--- title: 'Senior Human-Machine Teaming Engineer at Merlin Labs' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-human-machine-teaming-engineer-merlin-labs-boston-fa4wc2ztmspw' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-12' --- # Senior Human-Machine Teaming Engineer at Merlin Labs - **Company:** Merlin Labs - **Location:** Boston, MA - **Compensation:** $165k–$220k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-10-07 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-12 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/merlinlabs/51c05cda-52ec-4579-9ae1-cdf0ca093115 ## Job description 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; Smithfield, 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 are an experienced engineer with a background in autonomous systems, aviation, or robotics who is motivated to build software that enables effective human-machine and machine-machine teaming. You’re excited to enhance how humans interact with complex automated systems. You are comfortable with either leading technical projects or contributing independently to software development and experimentation. You take pride in writing high-quality, maintainable code, and are driven to improve interactive teaming behaviors through human subject testing and integration into real airborne systems. Responsibilities: - Contribute to the technical direction and implementation of capabilities supporting human-machine and machine-machine teaming for autonomous airborne systems. - Design, develop, and deploy novel teaming capabilities that measurably enhance the performance, safety, and resilience of human-machine teams. - Propose, design, and execute applied research and human subject experiments to evaluate human-machine teaming capabilities in realistic operations. - Contribute to simulation, integration, and flight test activities to validate autonomy software in relevant environments. - Write, test, document and review code according to Merlin’s development standards. - Collaborate across Merlin to develop novel systems to solve the toughest problems in aviation and autonomy. Qualifications: - Degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a related subject. - 5+ years of professional experience (including graduate work) developing software for airborne autonomous systems. - Deep experience in one or more of the following: - Human-machine interaction for crewed aircraft and/or UAS - Single- and multi-vehicle autonomy, resource allocation, and decision making algorithms - Software development for physiological signal monitoring - Algorithmic modeling for human cognitive state analysis - Experience in modern software development workflows and practices, including version control, pipelines, and unit testing, and peer review. - Experience with overall product development cycle, including design, testing, and troubleshooting at the system level as well as at the software component level. - Experience with Linux and open-source development tools. - Proficiency writing code in Python. - Experience with technical writing. - Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to learn and contribute across different technical domains. Nice to Have: - Proficiency in C++ and ROS. - Experience designing focused research plans and experiments to evaluate human-machine and machine-machine teaming effectiveness. - Experience with perception systems, sensor fusion, world modeling concepts, or Bayesian probabilistic methods. - Experience with proposal writing and technical roadmap development. - Familiarity with simulation software, especially aircraft simulation. - Experience with hardware and software integration and debugging. - Experience with flight testing (uncrewed or crewed aircraft). - Pilot license and flight experience is a plus. Logistics: - Willing to travel 10-20% of the time to support team meetings, integration events, and flight testing. 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, flexible paid time off, 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: people@merlinlabs.com Merlin Labs does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. ## About Merlin Labs ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Merlin Labs is a U.S.-based developer of takeoff-to-touchdown autonomy software for military and civil aircraft, building the operating system of record for autonomous flight. - **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: MRLN) – went public via SPAC merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp IV in 2026. - **Headquarters**: Boston, Massachusetts, United States - **Founded**: 2019 - **Founders**: Matthew George (CEO) ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Autonomous Aviation, AI Software - **Target customers**: Military (U.S. Special Operations Command, Air Force), civil aviation operators, aircraft OEMs - **Mission**: To provide safe, reliable autonomy that extends the capabilities of existing fleets and unlocks next-generation missions, forging the next 100 years of American aviation. ## Products & Services - **[Merlin Pilot](https://merlinlabs.com/)**: An aircraft-agnostic, AI-powered software platform for autonomous flight from takeoff to touchdown. Designed to adapt to any plane in operation today and in the future. - **[Condor](https://merlinlabs.com/)**: A product family for large, multi-crew aircraft, announced in 2026, targeting high-capacity military and cargo platforms. - **Prime Contract with USSOCOM**: Merlin is partnering with U.S. Special Operations Command to bring autonomy to the C-130J fleet, extending operational range for high-frequency routes. