Vice President of Autonomy

Merlin is a venture backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable both reduced crew and uncrewed flight. Backed by some of the world’s leading investors, Merlin is scaling alongside our customers to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve some of aviation’s biggest challenges.

We’re building the brains of the airplane. As the Vice President of Autonomy, you’ll lead the team responsible for developing Merlin’s core autonomy software—spanning flight control, navigation, perception, decision-making, and higher-level mission behaviors. This role sits at the heart of the Merlin Pilot product and is critical to our mission of enabling safe, airworthy, and intelligent autonomous flight across a diverse fleet of aircraft. You will manage a high-performing software team focused on building and integrating autonomy layers that operate in real time on safety-critical airborne platforms. You'll partner closely with the Systems Engineering, Compute Platform, and Simulation teams to ensure delivery of robust, testable, and airworthy software aligned to the broader product roadmap. This is a hands-on leadership role—equal parts technical strategy/innovation, people leadership, and delivery accountability.

You are a proven technical leader with deep experience in autonomy software—whether from aviation, space, robotics, or high-assurance systems. You know what it takes to build safety-critical autonomy: modular architectures, clear interfaces, strong simulation support, and rigorous development processes. You thrive in fast-paced environments, value clean code and crisp interfaces, and can coach engineers to balance innovation with engineering discipline. You get excited when your software flies.

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, unlimited vacation, 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: people@merlinlabs.com

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