Staff Systems Engineer
Job description
About the role
Position Overview
The organization seeks a veteran systems engineer to own end-to-end integration activities for safety-critical avionics programs. This role demands ownership of complex integration tasks from initial analysis through flight test validation while maintaining rigorous safety standards. The successful candidate will guide requirements decisions and architectural choices in demanding aviation contexts. Project leadership spans the full development lifecycle, ensuring alignment between design, verification, and flight test execution.
Position Overview
This Staff Systems Engineer role at Merlin Labs is centered on safety-critical avionics integration within a Boston-based full-time engagement. The position requires a systems engineer with deep experience to own integration activities across the complete program lifecycle. You will be responsible for ensuring that complex avionics systems are integrated correctly, verified, and validated to meet stringent aviation safety and regulatory standards. The role emphasizes leadership in demanding aviation contexts, including experimental and defense-related programs. You will serve as a key technical authority guiding architectural decisions and requirements development from initial analysis through flight test validation.
About the role
The organization seeks a veteran systems engineer to own end-to-end integration activities for safety-critical avionics programs. This role demands ownership of complex integration tasks from initial analysis through flight test validation while maintaining rigorous safety standards. The successful candidate will guide requirements decisions and architectural choices in demanding aviation contexts. Project leadership spans the full development lifecycle, ensuring alignment between design, verification, and flight test execution.
What you'll do
You will translate high-level program objectives into precise system requirements that define the operational envelope and performance boundaries. You will architect system-of-systems solutions by designing detailed architecture diagrams and interface definitions that connect modules under strict certification constraints. You will coordinate verification activities to ensure prototypes meet requirements before any flight test deployment, including planning test scenarios, defining entry and exit criteria, and monitoring compliance. You will oversee the build process to ensure hardware and software components integrate correctly within demanding operational environments, managing configuration control, data management, and interface control. You will facilitate design review cycles with engineering stakeholders to resolve conflicts, refine system behavior, and maintain project momentum across cross-functional teams. You will manage validation test plans that exercise avionics functions in realistic flight conditions, defining test matrices, instrumentation strategies, and evaluation metrics. You will negotiate with suppliers to align component capabilities with system performance and safety targets, ensuring traceability from objectives to implementation. You will provide clear documentation and timely responses to support partners through critical integration milestones and regulatory expectations.
Requirements
Candidates must hold ten years of experience in safety-critical systems engineering environments. Demonstrable expertise in requirements management, system design, and verification is mandatory for certification projects. Your background should include work with general aviation platforms in experimental or DOD settings. Interface effectiveness across engineering domains, customer organizations, and supplier teams is a core expectation. You must be capable of operating within environments that demand strict adherence to safety protocols and regulatory standards. The role requires the ability to justify decisions that affect system integrity with clear traceability and documentation. You must maintain continuous attention to safety considerations even during rapid development cycles and complex integration challenges. This position requires a disciplined approach to managing competing priorities while protecting personnel, equipment, and mission objectives.
Nice to have
Experience in civil-certified programs is preferred. Familiarity with certification processes and regulatory expectations provides clear advantages in this role.
Practical notes
This role is based in Boston and operates as a full-time engagement. Compensation details, including base salary, reflect ten years of relevant experience. Exact compensation figures are provided for reference and are subject to official policy. to ensure alignment with current procedures and requirements.
Tools and Methods
Proficiency with tools is essential to execute responsibilities effectively. You will work with requirements management platforms such as JIRA. Documentation and reporting rely on Microsoft Office. Analysis activities will utilize MATLAB and Python. The role does not use CAD tools for design activities.
Operational Context and Safety and Compliance
This role is based in Boston and operates as a full-time engagement. All activities must adhere to established safety protocols and regulatory standards. Decisions affecting system integrity must be justified and traceable. Continuous attention to safety considerations is required during rapid development cycles. You will maintain vigilance to protect personnel, equipment, and mission objectives.
Application Expectations
Interested candidates should prepare materials that highlight relevant experience in systems integration and requirements management. Demonstrated success in aviation environments, particularly with experimental or defense-related programs, will strengthen your profile. Clear communication skills and the ability to manage competing priorities are vital. This position offers the opportunity to influence critical system behavior in challenging operational settings.