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Merlin Labs (NASDAQ: MRLN) is a publicly traded aerospace and defense company developing autonomous flight systems (the Merlin Pilot) for commercial and defense aircraft. The company has proven its autonomy platform through hundreds of autonomous flights and operates test facilities in New Zealand, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
You will own the avionics integration architecture across Merlin's multiple aircraft platforms, defining how flight computers, sensors, actuators, communications, power, and software subsystems integrate into certifiable, flyable systems. This is a systems-level role where you set technical strategy and standards for the entire Aircraft Engineering team, including interface control documents, integration test methodology, and design review criteria.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning avionics integration architecture across multiple concurrent aircraft platforms
- Setting integration strategy and technical standards across the Aircraft Engineering team
- Leading systems-level integration and verification of COTS/MOTS avionics, custom hardware, and software components in lab and aircraft installations
- Acting as senior technical authority in design reviews, flight test readiness reviews, and certification discussions with internal leadership, customers, and regulators
- Identifying systemic integration risks across programs and driving root-cause resolution
- Mentoring integration engineers and installation technicians without formal people-management responsibility
- Partnering with Systems Engineering, Software, Flight Test, Certification, and Maintenance teams
- Driving electrical/electronic, mechanical, and software interface definitions and certification documentation
- Supporting aircraft and system integration at domestic and international locations (up to 50% travel, sometimes with short notice)
You will be the technical reference point engineers look to when integration problems lack an obvious owner, turning ambiguity into plans, schedules, and working aircraft.
Requirements:
- BS in Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, or related Engineering discipline (or equivalent experience)
- 8+ years of experience integrating complex systems onto aircraft, with demonstrated ownership of integration architecture across more than one platform or program
- Deep, hands-on experience integrating and debugging systems spanning COTS/MOTS avionics modules, custom hardware, embedded software, sensors, and human-machine interfaces
- Working knowledge of standard avionics interface protocols (Ethernet, ARINC 429, RS-232/422/485, CAN, MIL-STD-1553) and judgment to choose and defend interface architecture
- Track record of leading integration efforts through design review, lab test, and flight test, including managing cross-discipline dependencies and schedule risk
- Experience authoring or approving system schematics, interface control documents, and subsystem architecture diagrams
- Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and act as technical reference point across a team
- Outstanding organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with judgment to prioritize across competing program needs
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including comfort presenting to executives, customers, and regulatory bodies
Nice to have:
- Direct experience with certified avionics on fixed-wing aircraft, particularly flight management systems (FMS), autopilot, or flight control system components
- Working knowledge of environmental qualification and regulatory frameworks: RTCA DO-160, DO-178, DO-254, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810
- Experience standing up integration or systems engineering practices for new programs or platforms from scratch
- Familiarity with lab test equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, current probes, data acquisition, bus analyzers)
- Exposure to aviation/aerospace wire harness design and electro-mechanical system integration
- Experience with design tools such as SolidWorks, Altium, or KiCAD
