Tim Burns is the Chief Technology Officer at Merlin, where he leads the development of the world’s most advanced autonomous pilot systems for the aerospace industry. With over 25 years of leadership experience in aviation and aerospace systems engineering, Tim has a proven track record of driving innovation and leading large-scale, complex product developments from concept to certification.
Before joining Merlin, Tim was the Chief Engineer at Honda Aircraft Company, where he oversaw the design of the HondaJet Echelon and led a team of over 200 engineers. Prior to that, he served as Chief Engineer of Advanced Military Systems at L3Harris Technologies, responsible for advanced avionics mission processing platform developments for major defense programs. His earlier roles include Vice President of Engineering at Thales Aerospace and Senior Engineering Manager at Gulfstream, where he led the design and certification of the G500 Symmetry flight deck.
Tim is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), a licensed commercial pilot, and type-rated in both the Boeing 737 and HondaJet. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Avionics Systems from the University of Bristol, UK.
