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:
As a Flight Test Instrumentation (FTI) Engineer, you will serve as a key technical contributor within Flight Test team, working closely with instrumentation technicians, flight test engineers (FTEs), Test Directors, test pilots, and various engineering groups, to plan, design, and execute complex flight test programs.
The company advances aviation by bringing in high-level automation that reduces pilot workload.
Responsibilities:
As a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer, you'll develop and integrate the flight test instrumentation (FTI) systems that enable safe, efficient flight testing. You'll design data acquisition architectures, support aircraft integration, and ensure high-quality test data from installation through post-flight analysis.
- Design, integrate, and validate flight test instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
- Develop instrumentation architectures, system requirements, and sensor layouts to support flight and ground testing.
- Partner with engineering teams to integrate instrumentation into aircraft and support system verification.
- Execute pre-flight instrumentation checks, calibration, and FTI software configuration to ensure reliable data collection.
- Support technicians and mechanics during instrumentation installation, checkout, and troubleshooting.
- Maintain instrumentation configuration control, calibration records, and engineering documentation.
- Create wiring diagrams, installation drawings, test procedures, and configuration records.
- Troubleshoot instrumentation issues and improve system performance and data quality.
- Ensure compliance with engineering, safety, and airworthiness standards throughout flight test operations.
Qualifications:
Experience with flight test instrumentation (FTI), data acquisition systems, and real-time telemetry.
Hands-on experience with instrumentation sensors, including strain gauges, accelerometers, pressure transducers, thermocouples, and displacement sensors.
Ability to read and develop electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and system architecture drawings.
Strong understanding of electrical and electronic fundamentals, including power distribution, signal conditioning, and circuit analysis.
Experience using electronic test and diagnostic equipment, such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, and data acquisition tools.
Ability to work in laboratory, hangar, and flight line environments.
Ability to access instrumentation installed on aircraft, including climbing ladders, platforms, and confined spaces.
