Vice President of Systems Engineering

Overview

Be among the first 25 applicants. Merlin is a venture-backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable reduced crew and uncrewed flight. We are scaling to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve aviation’s biggest challenges.

About You : You are a systems thinker who can see the big picture in complex, interdependent aerospace systems. You translate mission-level goals and customer needs into clear technical direction, bridging operational use cases and engineering execution. With deep domain expertise in avionics and autonomous systems, you understand safety-critical software, sensor integration, flight control, and onboard computing. You lead with architectural clarity, cross-functional collaboration, and a focus on long-term scalability and certification readiness.

Responsibilities

• Provide systems-level leadership across the full product lifecycle, including architecture, integration, V&V, and certification
• Translate high-level mission and customer requirements into well-defined system architectures and technical requirements
• Lead the design and integration of complex autonomous systems, including avionics, flight controls, navigation, perception, and human-machine interfaces
• Bridge customer and technical domains to reflect stakeholder needs and regulatory drivers in the technical roadmap
• Build and lead a world-class systems engineering team with deep expertise in autonomy, avionics, and safety-critical systems
• Develop and manage systems engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure (requirements traceability, interface control, MBSE)
• Serve as technical lead for architecture reviews, design trades, FMEAs, and hazard analyses across subsystems
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering, product, and regulatory teams to ensure safe, certifiable system performance
• Engage with civil or defense certification authorities (e.g., FAA, DoD) and align with applicable regulatory frameworks

Qualifications

Nice to Have

Location, Relocation, and Benefits

This position is based on-site at Merlin HQ in Boston, MA. We offer a flexible hybrid in-office schedule. We provide comprehensive relocation assistance to help you with moving expenses and housing guidance.

On-site perks include catered lunches, snacks, beverages, and other conveniences to support your workday. Merlin aims to create an environment where you can thrive professionally and personally.

Benefits include health, dental, life insurance, unlimited vacation, and a 401(k) with match. Merlin is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. All offers are contingent upon background and reference checks. Visa sponsorship is not available at this time; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact people@merlinlabs.com. Merlin Labs does not accept unsolicited resumes except directly from candidates.

Additional

Merlin Labs is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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