Chief Legal Officer
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 looking for a seasoned legal executive with deep experience in both venture-backed and high growth environments. You’ll serve as a key advisor to the CEO, Board, and leadership team—guiding strategic risk, ensuring regulatory compliance, and building the legal infrastructure to support scale, speed, and scrutiny.You’ll own and shape the legal function, navigate complex regulatory landscapes (FAA, DoD, ITAR, etc.), and lead negotiations with both commercial partners and government entities. This is a pivotal role for a business-minded, solutions-oriented legal leader who can translate complexity into clarity—and help build a company that lasts.
- Serve as chief legal advisor to the CEO, Board, and executive team across corporate, commercial, regulatory, and compliance matters
- Oversee regulatory compliance across aerospace and defense (FAA, DoD, ITAR, EAR, etc.)
- Draft, negotiate, and manage complex agreements, including government contracts, suppliers, and strategic partnerships
- Partner cross-functionally with product, engineering, and business teams to balance speed with risk
- Support capital raises, secondary transactions, M&A, and board-level strategy
- Build and scale Merlin’s internal legal function, including management of external counsel
- Partner with People and Finance on employment law, executive comp, equity, and investigations
- Anticipate and adapt to evolving legal landscapes affecting autonomy, aviation, and dual-use technology
- JD from an accredited U.S. law school
- 15+ years of experience
- Legal leadership at a venture-backed tech company
- Deep familiarity with agencies such as FAA, DoD, DOT, NASA, or similar
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements ; MSA’s, Software licenses, subscription agreements, and NDA’s
- Demonstrated ability to build legal infrastructure in fast-moving, complex environments
- Exceptional judgment, communication, and business orientation
- A collaborative, trusted leadership style—and a mindset grounded in enabling innovation
- Experience supporting dual-use, defense-adjacent, or safety-critical technologies
- Familiarity with international aerospace regulations and global compliance
- SBIR/STTR or government contract negotiation experience
- Comfort advising on legal implications of autonomy, AI, and emerging technologies
This position is based on-site at Merlin HQ in Boston, MA. We offer flexible hybrid in office schedules.
We understand that relocating for a new role is a significant decision, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. That’s why we offer comprehensive relocation assistance to help make your transition as seamless as possible. From covering moving expenses to providing guidance on finding housing, we aim to ensure your relocation experience is stress-free.
Additionally, 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, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability
status. 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.
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.
Average salary estimate
If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.
Merlin Labs is hiring a Situational Awareness Lead to own perception, sensor fusion, and world-modeling efforts that enable mission autonomy for crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
Serve as Senior Legal Counsel to the Commissioner at the NYC Department of Probation, providing high-level legal advice, overseeing litigation and compliance, and shaping agency policy and reform efforts.
Latham & Watkins is hiring an OGC Attorney to lead vendor and commercial contract review, negotiation, and risk mitigation for the firm’s global operations from its Washington, D.C. office (hybrid eligible).
Gould & Ratner LLP is looking for a mid-level Corporate Associate to manage complex M&A and corporate transactional matters, working in a hybrid in-office/remote capacity and gaining client-facing and business-development experience.
Strategically lead GTM legal operations at Ridgeline by designing playbooks, enabling sales on complex enterprise SaaS deals, and scaling contract lifecycle and legal-tech integrations.
The Business Integrity Commission is hiring an Investigative Auditor to conduct compliance audits, analyze financial records, and support enforcement and community outreach across NYC's waste removal and wholesale market sectors.
Oscilar is hiring an experienced AML Subject Matter Expert to lead BSA/AML advisory across sales, implementation, and customer support for its AI-driven risk platform.
The Brooklyn Borough President’s Office is hiring a New York State Bar-admitted General Counsel to advise leadership, oversee contracts and FOIL, serve as Privacy Officer, and supervise the Counsel Office.
Work at the intersection of law and AI as a Junior Legal Specialist, gaining practical contract experience and contributing to the growth of Robin AI's legal platform.
UMMS is hiring an experienced Coding Compliance Auditor to conduct ICD-10 and CPT coding audits across inpatient and outpatient settings to ensure compliant, accurate reimbursement and documentation.
Serve as an Amendments Specialist at the Oregon Health Authority, processing vital records amendment requests, interpreting statutes and rules, and supporting colleagues and stakeholders in an on-site Portland role.
Lead risk assessments and mitigation efforts for Amazon’s Perfect Order Experience, partnering with cross-functional teams to reduce fraud, operational, and reputational risk across products and processes.
Aristotle is hiring a Senior Political Compliance Manager to lead PAC and lobbying compliance, prepare federal campaign finance filings, manage client relationships, and mentor junior staff.
Lead Legal Recovery strategy and analytics at Synchrony to maximize recoveries, control costs, and ensure regulatory compliance across channels and portfolios.
🔮
Hi, I'm Risa! Your AI Career Copilot
you, just ask me below!
