Chief Strategy Lead, Aerospace Autonomy

Merlinlabs; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Unlimited vacation

401k with match

Job summary

Merlin Labs in Washington, DC is seeking a strategic operator to helm corporate strategy across aviation autonomy and government programs. You will partner with executive leadership to convert long-term vision into actionable priorities and roadmaps.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, coordinate with engineering, programs, and business development, and influence decisions in regulated environments, including FAA certification and defense procurement.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years in strategy, operations, or program leadership
• Experience in aerospace, defense, autonomy, robotics, or other highly regulated industries
• Proven ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels
• Experience working with or alongside government customers or complex regulatory environments
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives with measurable impact
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at both executive and technical levels
• Experience in autonomous systems, aviation, or AI-driven platforms
• Familiarity with FAA certification, DoD procurement, or mission-based program development
• Background in management consulting, corporate strategy, or high-growth startups
• Experience scaling strategy in venture-backed or rapidly growing company
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and build structure in evolving environments
• Operator mindset with a track record of driving strategy through execution

Responsibilities

• Partner with executive leadership to define and evolve Merlin’s business and corporate strategy
• Translate long-term vision into clear strategic priorities, roadmaps, and execution plans
• Identify and evaluate new markets, mission sets, and customer segments across commercial and government domains
• Develop go-to-market and growth strategies in regulated and government-contracted environments
• Lead high-priority, cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept through implementation
• Collaborate with Engineering, Programs, and Business Development to ensure alignment between technical development and business objectives
• Support strategy related to FAA certification pathways and defense procurement processes
• Build data-driven analyses, business cases, and executive-level materials to support decision-making and Board discussions
• Assess competitive landscape, partnerships, and ecosystem dynamics to inform strategic positioning
• Act as a force multiplier for leadership by increasing decision velocity and organizational alignment

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical skills

Executive communication

Regulated environments

FAA/DoD knowledge

Government customers

Strategy execution

Startup experience

Education

MBA or equivalent

Job description

Merlin Labs in Washington, DC is seeking a strategic operator to helm corporate strategy across aviation autonomy and government programs. You will partner with executive leadership to convert long-term vision into actionable priorities and roadmaps.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, coordinate with engineering, programs, and business development, and influence decisions in regulated environments, including FAA certification and defense procurement.