General Manager - Special Projects at Merlin Labs

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Aerospace, Autonomy, Defense, Frontier TechIndustries

Requirements

5+ years in strategy, product, or operating roles — ideally in frontier tech, defense, aerospace, or autonomy
Experience as a founder, chief of staff, or “Office of the CEO” operator with a bias toward action and high ownership
Proven ability to take ambiguous problems, frame opportunities, and drive results end-to-end
Strong analytical toolkit: market sizing, business modeling, and hypothesis-driven strategy
Comfortable navigating technical, operational, and commercial conversations — and translating between them
Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with credibility in front of senior leadership and external partners
Bonus: experience in autonomy, mobility, aerospace, or dual-use technology commercialization
Authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future

Responsibilities

Lead discovery and execution of projects to advance the Merlin product roadmap — including development, testing, developing partnerships, and testing business models that push Merlin into new markets
Identify, analyze, and validate new customer use cases; build hypotheses, run pilots, and define go-to-market paths
Translate technical capabilities into commercial opportunities with clear value, economics, and operational plans
Build financial and strategic models to inform investment decisions and scaling strategies
Lead small, cross-functional teams through concept, prototype, and operational delivery
Manage a portfolio of early-stage initiatives; track milestones, risk, and success metrics
Build external relationships with customers, partners, and strategic stakeholders to accelerate adoption

Skills

strategy

product management

project execution

financial modeling

cross-functional leadership

partnership development

hypothesis testing

go-to-market

risk management

stakeholder management

Merlin Labs

Develops autonomous flight technology for aircraft

About Merlin Labs

Merlin Labs develops autonomous flight technology, specifically the Merlin Pilot, an advanced system designed to operate aircraft without human intervention. This system can be integrated into various types of aircraft, making it adaptable to different sizes and ages. The technology is being developed in collaboration with aviation authorities like the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand to ensure it meets safety and regulatory standards. Unlike competitors, Merlin Labs takes a phased approach by initially pairing the autonomous system with human pilots, which helps ensure safety and build trust in the technology. The goal is to provide a scalable solution for commercial airlines, cargo transport companies, and private aircraft owners, positioning Merlin Labs as a significant player in the future of aviation.

Boston, MassachusettsHeadquarters

2019Year Founded

$166.1MTotal Funding

GRANTCompany Stage

Automotive & Transportation, AerospaceIndustries

51-200Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) Company Match

Flexible Work Hours

Relocation Assistance

Risks

Competition from companies like Natilus challenges Merlin Labs' market position.

Regulatory approvals from FAA and CAA may delay market entry for Merlin Pilot.

Expansion of executive team could lead to internal management challenges.

Differentiation

Merlin Labs focuses on scalable autonomous flight systems adaptable to any aircraft.

The company partners with aviation authorities for safety and regulatory compliance.

Merlin Labs employs a phased approach, initially pairing autonomous systems with human pilots.

Upsides

Merlin Labs' acquisition of EpiSci enhances AI capabilities for military and defense markets.

Partnership with MIT Lincoln Laboratory boosts leadership in collision avoidance technology.

Certification System Bench accelerates testing, reducing time to market for flight systems.

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