---
title: 'Data Engineer - Foundational at Harmattan AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-foundational-harmattan-ai-paris-s68f6m05h9ha'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-21'
---

# Data Engineer - Foundational at Harmattan AI

- **Company:** [Harmattan AI](https://feeny.ai/companies/harmattan-ai)
- **Location:** Paris, France
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-03-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-21
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/harmattan-ai/00f273c5-77ae-4311-b027-53a8ce7d2a9c/application

**Skills:** Apache Spark, Ray, Apache Beam, PyTorch, JAX, DVC, Apache Iceberg, Pachyderm, MinIO, S3, Distributed Computing, GPU Optimization, Data Versioning

> Build high-performance ETL/ELT pipelines for raw EO/IR video data to support deep learning models. Responsibilities include sensor synchronization, distributed processing, and ensuring data quality for multi-node training clusters.

## Job description

## About Us

Harmattan AI is a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Following the close of a $200M Series B, valuing the company at $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces. Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected.

## About the Role

As a Data Engineer on the Foundational team, you will serve as the "plumber" for deep learning, building the massive, high-performance data infrastructure required to power our foundational models. Based in Paris, you will manage terabytes—and eventually petabytes—of raw, unstructured, and noisy video data (EO and IR). Your mission is to ensure our ML engineers spend their time designing architectures, not waiting for data loaders or wrangling corrupted files.

## Responsibilities

- Multi-Modal Ingestion Pipeline: Build ETL/ELT pipelines to extract, decode, and store raw Electro-Optical (EO) and Infrared (IR) video from field logs into highly optimised formats like WebDataset, TFRecords, or Parquet.
- Sensor Synchronisation & Alignment: Develop algorithms to programmatically synchronise EO and IR frames temporally and spatially to provide paired inputs for model training.
- High-Throughput Data Loading: Architect storage-to-GPU pipelines to ensure multi-node training clusters maintain >90% GPU utilisation without I/O bottlenecks.
- Distributed Processing: Write and optimise distributed data processing jobs using tools like Apache Spark, Ray, or Apache Beam to process thousands of hours of tactical video logs.
- Data Quality & Versioning: Implement automated quality checks to filter corrupted or blank frames and maintain 100% reproducible training runs through robust versioning and lineage tracking.
- Infrastructure Evaluation: Assess and implement advanced storage solutions (e.g., MinIO, S3 tiering) to manage growing datasets while optimising for cost and latency.

Candidate Requirements

- Educational Background: A BS or MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Distributed Systems is highly preferred. Deep knowledge of operating systems, networking, and parallel computing is essential.
- Technical Experience: 5-6+ years of experience building and maintaining terabyte-scale pipelines for unstructured data (video, images, or point clouds).
- Performance Optimisation: Proven track record of maximising multi-node GPU utilisation and optimising data loaders for frameworks like PyTorch or JAX.
- Tooling Expertise: Strong command of distributed computing tools (Spark, Ray, Beam) and ML data versioning tools (DVC, Apache Iceberg, or Pachyderm).
- Adaptability & Ownership: A systems-thinker who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and views messy data as an engineering problem to be solved via automation.
- Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission of providing a defensive edge to allied nations through ethical, high-impact technology

We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.

## About Harmattan AI

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Harmattan AI builds autonomous defense systems—including strike and surveillance drones—using AI-driven autonomy and real-time intelligence for allied forces.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B, unicorn status)
- **Headquarters**: Paris, France
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Mouad M’Ghari (CEO & Co‑founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Defense & autonomous systems
- **Target customers**: B2G – NATO member states, ministries of defence (UK, France, and others)
- **Mission**: Deliver scalable, sovereign AI capabilities to allied forces by building mission‑ready autonomous systems that respond in real time, adapt under pressure, and deliver an edge in contested environments. [harmattan.ai](https://harmattan.ai/)

