Facilities & Real Estate Manager

About Merlin:
Merlin is a venture backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable both reduced crew and uncrewed flight. Backed by some of the world’s leading investors, Merlin is scaling alongside our customers to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve some of aviation’s biggest challenges.

About You:
We’re seeking a highly organized, hands-on Facilities & Real Estate Manager to own the strategy, operations, and execution of facilities and real estate across our multi-site footprint. This role is accountable for building operations, maintenance, safety, vendor management, and real estate initiatives, including relocations and site optimization.

This is a highly visible role requiring strong operational judgment, vendor leadership, and the ability to manage complex facilities environments across multiple locations.

Responsibilities: :
• Own facilities operations across Boston, Hanscom, and Quonset locations, ensuring all sites are safe, compliant, functional, and well-maintained.
• Serve as the primary onsite facilities lead for the Boston location, managing day-to-day building operations and coordinating maintenance activities.
• Monitor, manage, and maintain building systems including HVAC, electrical, mechanical, and life-safety systems; escalate and resolve issues as needed.
• Lead preventative maintenance programs and manage corrective maintenance to minimize downtime and operational risk.
• Manage contractors and vendors for repairs, upgrades, capital improvements, and new installations across all locations.
• Lead real estate and facilities initiatives, including the planned office relocation from Boston to Hanscom HQ, ensuring minimal disruption and successful execution.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors on space planning, site utilization, and facilities optimization projects.
• Own relationships with landlords, property managers, and service providers; negotiate and manage contracts to ensure service quality, cost efficiency, and SLA adherence.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, security, and regulatory requirements, including building codes and internal standards.
• Conduct regular site inspections to identify risks, maintenance needs, and improvement opportunities.
• Manage site security protocols, access controls, and emergency preparedness plans.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready documentation related to facilities operations, inspections, certifications, and real estate assets.
• Oversee facilities-related logistics including shipping, receiving, material movement, and infrastructure coordination in support of site operations and projects.

Qualifications: :
• 6 – 8 + years of experience in facilities and/or real estate management; multi-site experience strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of building systems, preventative maintenance, and facilities compliance requirements.
• Proven experience managing vendors, contractors, and property management partners.
• Hands-on operational mindset with the ability to troubleshoot issues and drive resolution.
• Highly organized with the ability to prioritize across multiple sites and concurrent projects.
• Clear communicator with strong stakeholder and vendor relationship-building skills.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and comfortable operating with a high level of ownership and autonomy.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Merlin Labs offers an innovative, entrepreneurial, and team-focused startup environment. We also offer a top-notch benefits package (health, dental, life, unlimited vacation, 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: [email protected]

Merlin Labs does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates.