Senior Systems Engineer
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Vice President of Systems Engineering
Merlin Labs
full-time
Posted on:
Origin: • 🇺🇸 United States • Massachusetts
Visit company websiteJob Level
Lead
About the role
- About Merlin: Merlin is a venture-backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable reduced crew and uncrewed flight
- About You: Systems thinker who translates mission-level goals into technical direction for avionics and autonomous systems, with safety-critical software and integration expertise
- Provide systems-level leadership across the full product lifecycle, including architecture, integration, V&V, and certification
- Translate high-level mission and customer requirements into well-defined system architectures and technical requirements
- Lead design and integration of complex autonomous systems: avionics, flight controls, navigation, perception, and human-machine interfaces
- Bridge customer and technical domains to reflect stakeholder needs and regulatory drivers in the technical roadmap
- Build and lead a systems engineering team with expertise in autonomy, avionics, and safety-critical systems
- Develop and manage systems engineering processes, tools, and infrastructure, including requirements traceability, interface control, and MBSE frameworks
- Serve as technical lead for architecture reviews, design trades, FMEAs, and hazard analyses across subsystems
- Collaborate with engineering, product, and regulatory teams to ensure safe, certifiable system performance
- Engage with civil or defense certification authorities (e.g., FAA, DoD) and ensure alignment with applicable regulatory frameworks
- On-site at Merlin HQ in Boston, MA with flexible hybrid schedule
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
- 12+ years of experience in aerospace systems engineering, including significant leadership roles
- Demonstrated success delivering complex avionics and autonomy systems in an integrated aerospace platform
- Strong experience in requirements development, system architecture, V&V, integration, and certification for safety-critical systems
- Fluency in system design methods such as MBSE, SysML, DOORS, and system safety standards (e.g., ARP4754A, DO-178C, DO-254)
- Familiarity with FAA certification pathways or military airworthiness standards
- Experience engaging with civil or defense certification authorities (e.g., FAA, DoD)
- Nice to haves: Private Pilot License; Experience in an early-stage aerospace or autonomy startup; Prior leadership in certifiable autonomy programs; Understanding of autonomy-specific safety and assurance frameworks (e.g., STAMP/STPA, SAE G-34)
