Staff Systems Engineer - Architecture & Interfaces

Merlin Labs•Boston or Remote, MA

6d•Remote

About The Position

Merlin is hiring an experienced systems engineer to support architecture, interface definition, requirements management, and validation for its Merlin Pilot autonomy system. The role focuses on civil-certified or DOD safety-critical avionics systems and translating customer needs into system architectures and top-level requirements that decompose into subsystems. The engineer will deliver systems engineering work products in a fast-moving R&D flight-test environment, with safety as a priority, and collaborate with hardware, software, safety, flight-test, customer, supplier, and partner teams. The position may be performed remotely. Merlin prefers candidates based in or willing to relocate to Boston, Massachusetts, for a hybrid schedule at its headquarters. The stated base salary range is $165,000–$220,000 per year. Full-time employees receive benefits including health, dental, and life coverage, flexible paid time off, and a 401(k) with matching. Highly competitive equity grants are also considered part of total compensation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Systems, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, or a related subject.
At least 10 years of systems engineering experience in FAA, EASA, or DOD certification programs; the posting specifies 7+ years with an MS degree or 5+ years with a PhD.
Ability to independently own and deliver complex systems engineering work products with minimal supervision.
Hands-on experience with integrated avionics equipment using ARP4754A/B and RTCA DO-178B/C for flight-critical systems.
Demonstrated ability to develop system-level requirements, architectures, and interfaces and decompose them to lower levels.
Experience in requirements validation and verification.
Experience capturing system architectures with MBSE tools such as Cameo.
Familiarity with general aviation aircraft and integration.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Ability to lead projects or work packages from a technical perspective.
Specific experience in Automatic Flight Controls, Flight Management, or Display Systems.
Experience developing software requirements and performing software verification.

Responsibilities

Execute assigned segments of the Merlin Pilot System architecture and interface definition, including functional and logical architecture, functional behaviors, and physical architecture.
Capture and maintain system architectures in MBSE models as the design evolves.
Translate customer needs into top-level system descriptions and requirements that decompose to the Mission Autonomy and Flight Autonomy teams.
Develop CONOPs, use cases, and other tools to capture customer needs.
Define and assess interfaces between mission autonomy and flight autonomy for correctness and feasibility, and document Merlin Pilot architecture interfaces to support interoperability and integration across aircraft types.
Develop system-level requirements for features, functions, interfaces, performance, and operational needs, and support their allocation to subsystems and items.
Specify physical interfaces and data protocols, and produce detailed interface definitions and supporting documentation.
Support Merlin Pilot software releases with systems engineering from requirements definition through validation.
Perform change impact assessments in response to change requests, problem reports, and new requirements from Air Vehicle Integration.
Execute trade studies and present results and recommendations to Engineering Review Boards.
Collaborate with System Safety and Product Cybersecurity to capture system-level safety and cybersecurity requirements.
Participate in reviews of artifacts with customers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities as required.