Staff Engineer, Avionics Integration

Merlin Labs; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Merlin Labs in Boston, MA is seeking an avionics integration engineer to own the technical strategy for Merlin Pilot across an entire fleet of platforms. You’ll integrate flight computers, sensors, actuators, communications, power, and software into certifiable, flyable systems.

You will set integration standards, lead cross‑discipline verification, mentor engineers, and collaborate with Systems Engineering, Software, Flight Test, Certification, and Maintenance to ensure end‑to‑end viability

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, or related Engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience integrating complex systems onto aircraft across multiple platforms.
• Hands-on experience with COTS/MOTS avionics modules, custom hardware, embedded software, sensors, and HMI.
• Working knowledge of Ethernet, ARINC 429, RS-232/422/485, CAN, MIL-STD-1553 interfaces and rationale for architecture choices.
• Track record of leading integration efforts through design review, lab test, and flight test.
• Experience authoring or approving system schematics, interface control documents, and subsystem diagrams.
• Ability to mentor engineers and provide technical direction without formal people management.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills with executive-level presentation ability.

Responsibilities

• Own the avionics integration architecture across multiple aircraft platforms.
• Define integration strategy, interface control documents, test methodologies, and design review criteria.
• Lead systems-level integration and verification of avionics, hardware, and software across installations.
• Act as senior technical authority in design reviews, flight test readiness, and certification discussions.
• Identify systemic integration risks and drive root-cause resolution.
• Mentor and provide technical direction to other integration engineers and technicians.
• Coordinate with Systems Eng, Software, Flight Test, Certification, and Maintenance for end-to-end decisions.
• Develop and review electrical/electronic, mechanical, and software interface definitions and docs.

Skills

Avionics integration

Systems engineering

Communication

Mentoring

Presentation to leadership

Education

BS in Electrical/Aerospace/Systems or related Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Altium

KiCAD

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’re a seasoned avionics integration engineer who thinks in systems, not just circuits. You’ve spent years pulling together sensors, computers, software, and airframes into aircraft that actually fly and get certified --- and you’re ready to own the technical strategy for how Merlin integrates the Merlin Pilot across an entire fleet of platforms, not just a single program. You’re comfortable being the person a room full of engineers looks to when an integration problem doesn’t have an obvious owner, and you know how to turn ambiguity into a plan, a schedule, and a working aircraft.

Responsibilities:

• Own the avionics integration architecture across multiple aircraft platforms --- defining how flight computers, sensors, actuators, communications, power, and software subsystems come together as a certifiable, flyable system.
• Set integration strategy and technical standards used across the Aircraft Engineering team, including interface control documents, integration test methodology, and design review criteria.
• Lead systems-level integration and verification of COTS/MOTS avionics, custom hardware, and software components across lab and aircraft installations, spanning multiple concurrent platforms.
• Act as the senior technical authority in design reviews, flight test readiness reviews, and certification discussions, representing avionics integration to internal leadership, customers, and regulators.
• Identify systemic integration risks across programs and drive root-cause resolution, rather than working platform-by-platform issues in isolation.
• Mentor and provide technical direction to other integration engineers and installation technicians, raising the bar for integration rigor across the team, without formal people-management responsibility.
• Partner with Systems Engineering, Software, Flight Test, Certification, and Maintenance to ensure integration decisions hold up end‑to‑end, from architecture through flight test and into sustainment.
• Drive and review electrical/electronic, mechanical, and software interface definitions and installation and certification documentation package produced by the broader team.
• This position may require up to 50% travel, sometimes with short notice, to domestic and international locations to support aircraft and system integration.

Qualifications:

• BS in Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, or related Engineering discipline (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of experience integrating complex systems onto aircraft, with demonstrated ownership of integration architecture across more than one platform or program.
• Deep, hands‑on experience integrating and debugging systems spanning COTS/MOTS avionics modules, custom hardware, embedded software, sensors, and human-machine interfaces — not limited to any single engineering discipline.
• Working knowledge of standard avionics interface protocols (e.g., Ethernet, ARINC 429, RS‑232/422/485, CAN, MIL‑STD‑1553) and the judgment to choose and defend an interface architecture, not just implement one.
• Track record of leading integration efforts through design review, lab test, and flight test, including managing cross-discipline dependencies and schedule risk.
• Experience authoring or approving system schematics, interface control documents, and subsystem architecture diagrams.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and act as a technical reference point across a team, without necessarily holding a management title.
• Outstanding organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, with the judgment to prioritize across competing program needs.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including comfort presenting to executives, customers, and regulatory bodies.

Nice to Have:

• Direct experience with certified avionics on fixed‑wing aircraft, particularly flight management systems (FMS), autopilot, or other flight control system components.
• Working knowledge of environmental qualification and regulatory frameworks: RTCA DO‑160, DO‑178, DO‑254, MIL‑STD‑461, and MIL‑STD‑810.
• Experience standing up integration or systems engineering practices for a new program or platform from scratch.
• Familiarity with lab test equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, current probes, data acquisition, bus analyzers) sufficient to guide others, even if not performing hands‑on bench work daily.
• Exposure to aviation/aerospace wire harness design and electro‑mechanical system integration (motors, EMI/EMC), useful for evaluating others' work even if not a primary daily task.
• Experience with design tools such as SolidWorks, Altium, or KiCAD.

$165,000 - $220,000 a year

The compensation range provided is a good‑faith estimate based on a wide range of factors, inclusive of base salary only. 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.

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.