Staff Engineer, Model Based Software

Merlin Labs; Beaverton (OR); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Catered lunches

Snacks and beverages

Unlimited vacation

401k with match

Top-tier benefits

Job summary

Merlin Labs seeks a Staff Software Engineer to design, implement, test, and certify flight-critical autonomy algorithms for next-generation aerospace systems. You will develop model-based flight software using MathWorks tools and support the full lifecycle of DO-178C compliant development.

Responsibilities include designing software architecture, creating and reviewing requirements, and ensuring traceability and certification artifacts.

Qualifications

• Experience in safety-critical software development for embedded systems.
• Proficiency with Simulink/Stateflow and generated code, DO-178C context.
• Strong requirements management and traceability across toolchains.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement flight-critical software using Simulink/Stateflow for autonomy.
• Define architecture, modeling standards, and DO-178C/DO-331 workflows.
• Maintain requirements/models and generated code with traceability.
• Support CI pipelines, model checks, static analysis, and verification.
• Collaborate across systems, safety, hardware, and flight-test teams.
• Document software architecture, requirements, and design decisions.
• Support HIL/PIL and flight-testing activities.

Skills

Embedded software

C/C++

Safety-critical

Model-based design

CI/CD

MATLAB

DO-178C knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in EE/AE/CE/CS

Tools

Simulink

Stateflow

Embedded Coder

DOORS/Jama/Polarion

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

We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to design, implement, test, and certify flight-critical autonomy algorithms for next-generation aerospace systems. In this role, you will develop model-based flight software using MathWorks tools and support the full lifecycle of DO-178C compliant development.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop flight-critical software using Simulink, Stateflow, and related MathWorks tools for model-based design.
• Define software architecture, modeling standards, and development workflows aligned with DO-178C and DO-331.
• Create, maintain and review software requirements, models and auto-generated code.
• Ensure robustness and traceability through requirements-based design, verification, and certification artifact production.
• Collaborate with engineers from cross functional groups such as systems, safety, hardware, flight controls, and flight test to ensure product and program level needs are met.
• Support integration into CI pipelines, including model checks, code generation, static analysis, and automated verification.
• Contribute to planning and execution of SOI audits and certification reviews.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for software requirements, architecture and design decisions
• Support hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), processor-in-the-loop (PIL), and flight testing activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields.
• 10+ years of experience developing embedded or safety-critical software.
• Extensive experience with Simulink, Stateflow and Embedded Coder for safety critical software development.
• Experience with Simulink Check, Simulink Code Inspector, Simulink Test and Polyspace Bug Finder
• Strong experience with requirements management, including authoring high-quality software requirements, maintaining traceability, and using tools such as DOORS, Jama, or Polarion.
• Working knowledge of DO-178C, including hands-on experience with DO-331.
• Experience with CI/CD environments and automated model/code quality checks.
• Experience developing embedded flight software using C/C++ and integrating auto-generated code with manual code
• Experience performing HIL testing, automated test execution, troubleshooting integration issues and analysis of flight test data.
• Experience with MATLAB scripting, tool automation, and test automation

$200,000 - $265,000 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.

• Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Merlin's total compensation package.
• Health
• Dental
• Life
• Unlimited vacation
• 401k with match
• 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 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.