UI/UX Designer

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
You are a skilled UI/UX designer with experience designing displays in aviation, aerospace, or another safety-critical industry. You have a passion for designing displays that support operators of safety-critical systems in which an increasing number of traditionally-manual tasks are being automated. You are comfortable with and competent at working with a team of senior and junior engineers, can make and justify key decisions to the rest of the team and to stakeholders, and want to drive a team’s technical direction in close collaboration with the technical leads and engineering manager.

The Role:
• Drive the design of usable, intuitive user interfaces that enable pilots to interact with Merlin’s autonomous flight technologies.
• Conduct user research with Merlin’s pilots and potential end-users of Merlin’s systems to gather insights and validate design concepts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (including engineers, pilots, and software developers) to design and implement user interfaces for avionics and flight control systems.
• Ensure interface designs meet aviation standards (e.g., ARINC 661, DO-178C, FAA and EASA guidelines).
• Integrate advanced design methodologies with tools such as GLStudio, Qt, Figma, or other UI development platforms.
• Explore emerging technologies (e.g., augmented reality, AI, and voice control) for

Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in human factors, interaction design, industrial design, computer science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in UI/UX design, preferable in aviation, aerospace, or other safety-critical industries.
• Demonstrated track record developing usable and intuitive user interfaces that enhance user situational awareness, reduce workload, and mitigate errors.
• Proficiency using prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
• Knowledge of human factors principles and usability testing processes.
• Familiarity with aviation industry standards (e.g., ARINC 661, DO-178C, FAA and EASA guidelines).Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to convey design concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to Haves:
• Master’s or Doctorate degree in human factors, interaction design, industrial design, computer science, or a related field.
• Experience using GLStudio. Qt, or other real-time graphical user interface platforms to develop user interfaces.
• Experience with avionics systems integration and software development.
• Experience certifying pilot-vehicle interfaces on military and/or civil aircraft.
• Experience with flight testing on crewed or uncrewed aircraft.
• Familiarity with DoD and commercial open architectures such as A-GRA, OMS, FACE, and IMA.

This position is based on-site at Merlin HQ in Boston, MA.

Once you’re here, you’ll enjoy a variety of on-site perks designed to make your workday enjoyable and convenient. These include catered lunches featuring a rotating menu of delicious options, an assortment of snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day, and a selection of beverages, including coffee, tea, and other drinks, to keep you refreshed.

Our goal is to create an environment where you can thrive both professionally and personally

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.