Director of Mission Autonomy and Airmanship AI

Merlin; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Merlin, headquartered in Boston, MA, is seeking an accomplished engineering leader to drive the Mission Autonomy software stack, including the Mission Management Computer and embedded systems. You will oversee architecture, verification, and release processes, partnering with AI, Core Compute, and Flight Test teams to deliver production-ready autonomy capabilities for aerospace and defense applications.

You will build and scale a multidisciplinary software organization, establish rigorous

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of experience developing complex software systems, including embedded, real-time, autonomous, or safety-critical products.
• 7+ years engineering leadership experience managing multiple teams or managers.
• Experience delivering software from architecture through verification, integration, release, and operational deployment.
• Experience integrating AI-powered autonomous stack to enhance intelligent software capabilities in operational products.
• Knowledge 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 software verification methodologies, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, regression testing, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience implementing and maintaining rigorous software configuration management, build reproducibility, and release processes.
• Working knowledge of C++ and Python, with sufficient technical depth to challenge architectural decisions and guide engineering teams.
• Familiarity with aviation systems, airborne software, flight operations, or comparable safety-critical operating environments.

Responsibilities

• Mission Management System Delivery: Lead the design, development, integration, verification, and delivery of Merlin's Mission Management Computer software and integrated system, providing the platform for artificial airmanship and mission autonomy capabilities.
• Technical Strategy: Develop a robust roadmap on how Mission Autonomy capabilities can evolve into an even stronger competitive advantage to the company in mid to long-term.
• Software Architecture: Own the architecture and implementation of mission autonomy application software, including mission management, planning, decision-making, behavior execution, situational awareness, and integration of AI-enabled functionality, consistent with the overall Merlin Pilot system architecture.
• Software Engineering Excellence: Establish and maintain disciplined software development practices, including requirements traceability, design reviews, coding standards, peer review, automated testing, continuous integration, defect management, and configuration control.
• Software Verification and Validation: Own the development and execution of comprehensive software verification strategies, including unit, integration, regression, performance, robustness, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. Ensure software is thoroughly tested and supported by appropriate verification evidence before release
• Configuration and Release Management: Establish rigorous control of software baselines, dependencies, AI model versions, build environments, release artifacts, and deployed configurations, ensuring reproducible builds and traceability of delivered software
• Embedded Systems Integration: Partner with Core Compute to integrate mission autonomy applications with the embedded hardware, operating system, drivers, middleware, and platform services, ensuring reliable system performance and effective resource utilization
• AI Integration: Work closely with Core AI to integrate trained and optimized AI models into the mission autonomy software architecture, ensuring appropriate performance, interfaces, monitoring, failure handling, and verification of AI-enabled functions
• Cross-Functional Product Development: Partner with Feature Systems Engineering to implement allocated requirements and integrate mission autonomy capabilities into the overall Merlin Pilot architecture. Collaborate with Vehicle Autonomy, Safety, Airworthiness, Virtual Test Environment, and Flight Test on system integration and validation
• Engineering Leadership: Lead, develop, and scale a multidisciplinary software engineering organization. Establish clear ownership, effective technical leadership, measurable engineering performance, and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Program Execution: Own engineering planning, staffing, execution, technical risk management, and delivery commitments for mission autonomy software and integrated MMC releases
• Technical Authority: Represent Mission Autonomy in architecture reviews, technical decisions, customer engagements, and executive-level program discussions, maintaining accountability for software technical integrity and delivery readiness

Skills

Engineering leadership

C++

Python

Embedded software

AI integration

Safety-critical software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Software/Engineering/Aerospace

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

CI/CD

Version control

Static analysis

Job description

Merlin, headquartered in Boston, MA, is seeking an accomplished engineering leader to drive the Mission Autonomy software stack, including the Mission Management Computer and embedded systems. You will oversee architecture, verification, and release processes, partnering with AI, Core Compute, and Flight Test teams to deliver production-ready autonomy capabilities for aerospace and defense applications.

You will build and scale a multidisciplinary software organization, establish rigorous