Director, Feature Systems Engineering

Job overview

The Director, Feature Systems Engineering role is listed as onsite in Remote, OR. Base salary is $220,000–$290,000 per year. Merlin builds autonomous flight systems to address aviation challenges, including pilot shortages and flight safety. This leader establishes the systems engineering roadmap and aligns hardware, software, safety, and flight controls teams. The role advances Merlin’s autonomy products from development toward certification by guiding architecture, requirements, safety cases, and verification while building the engineering team.

What you'll do

• Own the feature systems engineering roadmap, strategy, processes, and standards
• lead systems engineering work across disciplines
• set direction for system architecture, interfaces, and autonomous behaviors
• lead safety, security, and human factors teams
• represent engineering artifacts in customer, supplier, and regulatory reviews
• build and develop the team
• manage requirements traceability and verification and validation from simulation and ground testing through flight testing.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

director of systems engineering

feature systems engineering

aerospace

autonomous systems

mission autonomy

vehicle autonomy

safety-critical systems

system architecture

requirements engineering

certification

merlin labs

remote, or

$220k–$290k/year

visa sponsorship unavailable

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Health, dental, and life insurance
• flexible paid time off
• 401(k) with match
• equity grants
• professional development.

Why this role

Leads systems engineering for safety-critical autonomous aviation systems, with responsibility spanning architecture, certification readiness, and team development.

About the employer

Merlin Labs is hiring for this role. Industry: Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Sector: 54.