Autonomy Software Engineer

Front Door Defense; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Unlimited vacation

401k with match

Job summary

Merlin Labs is seeking an Autonomy Software Engineer in Boston, MA to develop and validate software spanning perception, planning, and execution for autonomous flight. You will work across embedded and high-level autonomy, collaborating with domain leads and contributing to simulation, integration, and flight tests to ensure robust autonomy systems.

You will implement algorithms, write and review code, and help shape certifiable systems for aviation.

Qualifications

• BS in computer science, aerospace engineering or robotics required.
• 1+ year (MS 2+ years) of experience developing software for robotic systems.
• Experience with Linux and open-source development tools.
• Experience with Python and C++.
• Experience with ROS, DDS or similar middleware.
• Strong problem-solving and cross-domain collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop software across the aircraft autonomy stack including embedded and high-level autonomy.
• Implement and integrate perception, planning, and execution algorithms.
• Collaborate with domain leads to understand requirements and design intent.
• Contribute to simulation, integration, and flight-test activities.
• Write, test, document and review code to Merlin's standards.
• Help develop certifiable autonomy systems for aviation.

Skills

Python

C++

Linux

ROS

DDS

Multithreading

Education

BS in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or related field

Tools

Git

Job description

Autonomy Software Engineer

Develop and validate autonomous flight software across perception, planning, and execution modules

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

About The Role

Software Engineer

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.

You are a versatile software engineer with a passion for aviation, robotics, and autonomous systems. You are comfortable working across technical domains, from perception and understanding to decision making and human-machine teaming. You take pride in delivering high-quality, maintainable code, collaborate well with other engineers and teams, and like to independently dig into new problems. You're excited to see your code fly in the real world.

Responsibilities:

• Develop software across the stack of an aircraft autonomy system, contributing to lower level embedded systems and higher level autonomy function areas as needed.
• Implement and integrate algorithms for perception, reasoning, decision making, planning, and execution in support of autonomous airborne operations.
• Collaborate with domain leads to understand architecture, requirements, and design intent for specific capabilities.
• Contribute to simulation, integration, and flight test activities to validate autonomy software in relevant environments.
• Write, test, document and review code according to Merlin's development standards.
• Collaborate across Merlin to develop novel, certifiable systems to solve the toughest problems in aviation and autonomy.

Qualifications:

• Degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, robotics, or a related field.
• BS and 1+ or MS and 2+ years of experience developing software for robotic or autonomous systems.
• Experience with Linux and open-source development tools.
• Experience with overall product development cycle, including design, testing, and troubleshooting at the system level as well as at the software component level.
• Experience with both Python and C++.
• Experience with ROS, DDS or similar robotics middleware.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to learn and contribute across different technical domains.

Nice to Have:

• Experience developing autonomy software for aircraft, drones, or other high-integrity systems.
• Experience with state machines, behavior trees, or task planning algorithms.
• Experience with route, path and trajectory planning.
• Experience with perception systems, sensor fusion, or world modeling concepts.
• Experience with multi-agent collaboration and human-machine interfaces.
• Experience with system integration, simulation, or flight testing of autonomous platforms.
• Experience with hardware and software integration and debugging.
• Pilot license and flight experience is a plus.

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: [e-mail]

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