## Products & Services
- **Platform Autonomy**: AI‑driven autonomy layer for drones, enabling real‑time decision‑making and adaptation.
- **Mission Orchestration**: Software for coordinating multiple autonomous assets (e.g., collaborative air combat).
- **Precision Strike**: Attritable strike drones with embedded AI for target engagement.
- **VSHORAD (Very Short‑Range Air Defence)**: Counter‑drone interception systems.
- **Persistent ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance)**: Autonomous surveillance platforms for continuous battlefield awareness.
- **Electronic Warfare Platforms**: Systems for electronic attack and protection. [harmattan.ai](https://harmattan.ai/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: $1.4 billion (as of January 2026, after Series B). [tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/01/12/french-startup-harmattan-ai-hits-unicorn-status-as-it-strikes-deal-with-french-aerospace-group/)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding ~$240 million ($200 M Series B led by Dassault Aviation + over $40 M prior). [tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/01/12/french-startup-harmattan-ai-hits-unicorn-status-as-it-strikes-deal-with-french-aerospace-group/)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Dassault Aviation (lead investor & strategic partner), multiple NATO allies as customers.
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Achieved unicorn status within two years of founding.
  - Awarded several “programs of record” by UK and French Ministries of Defence. [tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/01/12/french-startup-harmattan-ai-hits-unicorn-status-as-it-strikes-deal-with-french-aerospace-group/)
  - Scaling industrial manufacturing of drone interception and electronic warfare platforms.
  - Headcount grew to 131 employees (Built In estimate). [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/harmattan-ai)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Two‑layer autonomy model**: Combines platform‑level AI with mission‑orchestration software for coordinated, scalable autonomous forces.
- **Sovereign AI**: Focus on delivering non‑dependent capabilities to allied nations, differentiating from US‑centric primes.
- **Attritable systems**: Cost‑effective, expendable drones that enable mass deployment without prohibitive losses.
- **Speed to relevance**: Claims rapid iteration and deployment cycles, with conflict‑ready production. [harmattan.ai](https://harmattan.ai/)

## Strategic Focus
- Expand product offering into new operational domains (e.g., collaborative air combat with Dassault Aviation).
- Scale industrial manufacturing of drone interception, electronic warfare, and ISR platforms.
- Deepen integration of embedded AI into next‑generation air combat systems (future combat air systems). [tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/01/12/french-startup-harmattan-ai-hits-unicorn-status-as-it-strikes-deal-with-french-aerospace-group/)

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Elite builders” who “thrive on complexity, move with urgency, and own their work end to end.” Emphasis on purpose, technical excellence, and real‑world impact. [harmattan.ai](https://harmattan.ai/careers/)
- **Values**: Tackle the hardest problems, build what matters, move at the speed of relevance, and aim to redefine frontiers. [harmattan.ai](https://harmattan.ai/careers/)
- **Work policy**: Hybrid model with a mix of remote and on‑site; many roles are in‑office at locations in Paris, Lausanne, London, Arlington (TX), Wissous, Poland, UAE, and Morocco. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/harmattan-ai)
- **Engineering culture**: Hands‑on development of mission‑critical autonomous systems; strong R&D focus across AI, computer vision, RF hardware, propulsion, and mission planning.
- **Perks**: Not explicitly listed, but the company highlights the opportunity to protect front‑line personnel and shape the future of autonomous defence.

## Sources
1. [harmattan.ai](https://harmattan.ai/)
2. [harmattan.ai/careers](https://harmattan.ai/careers/)
3. [harmattan.ai/open-roles](https://harmattan.ai/open-roles)
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/harmattan-ai)
5. [tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/01/12/french-startup-harmattan-ai-hits-unicorn-status-as-it-strikes-deal-with-french-aerospace-group/)

## Other roles at Harmattan AI

- [Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/program-manager-harmattan-ai-rabat-f1bwm8xf657x) — Rabat, Morocco
- [Data Annotator](https://feeny.ai/job/data-annotator-harmattan-ai-paris-2x2pwtxfyz9z) — Paris, France
- [Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-manager-harmattan-ai-united-arab-emirates-zyjs834esafp) — United Arab Emirates
- [Automated Testing Module Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/automated-testing-module-lead-harmattan-ai-paris-ahz311za9pyp) — Paris, France
- [Executive Assistant](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-harmattan-ai-zurich-maxpq64eez01) — Zurich, Switzerland
- [Technicien Qualité (Quality Technician)](https://feeny.ai/job/technicien-qualite-quality-technician-harmattan-ai-orly-336gystpxnj5) — Orly, France
- [Mechatronic Engineer - Automation Test Equipment](https://feeny.ai/job/mechatronic-engineer-automation-test-equipment-harmattan-ai-paris-nt6rc3dat3w6) — Paris, France
- [Production Quality Engineer Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/production-quality-engineer-intern-harmattan-ai-orly-pfmddrbpjkdm) — Orly, France
- [MEA HR Generalist](https://feeny.ai/job/mea-hr-generalist-harmattan-ai-rabat-9g2hnw1sxzss) — Rabat, Morocco
- [Embedded Software Engineer - GCS](https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-software-engineer-gcs-harmattan-ai-paris-vpmrn53kgajp) — Paris, France