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed as of the latest filings. Total cumulative funding (including IPO) is **$704.3M**. - **Key Metric**: **Revenue** – $2.194M in Q2 FY2026 (quarter ended June 30, 2026) per SEC 10-Q filing. The company is still in high-growth, pre-profit stage (Net Income: -$58.4M in Q2). **Employees** – 145 as of mid-2026, growing 26.7% YoY. - **Notable Investors / Partners**: First Round Capital (seed lead), Inflection Point Acquisition Corp IV (SPAC sponsor), U.S. Special Operations Command (customer/partner), Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (regulatory partner). - **Growth Signals**: - Over 100 hours of autonomous flight across test facilities in the U.S. and New Zealand. - Completed Critical Design Review for the C-130J program with USSOCOM. - Achieved Stage of Involvement 3 (SOI 3) from the New Zealand CAA for the Merlin Pilot’s Flight Control Computer and Automated Communication System. - First autonomous landing of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (July 2026). - Acquired EpiSys Science (EpiSci) in 2024 to bolster AI/autonomy capabilities. ## Competitive Advantages - **Aircraft-agnostic platform**: The Merlin Pilot is designed to work with any aircraft, reducing integration complexity for customers. - **Proven autonomy**: Hundreds of hours of autonomous flight, including military-grade operations, de-risking adoption. - **Regulatory leadership**: Early approvals from the New Zealand CAA (Part 146 Design Organization certificate, SOI 3) pave the way for commercial certification. - **Prime military contracts**: Direct relationship with USSOCOM for the C-130J program provides a strong revenue and credibility anchor. - **Talent density**: Engineers from top aerospace firms (Collins Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky, Aurora Flight Sciences) and a strong culture of safety and innovation. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale the C-130J program**: Move from CDR to production and deployment with USSOCOM. - **Expand Condor product line**: Target large, multi-crew aircraft for both military and civil markets. - **Achieve commercial certification**: Continue working with regulators (FAA, EASA, CAA) to certify the Merlin Pilot for commercial operations. - **Grow government and defense contracts**: Leverage the public listing and existing relationships to win additional programs. - **Hire aggressively**: Open roles in AI, autonomy software, systems engineering, program management, and business development (22 active openings as of Sept 2026). ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: “Breaking new ground at 10,000 ft” – collaborative, respectful, and tangible work that is “in use and progressing rapidly.” High morale driven by real-world impact. - **Work Models**: Hybrid and on-site roles available. Primary locations: Boston, MA (HQ); North Kingstown, RI; Kerikeri, New Zealand; and Washington, DC. - **Notable Perks**: Work on one of aviation’s hardest problems with a team that includes alumni from top aerospace and defense companies. Employees have delegated authority from the regulator to approve certain aircraft design changes, empowering engineers. The company prioritizes safety and partners with best-in-class aerospace players. - **Engineering Culture**: Strong emphasis on AI, autonomy, and software engineering. The engineering team is 39% of the workforce, with senior and specialist roles heavily represented. Open roles include Staff Software Engineer (AI Foundation Model), Autonomy Software Engineer, and Lead AI Dataloop Engineer. ## Sources 1. [Merlin Labs – Company Page](https://merlinlabs.com/company/) 2. [Merlin Labs – Homepage](https://merlinlabs.com/) 3. [Merlin Labs – Careers Page](https://merlinlabs.com/careers/) 4. [Merlin Labs – Open Roles on Lever](https://jobs.lever.co/merlinlabs) 5. [Merlin Labs – LinkedIn Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/merlinlabs) 6. [SEC Filing – FY2026 Q2 10-Q](https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0002028707) (via Apollo data reference) ## Other roles at Merlin Labs - [Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-merlin-labs-boston-02cvz7svqzxb) — Boston, MA - [Senior Aviation Cyber Certification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-aviation-cyber-certification-engineer-merlin-labs-boston-sw9ktzynsnzd) — Boston, MA - [Senior Airworthiness & Certification Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-airworthiness-certification-engineer-merlin-labs-boston-rwbh0n2bm43k) — Boston, MA - [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-merlin-labs-boston-96ze7hkkq9p4) — Boston, MA - [Senior Manager, Process Assurance](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-process-assurance-merlin-labs-boston-xwyca4m6vrh8) — Boston, MA - [Staff Engineer, World Model Development](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineer-world-model-development-merlin-labs-boston-ggxybfwgrtdz) — Boston, MA / San Francisco Bay Area - [Data Loop Pipeline Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/data-loop-pipeline-engineer-merlin-labs-boston-77zayrh7516j) — Boston, MA / San Francisco Bay Area - [Assistant General Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/assistant-general-counsel-merlin-labs-boston-c9axfez1vng8) — Boston, MA - [Flight Dynamics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-dynamics-engineer-merlin-labs-boston-p4xv2x08kvd3) — Boston, MA - [Staff Engineer, Avionics Integration](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-engineer-avionics-integration-merlin-labs-boston-2mbt1cv8aqm3) — Boston, MA