Director, Strategy

Merlin Labs•Washington, DC

21h

About The Position

Merlin is a venture-backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable both reduced crew and uncrewed flight. Backed by some of the world’s leading investors, Merlin is scaling alongside our customers to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve some of aviation’s biggest challenges. The ideal candidate is a strategic operator with a deep interest in aviation, autonomy, and complex, regulated environments. They are comfortable navigating ambiguity, connecting technical innovation to market opportunity, and driving initiatives from concept through execution. They bring a structured approach to problem solving, strong business judgment, and the ability to influence across engineering, program, and commercial teams. They are equally comfortable in executive-level discussions and rolling up their sleeves to move critical initiatives forward.

Requirements

7-10+ years of experience in strategy, operations, or program leadership
Experience in aerospace, defense, autonomy, robotics, or other highly regulated industries
Proven ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels
Experience working with or alongside government customers or complex regulatory environments
Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives with measurable impact
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at both executive and technical levels

Nice To Haves

Experience in autonomous systems, aviation, or AI-driven platforms
Familiarity with FAA certification, DoD procurement, or mission-based program development
Background in management consulting, corporate strategy, or high-growth startups
Experience scaling strategy in a venture-backed or rapidly growing company
Ability to navigate ambiguity and build structure in evolving environments
Operator mindset with a track record of driving strategy through execution

Responsibilities

Partner with executive leadership to define and evolve Merlin’s business and corporate strategy
Translate long-term vision into clear strategic priorities, roadmaps, and execution plans
Identify and evaluate new markets, mission sets, and customer segments across commercial and government domains
Develop go-to-market and growth strategies in regulated and government-contracted environments
Lead high-priority, cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept through implementation
Collaborate with Engineering, Programs, and Business Development to ensure alignment between technical development and business objectives
Support strategy related to FAA certification pathways and defense procurement processes
Build data-driven analyses, business cases, and executive-level materials to support decision-making and Board discussions
Assess competitive landscape, partnerships, and ecosystem dynamics to inform strategic positioning
Act as a force multiplier for leadership by increasing decision velocity and organizational alignment