Software Engineering Manager, Merlin Labs
Tools
Aviation tech for fully autonomous flight
Job no longer available
Aviation tech for fully autonomous flight
101-200 employees
Job no longer available
101-200 employees
Company mission
To build the AI-powered operating system of record that allows aircraft, large and small, to fly autonomously.
Role
Who you are
- You are a seasoned leader who excels in fostering a positive work environment and delivering technical solutions
- Technically, you bring proven expertise in C++ and Python, with a demonstrated history in developing software tools and performing software testing, complemented by a solid understanding of DO-178C standards
- Proven experience as a software engineering manager or team lead within an avionics or complex systems environment
- Strong background in programming with C++, Python, and Model-Based Development tools like MATLAB
- Familiarity with f the DO-178C certification process
- Exceptional leadership skills with a focus on optimistic servant leadership and team empowerment
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a related field
Desirable
- Have developed flight software on military platforms
- Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS)
- Prior experience in a safety-critical systems environment beyond aviation, such as automotive or medical devices
- A track record of successful project delivery in a matrix organization
What the job involves
- As a servant leader, your primary focus is mentoring your team, helping each member to excel and grow
- Your leadership style is inclusive and collaborative, ensuring all voices are heard while maintaining the balance between accommodating requests and meeting project deadlines
- Lead a team of tool and test software engineers in the development and certification of avionics software systems
- Promote a culture of open communication and continuous improvement that encourages innovation and a proactive approach to problem-solving
- Collaborate closely with other engineering teams, project managers, and stakeholders to align technical solutions with business goals
- Oversee the design, implementation, and verification of software tools for integrating complex systems and software platforms
- Manage the complete software development lifecycle, from planning and design through implementation to testing and maintenance
- Provide technical leadership and direction while also empowering team members to take initiative and ownership of their projects
- Drive the recruitment, training, and development of team members, fostering a team that is technically proficient and highly motivated
- Ensure that project milestones are met and align with the overall business objectives
Our take
Companies like Xwing and Reliable Robotics are retrofitting aircrafts for full autonomy, however, Merlin Labs is taking a different route. Rather than building its own aircradt, it's developing the Merlin Pilot - an autonomous flight system designed to integrate into existing fleets. And this systems-first approach is gaining rel traction across commercial and defense sectors.
Instead of developing an autonomous vehicle, the company has designed configurable software that can be fitted into any plane to turn it into one. It’s already received certification from the FAA in the US, and the CAA in New Zealand; now, the goal is to get it fitted into large commercial aircraft to help reduce crew sizes. Ultimately, Merlin Labs is hoping its software will be used to fly smaller aircraft completely autonomously.
Providing a way for non-autonomous aircraft to be repurposed is a neat and attractive solution: costly aircraft needn’t be scrapped, human co-pilots don’t require retraining, and there’s a wealth of existing commercial and private applications for the software. So it’s an astute way of manoeuvring ahead of well-funded competition. Investors are paying attention, as are top-tier clients: Merlin has partnered with the likes of Ameriflight, the U.S. Air Force, and Dynamic Aviation, and pulled in millions of dollars of funding. It will need it: the competition is fierce.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
55% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 8 rounds)
Apr 2023
$1m
GRANT
Jul 2022
$105m
SERIES B
Total funding: $170.8m
Company HQ
Leather District, Boston, MA
Leadership
Matt George
(CEO)Served in an OPC role at The White House, then on the Senior Advisory Board at Boston 2024. Went on to found and lead tech company Bridj.
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