About the role
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; Smithfield, 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
We are seeking a Flight Dynamics Engineer to develop and integrate aircraft models within our simulation environment, supporting scalable and reusable modeling across multiple aircraft platforms.
This role focuses on building and refining aircraft models, contributing to structured modeling approaches, and ensuring models are usable within mission scenarios and simulation workflows. You will work closely with simulation platform and integration teams to bring aircraft models from concept to operational use in our virtual test environment.
This position supports both active aircraft programs and the long-term evolution of our flight dynamics capability.
This role plays a key role in enabling how aircraft behavior is represented and used across our simulation ecosystem. Your work will directly support autonomy development, system integration, and validation efforts across multiple aircraft platforms.
Responsibilities
- Develop, improve, and update aircraft models that simulate aerodynamics, control systems, servos, brakes, landing gear, etc.
- Support flight test planning, instrumentation requirements, and test data analysis to gather quality data for simulation development and validation.
- Write software to support continuous improvements to our existing simulation.
- Collaborate with virtual test environment users to ensure that their objectives are met.
- Support expansion of our virtual test environment to include additional advancements needed to support our customers
Qualifications
- BS in Aerospace or Mechanical engineering
- 5+ years of relevant experience working with aircraft dynamics and aircraft simulation
- Proficiency in MATLAB and Simulink with some basic knowledge of C, C++, and python
- An understanding of conventional aircraft simulation modeling techniques
- Experience with flight test
- Experience with aircraft certification
Nice to Have
- MS/PhD in Aerospace Engineering focusing on aircraft flight dynamics
- Experience integrating with AFSIM
- Experience with Live, Virtual, Constructive simulation techniques and processes
- Proficient in C, C++, and python
- Experience setting up and flying simulators personally or professionally
- Pilot’s license or some flight experience
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, flexible paid time off, 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.
The compensation range provided is reflective of base salary only, and is a good-faith estimate based on a wide range of factors. The actual offer will be determined by a variety of factors including the candidate's qualifications, skills, experience, education, and training. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Merlin's total compensation package. Additionally, Merlin offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees.