Director of Safety

Job Description

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 strategic aviation safety leader with deep experience implementing and managing Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Quality management systems (QMS) across both high growth start-ups and established operators. You have a strong track record of strengthening safety culture, using data and practical insights to improve performance and embed meaningful safety practices.

You are as comfortable shaping safety strategy with the Executive as you are discussing that strategy with the front line team. You know how to translate complex safety concepts in to clear actionable guidance and you build credibility quickly- whether your in the board room, with engineers in the office, or on the flight line.

A natural communicator, you mentor, coach and influence at all levels of the organization. You foster open, honest safety conversations and you create an environment where the entire team feels empowered to speak up and do the right thing.

• Leadership and Strategy: Report to the CEO, overseeing the development and execution of short- and long-term safety and regulatory strategies, plans, and resources.
• SMS and QMS Leadership: Lead the integration and continuous improvement of Safety Management Systems and Quality Management Systems across the entire business, ensuring compliance with international standards and regulations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with certification, compliance, regulatory, and engineering teams on technology projects, and contribute in the process for obtaining approvals for both organisation certificates and autonomous technology from global regulatory agencies such as CAANZ, FAA, NASA, Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, ICAO, and EASA.
• Consultant Management: Coordinate with a roster of external consultants and experts to ensure their seamless integration into Merlin's programs, maximizing their impact as force multipliers.
• Team Development and Standards: Foster a culture of excellence by developing work standards and guidelines for the team, ensuring adherence to established procedures, processes, and compliance standards.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for an integrated Merlin Safety Management System and Emergency Response Plan
• Develop and continuously improve the organisational safety culture
• Provide safety leadership advice to the Executive team
• Analyse all investigations, occurrences and audit findings for root causes, determine opportunities for improvement (e.g. procedures, training, changes to role responsibilities) and promote those improvement opportunities to the appropriate business management team.
• Carry out investigation of occurrences, incidents and/or accidents associated with all activities that support the engineering, operations and maintenance of company aircraft and products. Identify and manage corrective actions.
• Manage the process of developing Safety Performance Indicators (SPI’s) to meet the Merlin safety goals, measure performance against targets and ensure trends, strengths or weaknesses are identified and addressed.
• Manage the process of the analysis and reporting of all safety data and Safety Performance Indicators.
• Lead the development and authorisation of the internal audit programme that encompasses all Safety and Quality critical operations, including contracted services and lease and charter operations.
• Carry out audits of internal and external business units and providers
• Manage business change risk through company risk Management of Change (MOC) processes including the training on, and promotion of the process.
• Create and manage Operational Risk Management Plans to identify risks/hazards and actions to mitigate such risks to an acceptable level.
• Manage the syllabi and training plans for the SMS, Just Culture and Risk Management training.
• Instill a safety culture and continuous improvement ethic through the implementation of a group wide safety communication plan promoting an open safety culture.

• 10+ years of experience leading complex safety, regulatory, and compliance projects in a technology company, startup, or government agency.
• Proven ability to build relationships with senior leaders in government, industry, and academia.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm and decisive in high-pressure situations.
• Capable of working independently and collaboratively within a team.

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.