Director AI Core Software
Merlin is a Boston-based aerospace and defense technology company developing AI-powered, aircraft-agnostic autonomy software for fixed-wing aircraft.
About Merlin
Merlin’s Merlin Pilot combines hardware and software intended to perform takeoff-to-touchdown flight functions for military and civil aircraft, supporting reduced-crew and autonomous operations. The operating business began as Apollo Flight Research in 2018, became Merlin Labs in 2020, and is now operated under public parent Merlin, Inc.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
You will define technical strategy and architecture for AI Core software spanning perception, sensor fusion, planning, control, model training, and onboard inference. You will lead and mentor engineering teams, establish quality and safety practices, drive regulatory readiness, recruit senior talent, and communicate technical roadmaps, risks, and priorities across stakeholders.
Requirements
- Degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Engineering, Applied Math, or a related subject
- 10+ years of software engineering experience
- At least 5 years of Physical AI technical leadership and engineering management experience
- Experience shipping AI-based autonomy in a safety-critical regulated environment
- Expertise in perception and sensor fusion, motion planning and control, AI model training and deployment, or onboard inference
- Knowledge of model distillation, MLOps, CI/CD, testing, and design-for-safety
- Experience with data strategy for AI training, simulation, and edge deployment
- Experience managing managers, senior engineers, and staff technical contributors
- Proficiency in PyTorch, TensorFlow, and C++
Responsibilities
- Define and drive technical strategy for the AI Core platform
- Lead, grow, and mentor AI, robotics, and software engineers
- Translate objectives into technical roadmaps and milestones
- Own architecture from data pipelines through onboard inference and control
- Establish engineering standards, code quality practices, and safety reviews
- Ensure software meets FAA and regulatory requirements
- Drive integration with avionics and vehicle-management systems
- Recruit senior engineering talent
- Represent AI Core in planning, risk reviews, and stakeholder communications
- Evaluate emerging research and open-source developments
Benefits
- Equity grants
- Catered lunches
- Snacks and beverages
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Unlimited vacation
- 401k matching