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Director Autonomy Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Merlin Labs

Autonomy Software Engineer

OR · Remote

Develop software across the stack of an aircraft autonomy system, contributing to lower level ... direct your inquiries to: people@merlinlabs.com Merlin Labs does not accept unsolicited resumes ...

Merlin Labs

OR · On-site

Develop software across the stack of an aircraft autonomy system, contributing to lower level ... direct your inquiries to: [email protected] Merlin Labs does not accept unsolicited resumes from ...

Chef Robotics

Staff Autonomy Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$160K - $240K/yr

You will report directly to the engineering leadership and have direct influence over how Chef's autonomy systems scale across a growing commercial fleet. We are a small, high-ownership team. We work ...

Chef Robotics

Staff Autonomy Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$160K - $240K/yr

You will report directly to the engineering leadership and have direct influence over how Chef's autonomy systems scale across a growing commercial fleet. We are a small, high-ownership team. We work ...

AeroVect

Senior Planning Engineer (Autonomy)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$123K - $169K/yr

... directing schedule, removing obstacles, and coaching the team to hit aggressive milestones. * Lead a team of engineers bringing up all components necessary for reliable autonomous driving in the ...

Apptronik

Senior Autonomy Software Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$190K - $235K/yr

JOB SUMMARY As a Senior Software Engineer on the Autonomy team at Apptronik, you will design and ... This is a direct hire. Please, no outside Agency solicitations. Apptronik provides equal employment ...

May Mobility

Autonomy Release Engineer II

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

May's Autonomous Release Engineers are front line problem solvers that get things done. They have ... Ability to work cross-functionally without direct authority * Eagerness to continuously learn new ...

Torc Robotics

Technical Product Manager, II - Autonomy

$170K - $197K/yr

... directors to deliver against program goals. • Collaborate with technical and non-technical ... autonomous vehicles, robotics, automotive, or similar industries. • Bachelor's Degree in STEM ...

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Director Autonomy information

What is a Director of Autonomy?

A Director of Autonomy is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and advancement of autonomous systems within an organization. This role typically involves managing teams of engineers and researchers, setting strategic direction for autonomy projects, and ensuring that technology solutions meet safety, regulatory, and business requirements. Directors of Autonomy are commonly found in industries like automotive, robotics, and aerospace, where self-driving or automated systems are being developed and deployed. They collaborate closely with other departments, such as software engineering, hardware, and product management, to ensure cohesive progress towards autonomy goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Autonomy, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Autonomy, you need deep expertise in robotics, AI, and autonomous systems, usually supported by an advanced engineering or computer science degree and substantial leadership experience. Familiarity with technical tools such as ROS, machine learning frameworks, and simulation environments, as well as knowledge of safety and regulatory standards, is essential. Outstanding strategic vision, cross-functional leadership, and strong communication skills make a candidate stand out in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for effectively guiding technical teams, ensuring project delivery, and driving innovation in complex, evolving autonomy domains.

How does the Director of Autonomy typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive autonomous systems development?

As a Director of Autonomy, you will regularly collaborate with engineering, product management, safety, and operations teams to ensure that autonomous systems are designed, tested, and deployed effectively. This role often involves aligning technical roadmaps with organizational goals, facilitating communication between software and hardware teams, and coordinating with legal and regulatory departments to meet compliance standards. Effective cross-functional collaboration is key to overcoming technical challenges and ensuring the seamless integration of autonomous technologies into products or services.

What is the difference between Director Autonomy vs Project Manager?

AspectDirector AutonomyProject Manager
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree, often with advanced degrees or industry certificationsUsually requires a bachelor's degree, PMP or similar certifications are common
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, overseeing departments or divisions, high-level decision makingOperational focus, managing specific projects, coordinating teams to meet project goals
Industry UsageUsed across various industries including corporate, non-profit, and government sectorsCommonly used in construction, IT, marketing, and other project-based fields

In summary, a Director Autonomy holds a higher-level strategic role with broader responsibilities and decision-making authority, while a Project Manager focuses on executing specific projects within defined parameters. Both roles require leadership skills, but their scope and focus differ significantly.

Infographic showing various Director Autonomy job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution.
Autonomy Software Engineer

Autonomy Software Engineer

Merlin Labs

OR • Remote

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

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 versatile software engineer with a passion for aviation, robotics, and autonomous systems. You are comfortable working across technical domains, from perception and understanding to decision making and human-machine teaming. You take pride in delivering high-quality, maintainable code, collaborate well with other engineers and teams, and like to independently dig into new problems. You’re excited to see your code fly in the real world.
Responsibilities

  • Develop software across the stack of an aircraft autonomy system, contributing to lower level embedded systems and higher level autonomy function areas as needed.

  • Implement and integrate algorithms for perception, reasoning, decision making, planning, and execution in support of autonomous airborne operations. 

  • Collaborate with domain leads to understand architecture, requirements, and design intent for specific capabilities.

  • Contribute to simulation, integration, and flight test activities to validate autonomy software in relevant environments.

  • Write, test, document and review code according to Merlin’s development standards.

  • Collaborate across Merlin to develop novel, certifiable systems to solve the toughest problems in aviation and autonomy.

Requirements

  • Degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, robotics, or a related field.

  • BS and 1+ or MS and 2+ years of experience developing software for robotic or autonomous systems.

  • Experience with Linux and open-source development tools.

  • Experience with overall product development cycle, including design, testing, and troubleshooting at the system level as well as at the software component level.

  • Experience with both Python and C++.

  • Experience with ROS, DDS or similar robotics middleware.

  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to learn and contribute across different technical domains.

Nice to Have

  • Experience developing autonomy software for aircraft, drones, or other high-integrity systems.

  • Experience with state machines, behavior trees, or task planning algorithms.

  • Experience with route, path and trajectory planning.

  • Experience with perception systems, sensor fusion, or world modeling concepts.

  • Experience with multi-agent collaboration and human-machine interfaces.

  • Experience with system integration, simulation, or flight testing of autonomous platforms.

  • Experience with hardware and software integration and debugging.

  • Pilot license and flight experience is a plus.

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: people@merlinlabs.com

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