autonomous flight.
- The Merlin Pilot system is adaptable to any aircraft, regardless of size or age.
- Partnerships with FAA and CAA ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
Unlimited Paid Time Off
401(k) Company Match
Flexible Work Hours
Relocation Assistance
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 7%1 year growth
↑ 3%2 year growth
↑ 7%Merlin collaborated closely with Shadin Avionics to define the system, hardware, and design specifications.
PHOENIX - Honeywell in Phoenix and Merlin Labs, a Boston-based developer of autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on introducing autonomous systems across various aircraft, including military fleets.
Merlin Labs, a U.S. AI startup, announced the acquisition of EpiSci, a company known for its AI flight systems for F-16 jets. This move aims to combine their expertise in AI aviation. Merlin is also collaborating with the U.S. Air Force on an unmanned KC-135 refueling aircraft, with a test flight expected next year. Additionally, they are developing an AI system for unmanned C-130 transport planes. This acquisition positions Merlin as a key player in the AI unmanned flight systems market.
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merlin, the aviation technology company developing the world’s most capable pilot to advance the future of automated flight, today announced its partnership with MIT Lincoln Laboratory (LL) in the first step towards an operational next generation collision avoidance technology. This partnership will see the two organizations explore the commercial adoption of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xu (ACAS Xu) on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The partnership will focus on the initial integration and further implementation of the ACAS Xu software standard (RTCA DO-386) with the Merlin Pilot, allowing Merlin to deliver enhanced automated collision avoidance measures based on the outputs from ACAS Xu that exceed the standards of the National Airspace System. Funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), MIT LL’s ACAS X is an onboard next generation airborne collision avoidance system designed to help pilots and unmanned aircraft safely navigate the airspace, eventually set to replace the current Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS). The ACAS Xu version of the system is tailored for unmanned aircraft systems and is fully compatible with the new airspace procedures and technologies of the FAA’s next generation air transportation system. By partnering with MIT LL to integrate the ACAS Xu software with the Merlin Pilot, progressive steps are being made toward integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System safely and scalably
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merlin, the aviation technology company developing the world’s most capable pilot to advance the future of automated flight, today announced the completion of the design and build of the company’s Certification System Bench, which was built to the fidelity required for certification testing. The Certification System Bench is a flight test simulator with both certifiable software and hardware components that allows Merlin to constantly test its advanced automation systems from its Boston headquarters. Unlike traditional in-flight testing, the Certification System Bench can be utilized irrespective of weather, maintenance schedules, and pilot availability. Further, Merlin’s Certification System Bench features cameras that provide remote accessibility and testing abilities for Merlin’s distributed, global team, and also includes three screens that represent the pilot deck as well as accurate instrument panels and primary flight displays. “In many ways, the Certification System Bench acts as a testing ‘funnel.’ It allows us to test hundreds of cases with speed and ease, selecting edge cases to take to in-flight testing. As a result, we’re able to reduce the use of our test aircraft and keep it for limited cases only,” said Sherif Ali, Chief Engineer for the certified Merlin Pilot project