Test Pilot
Merlin Labs | North Kingstown, RI
Merlin Labs is seeking a dedicated and safety-conscious Test Pilot to join its esteemed Flight Test team. This role is ideal for an individual passionate about hands-on testing at the forefront of aerospace technology, adept at fast-paced problem-solving, and possessing a critical eye for flight safety and test details. The successful candidate will contribute to the vision of more widely proliferated and safer flying machines accessible to all.
Responsibilities:
- Lead capability testing on experimental aircraft, collaborating with the engineering team to support the development of autonomy systems through frequent and early flight operations.
- As a lead project pilot, develop and implement necessary processes for the preparation, execution, and analysis of flight tests.
- Collaborate with hardware, software, flight controls, integration, and flight operations teams to define test plans, ensure test readiness, and drive efficient data collection for system validation.
- Execute flight tests as required, including assisting in the development and approval of test cards, verifying procedures and software via simulation, serving as the flight test pilot, and contributing to post-flight analysis and deficiency report generation through comprehensive flight test reports.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering or a related technical field.
- A minimum of 5 years of direct experience in experimental flight testing, or an equivalent combination of formal training and experience.
- Graduate of a recognized test pilot school or program.
- Solid understanding of fundamental fixed-wing aircraft flight dynamics and control principles.
- Demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring the success of the flight test program.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, as well as strong organizational skills.
Bonus Qualifications:
- Experience with software development environments and tools such as Linux, git, and Jira.
- Experience in flight controls product development, including system-level and software component-level testing and troubleshooting.
$215,000 - $250,000
Posted: November 20
To apply for this position, please refer to the original job posting.
Director of Flight Test
Merlin Labs | North Kingstown, RI
Merlin Labs is seeking an accomplished leader for its Director of Flight Test position. This role is for a proven aerospace flight test professional with extensive hands-on experience in experimental and certification aircraft programs. The ideal candidate excels in managing complexities of first flights, envelope expansion, and certification pathways for novel aviation technologies, bringing a blend of technical acumen, operational discipline, and forward-thinking leadership essential for safely navigating the uncertainties of prototype flight testing. A strong drive to advance flight capabilities and shape the future of aviation is paramount.
Responsibilities:
- Lead all experimental and prototype flight test activities from conceptualization through to certification.
- Develop and implement comprehensive test strategies encompassing first flights, envelope expansion, systems validation, and performance testing.
- Oversee the creation of critical documentation, including flight test plans, safety risk assessments, hazard analyses, and flight readiness reviews.
- Foster close collaboration with engineering teams to validate new designs, avionics, autonomy systems, propulsion, and control systems under rigorous test conditions.
- Direct the efforts of flight test pilots, flight test engineers, instrumentation specialists, and ground crews during experimental campaigns.
- Ensure strict adherence to FAA/EASA/DoD experimental test standards and experimental certificate requirements.
- Manage key relationships with regulatory authorities, Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs), and other stakeholders to align test programs with certification objectives.
- Provide leadership in accident and incident prevention, emergency response planning, and overall operational risk management.
- Present technical and program-level updates effectively to senior leadership, partners, and certification bodies.
- Cultivate a culture of safety, innovation, and technical excellence within the test organization.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
- A minimum of 10 years of progressive aerospace flight test experience, with a significant emphasis on experimental or developmental aircraft programs.
- Proven track record of successfully managing first-flight and experimental test programs for prototype aircraft.
- In-depth knowledge of flight sciences, test instrumentation, telemetry, and data analysis techniques pertinent to experimental testing.
- Expertise in FAA Part 21, Part 23/25, Part 27/29, or equivalent experimental certification processes.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities in managing multidisciplinary test teams within high-risk experimental environments.
- Strong technical communication skills, with the ability to brief effectively to both technical teams and executive stakeholders.
Nice to Haves:
- Graduate of a recognized test pilot school or experimental flight test engineer program.
- Pilot certification, ideally with an experimental or test pilot background.
$220,000 - $280,000
Posted: November 20
To apply for this position, please refer to the original job posting.