Director, AI Core Software

Quiet Capital; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 252,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Catered lunches

Snacks and beverages

401k with company match

Equity grants

Unlimited vacation

Job summary

Merlin Labs is seeking a technically deep software leader to own the AI Core platform, spanning perception, sensor fusion, planning, and control. You will lead a multidisciplinary team delivering flight-critical autonomy software, ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory alignment.

You will collaborate with executive leadership to translate objectives into roadmaps, recruit top talent, and drive innovation in real-time onboard AI systems while maintaining a fast-paced startup culture.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Engineering, Applied Math, or related subject.
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in Physical AI leadership and engineering management roles.
• Proven track record of shipping production grade AI-based autonomy in safety-critical, regulated environments.
• Deep expertise in real-time perception and sensor fusion, motion planning and control, large-scale AI model training/deployment, or onboard inference systems.
• Strong command of modern software engineering practices including AI model distillation, MLOps, CI/CD, and design-for-safety principles.
• Experience deploying end-to-end data strategy for AI model training, simulation, and edge deployment.
• Experience managing managers, senior engineers, and staff-level contributors, including performance management.
• Ability to define and communicate architectural decisions across organizational boundaries.
• Proficiency in PyTorch, TensorFlow and C++ for real-time embedded environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to document complex technical decisions clearly.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities evolve.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical strategy for Merlin's AI Core platform, spanning perception, sensor fusion, decision-making, planning, and control.
• Lead, grow, and mentor a multi-disciplinary team of AI engineers, robotics engineers, and software engineers working on flight-critical autonomy software.
• Collaborate with the VP of Engineering and CTO to translate objectives into technical roadmaps with milestones.
• Own the architecture of the AI Core stack from data pipelines to onboard inference and control.
• Establish engineering standards, code quality practices, and safety review processes for aviation-grade software.
• Partner with Flight Ops, Systems Eng, and Certification to meet FAA/regulatory requirements.
• Drive integration between AI Core components and avionics/vehicle management systems.
• Recruit senior engineering talent and foster a culture of excellence and psychological safety.
• Represent the AI Core team in cross-functional planning, risk reviews, and stakeholder communications.
• Monitor research and open-source developments and translate promising work into product opportunities.

Job description

About Merlin

Merlin (NASDAQ: MRLN) is a publicly traded aerospace and defense company building a non-human pilot to deliver full-stack autonomy for any aircraft from takeoff to touchdown. The Merlin Pilot autonomy system powers a growing range of aircraft and mission profiles and has been proven through hundreds of autonomous flights from Merlin's global flight test facilities, including Kerikeri, New Zealand; Quonset Point, Rhode Island; and soon, Bedford, Massachusetts. Headquartered in Boston, Merlin is expanding its organization to accelerate the development and deployment of its autonomy platform, helping customers solve some of aviation's most pressing challenges, from pilot shortages to improving flight safety. Backed by some of the world's leading investors prior to its public listing, Merlin continues to advance the certification and commercialization of autonomous flight across commercial and defense aviation.

About You

You are a technically deep software leader who has shipped production AI or autonomy systems in a safety-critical domain. You thrive at the intersection of rigorous engineering and ambitious product vision, and you know how to build and motivate world-class teams working on hard, long-horizon problems.

You hold yourself and your team to the highest standards of software quality and safety - not because the process demands it, but because you genuinely care about the integrity of what you build. You're equally comfortable reviewing a pull request, debating system architecture, and presenting a roadmap to the executive team. You want your work to matter, and there's nothing more meaningful to you than putting reliable autonomous systems into the sky.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the technical strategy for Merlin's AI Core platform, spanning perception, sensor fusion, decision-making, planning, and control.
• Lead, grow, and mentor a multi-disciplinary team of AI engineers, robotics engineers, and software engineers working on flight-critical autonomy software.
• Collaborate with the VP of Engineering and CTO to translate company-level objectives into clear, achievable technical roadmaps with well-defined milestones.
• Own the architecture of the AI Core stack from data pipelines and model training infrastructure through to real-time onboard inference and control.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, code quality practices, and safety review processes appropriate for an aviation-grade software system.
• Partner closely with Flight Operations, Systems Engineering, and Certification teams to ensure AI Core software meets FAA and regulatory requirements.
• Drive integration between AI Core components and the broader avionics and vehicle management systems.
• Recruit senior engineering talent and build a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and psychological safety.
• Represent the AI Core team in cross-functional planning, risk reviews, and stakeholder communications.
• Track and evaluate emerging research and open-source developments relevant to autonomous flight, and translate promising work into product opportunities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Engineering, Applied Math, or a related subject.
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in Physical AI technical leadership and engineering management roles.
• Proven track record of shipping production grade AI based autonomy in a safety-critical, deterministic and highly regulated environment (aerospace, automotive, industrial, medical, or similar).
• Deep expertise in at least one of: real-time perception and sensor fusion, motion planning and control, large-scale next gen AI model training and deployment, or onboard inference systems.
• Strong command of modern software engineering practices including AI model distillation, MLOps, CI/CD, rigorous testing strategies, and design-for-safety principles.
• Experience in deploying end-to-end Data strategy to collect, ingest and curate the data for AI model training, simulation and edge deployment.
• Experience managing the managers, senior engineers and staff-level technical contributors, including performance management and career development.
• Ability to define and communicate architectural decisions across organizational boundaries, including to non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Pytorch, TensorFlow and C++ (or equivalent systems languages used in real-time embedded environments).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to document complex technical decisions clearly and concisely.
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment where priorities and requirements evolve.

Nice to Have

• Background in vehicle dynamics, vehicle control systems, or avionics/Automotive software integration.
• Familiarity with simulation-based validation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, or digital twin development.
• Experience with airborne hardware platforms, embedded Linux, or real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Published research or significant contributions to open-source projects in autonomy, robotics, or machine learning.
• Prior experience at a Series A-C deep tech startup.
• Pilot's license or meaningful hands-on experience with aircraft operations.

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: [e-mail]

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

252000 - 360000 USD a year

The compensation range provided is reflective of base salary only, and is a good-faith estimate based on a wide range of factors. The actual offer will be determined by a variety of factors including the candidate's qualifications, skills, experience, education, and training. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Merlin's total compensation package. Additionally, Merlin offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees.