Senior Program Manager, Autonomy

@ Merlin Labs
Merlin Labsmerlinlabs.com

Senior Program Manager, Autonomy

Posted 13 months ago

This job is still taking applications, but it's been up a while.

About the job

Merlin is an aerospace startup developing autonomous flight solutions, scaling programs for defense and aviation. As a Senior Program Manager, you'll lead high-impact projects from early-stage to deployment, collaborating with engineering and customers to shape the future of aviation.

Requirements

  • 8+ years program leadership experience
  • Proven success in complex programs
  • Experience with military customers
  • Understanding of program lifecycle
  • Strong stakeholder skills

Qualifications

  • Experience in aerospace or defense
  • Ability to obtain security clearance
  • Technical curiosity and systems thinking
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Leadership in high-growth environments

Full 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

You are a strategic operator with deep program leadership experience and strong product instincts. As a Senior Program Manager at Merlin, you'll lead a portfolio of high-impact autonomy programs — from early-stage through deployment and fielding — while shaping what we build, not just when it ships.

You bring a rare blend of technical fluency, product judgment, and operational rigor. You know how to listen deeply to operators and customers, translate mission needs into product priorities and a deliverable roadmap, and make hard capability-versus-schedule trades with imperfect information. You thrive in dynamic environments where ambiguity is the norm and execution velocity is critical. You're not just a program manager — you're a builder, an integrator, and a force multiplier. If you're excited by the opportunity to shape the future of aviation while growing enduring customer relationships, we'd love to meet you.



Responsibilities:

  • Own and lead a portfolio of programs spanning autonomy development, integration, flight test, certification, and operational fielding.
  • Own the capability roadmap for your assigned programs — defining what capabilities deliver in which release, and keeping program commitments aligned with the broader Merlin Pilot product strategy.
  • Partner with Product and autonomy engineering leadership on release content, scope trades, and prioritization decisions — balancing customer commitments, technical risk, and resource constraints.
  • Translate operator feedback, mission needs, and customer requirements into clear, actionable product priorities and deliverables for engineering and test teams — including defining capability acceptance criteria with customers.
  • Serve as the senior point of contact for customer engagements, program reviews, and critical milestones — using those engagements to sharpen product direction, not just report status.
  • Drive program strategy and execution across multiple internal and external teams — including engineering, product, test, supply chain, and business development.
  • Oversee integrated master schedules, financial plans, and program baselines across multiple workstreams, ensuring execution stays tied to product intent.
  • Identify and mitigate cross-program risks, resource constraints, and bottlenecks before they impact delivery
  • Build and institutionalize execution processes and artifacts that scale as our portfolio grows (e.g., roadmap frameworks, program rhythms, status reporting).
  • Provide mentorship and leadership across the broader program management organization.

Qualifications:

  • 8+ years of experience in program or product leadership roles, ideally with aviation or automotive autonomy experience.
  • Proven success leading complex programs involving cross-functional teams and technical integration, with a focus on software development and delivery.
  • Experience shaping product roadmaps or capability definitions in a technical domain — comfortable making prioritization calls with imperfect information and defending the trade-offs.
  • Ability to manage a portfolio of programs under resource and time constraints while keeping each aligned to the broader product strategy.
  • Exceptional listening, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build alignment between customers, product, and internal teams.
  • Ability to context switch between strategy, execution, and team dynamics across multiple efforts.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance.

Nice to Have:

  • Product management experience or hybrid program/product roles in autonomy, robotics, or aerospace software.
  • Experience scaling program teams or building new operating models in high-growth environments.
  • Prior experience in autonomy, mission systems, or flight control integration.
  • Active Security Clearance.

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, unlimited vacation, 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.

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