You're a video shooter, producer and editor who is energized by subject matter, not just aesthetics. You've spent time around aircraft, defense hardware, or complex industrial environments, and you know how to make technical things look and feel compelling on camera. You're equally comfortable directing a sit-down interview with a CEO and running solo with a gimbal on a flight line at 6am.
You understand that in a company like Merlin, the content you make is about telling the story and why behind the company, evidence that the technology works, that the team is serious, and that this company is building something that matters.
You're fast, resourceful, and don't need a full crew to produce quality work. You can shoot, edit, and deliver, and you know when to bring in help and when to just get it done yourself. You've worked in environments where the shot window is narrow, the subject is technically complex, and the stakes are high.
At Merlin, you'll be directly involved in some of the most significant moments in autonomous aviation. First flights, military program milestones. international airshow launches, etc. You'll document all of it and shape how the world understands what Merlin is building.
And, importantly, you are not just documenting why autonomous aviation matters for making the skies safer, more efficient, and more accessible.
Responsibilities:
Own end-to-end video production for Merlin, from concept and shoot planning through editing, delivery, and archiving. This includes product launch videos, milestone content, executive interviews, flight footage, event coverage, and always-on social content across platforms.
Operate as Merlin's embedded eyes and camera on the ground at key moments: flight demonstrations, program milestones, trade shows, media visits, and operational test events. Travel required.
Collaborate directly with the CMO and communications team to translate complex technical milestones into compelling video content for investor, defense, aviation, and general audiences.
Build and maintain a library of high-quality b-roll, flight footage, and raw assets that can be drawn on across launches, social posts, and earned media support. Ensure footage is organized, backed up, and accessible to the team.
Work cross-functionally with Flight Operations, Engineering, and Program teams to understand what's happening, when it's happening, and what access is possible. You'll need to earn trust with technical teams who are protective of their time and their aircraft.
Manage external production relationships when needed — directing partner agencies, motion graphics vendors, or day-rate crew for larger productions — while maintaining Merlin's visual identity and content standards across all deliverables.
Qualifications:
5+ years of professional video production experience, with a portfolio that demonstrates both technical quality and storytelling instinct across documentary, commercial, or branded content formats.
Demonstrated experience shooting in complex, high-access environments — aerospace, defense, industrial, or similar — where subject matter expertise and physical adaptability are required.
Proficiency with professional camera systems, audio capture, and lighting for both controlled and field environments. Ability to operate effectively as a one-person crew when needed.
Strong post-production skills — editing in Premiere Pro or equivalent, color grading, audio mixing, and delivery for multiple formats (broadcast, social, web).
Experience producing content for executive and investor audiences — press interviews, milestone announcements, earnings-adjacent communications — with an understanding of the sensitivity and precision these contexts require.
Nice to Haves:
Drone/aerial footage certification (FAA Part 107 or equivalent) and experience incorporating aerial and air-to-air footage into production workflows.
Experience in a startup or high-growth company environment where production resources are lean and output expectations are high.
Personal interest in aviation, aerospace, or defense — someone who gets genuinely excited about what Merlin is building and brings that energy to the work.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of professional video production experience
- Proficiency with professional camera systems, audio capture, and lighting
- Strong post-production skills including editing in Premiere Pro
- Experience producing content for executive and investor audiences
- Demonstrated experience shooting in complex environments
What We Do
All of the sky, none of the limits. Merlin Labs is building the autonomous infrastructure for the sky above us, enabling goods, and eventually people, to fly without pilots. The Merlin Labs team is building the definitive autonomy system for all things that fly. We’re creating sophisticated software and hardware that fulfill the functions of a human pilot.
