Director, Mission Autonomy

Merlin Labs

. Lead the design, development, integration, verification, and delivery of Merlin's Mission Management Computer software and integrated system .

Posted 10/27/2026full-timeBoston • Massachusetts • United StatesLead💰 $220,000 - $290,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading the design and development of mission autonomy software, integrating AI capabilities, and managing complex software systems in safety-critical environments. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing engineering teams while ensuring adherence to rigorous software development practices and quality standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Software ArchitectureEmbedded Software IntegrationAI Model IntegrationEngineering LeadershipCI/CD Practices

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

C++PythonAutomated TestingConfiguration ManagementVersion ControlDefect ManagementUnit TestingIntegration TestingRegression TestingHardware-in-the-Loop Testing

Soft Skills

Team LeadershipTechnical Risk ManagementStakeholder EngagementCommunication SkillsProblem-Solving

Tools & Technologies

Continuous IntegrationMiddlewareReal-Time Operating SystemsEmbedded LinuxAI AcceleratorsROS 2Simulation ToolsFlight-Test Integration

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree in Software EngineeringBachelor's Degree in Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Industry Keywords

Mission AutonomySafety-Critical SystemsAviation SystemsAirborne SoftwareDO-178CMilitary Mission SystemsGovernment Open Architectures

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsLinuxPythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the design, development, integration, verification, and delivery of Merlin's Mission Management Computer software and integrated system
Develop a roadmap for evolving Mission Autonomy capabilities into a stronger competitive advantage
Own architecture and implementation of mission autonomy application software, including mission management, planning, decision-making, behavior execution, situational awareness, and AI-enabled functionality
Establish and maintain software development practices covering requirements traceability, design reviews, coding standards, peer review, automated testing, continuous integration, defect management, and configuration control
Own comprehensive software verification strategies, including unit, integration, regression, performance, robustness, and hardware-in-the-loop testing
Control software baselines, dependencies, AI model versions, build environments, release artifacts, and deployed configurations
Integrate mission autonomy applications with embedded hardware, operating systems, drivers, middleware, and platform services
Integrate trained and optimized AI models into the mission autonomy software architecture
Partner with Feature Systems Engineering, Vehicle Autonomy, Safety, Airworthiness, Virtual Test Environment, and Flight Test on system integration and validation
Lead, develop, and scale a multidisciplinary software engineering organization
Own engineering planning, staffing, execution, technical risk management, and delivery commitments
Represent Mission Autonomy in architecture reviews, technical decisions, customer engagements, and executive-level program discussions
Lead the engineering organization responsible for delivering the Mission Management Computer embedded software system for Merlin's artificial airmanship capabilities

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline
15+ years of experience developing complex software systems, including substantial experience delivering embedded, real-time, autonomous, or safety-critical products
7+ years of engineering leadership experience, including management of multiple engineering teams or engineering managers
Demonstrated success leading software development from architecture through verification, integration, release, and operational deployment
Experience integrating AI powered autonomous stack to enhance intelligent software capabilities in operational products
Deep understanding of CI/CD, automated testing, configuration management, version control, static analysis, defect management, and controlled releases
Strong experience in software architecture, embedded software integration, distributed systems, middleware, and hardware/software interfaces
Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing engineering teams while meeting technical, schedule, and quality objectives
Demonstrated knowledge of unit, integration, system, regression, and hardware-in-the-loop testing
Experience implementing and maintaining software configuration management, build reproducibility, and release processes
Working knowledge of C++ and Python
Familiarity with aviation systems, airborne software, flight operations, or comparable safety-critical operating environments
Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship now or in the future
All job offers are contingent upon passing background and reference checks
Nice to have: experience with airborne mission systems, aviation assurance processes such as DO-178C, real-time operating systems, embedded Linux, GPU or AI accelerators, AI model lifecycle management, ROS 2/DDS/Zenoh, simulation and flight-test integration, military mission systems, government open architectures, or pilot qualifications

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Life insurance
Flexible paid time off
401k with match
Professional development support
Catered lunches
Snacks
Coffee, tea, and other beverages
Work/life integration
Highly competitive equity grants