Vice President, Government Relations

Merlin Labs is an aviation technology company focused on developing the world's most capable pilot by leveraging advanced automation and artificial intelligence. Our customers, in both the commercial and defense sectors, face increasing demands for air transportation and the challenges of pilot shortages and complex operational environments. This is why we are dedicated to creating autonomous flight solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and resilience in the skies. We believe that the future of aviation isn't an all-or-nothing approach between human pilots and autonomy; instead, we see technology and human expertise working together as a critical step towards a fully autonomous future. The Merlin Pilot, our integrated hardware and software solution, is designed to make Human Factor-driven decisions, enabling it to adapt to unexpected environmental or experiential impacts on mission success. This system can support a variety of scenarios, from assisting crews in dangerous missions to enabling reduced crew operations on large aircraft, and is adaptable across diverse aircraft fleets.

Our mission is to create the world's most capable pilot, leveraging technology as the key enabler of air network resiliency. We understand that the global dependency on air transportation is growing, and autonomous flight solutions are crucial for a more flexible and scalable aviation ecosystem. Merlin Labs is committed to a practical, phased approach to autonomous flight, initially pairing advanced automation with human pilots to build trust and ensure safety. We have worked closely with regulatory bodies like the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) to achieve safety-critical certifications. Our technology has undergone rigorous testing, with over 800 hours in the sky and integration on five different aircraft types. We are actively partnering with industry leaders and government agencies to bring these transformative capabilities to both civilian and military aviation, addressing critical needs such as enhancing national security and solving logistical challenges in air cargo transport. As we continue to innovate, we are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and pioneer the future of autonomous flight.