Harmattan AI

Embedded Software Engineer - Cybersecurity at Harmattan AI (Paris, France)

Harmattan AI· Paris, France·

Role details

Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full-Time

Harmattan AI at a glance

France's first defense-tech unicorn, building attritable AI-piloted strike, interception, and ISR drones for allied militaries.

Harmattan AI is a vertically integrated defense prime building autonomous drone systems for allied militaries. It designs the full stack, from airframes and payloads to embedded compute and the autonomy algorithms that let drones sense, decide, and act at the edge without GPS or a network link, coordinated across a swarm by its mission-orchestration layer.

$242M raised · latest: Series B · $200M · January 2026 · backed by Dassault Aviation, FirstMark Capital, Atlantic, Motier Ventures

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

We are looking for a highly technical Embedded Software Engineer specialized in Cybersecurity to define, implement, and verify security measures across our platforms. In this role, you will work directly with embedded software teams, system architects, and product owners to ensure secure design, secure implementation, and compliance with defense-grade cybersecurity expectations. You will help shape how security is integrated from hardware up through the application layer, influence secure architectural decisions, and drive compliance activities across diverse product lines.

Responsibilities

  • Define and specify secure embedded architectures such as secure boot, firmware updates, and key management
  • Implement and integrate core cybersecurity features in embedded software (e.g., cryptographic primitives, secure storage, PKI)
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to embed security into design and implementation workflows
  • Validate, test, and harden systems to meet stringent cybersecurity requirements
  • Lead technical cybersecurity risk analysis and threat modeling for embedded products
  • Support and drive cybersecurity compliance efforts, including interaction with external stakeholders and certification bodies
  • Produce clear, actionable documentation that aligns engineering work with compliance expectations.

Candidate Requirements

  • Educational Background: Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
  • Prior work in defense, aerospace, critical infrastructure, or other high-security domains
  • Strong expertise in embedded cybersecurity, secure firmware, or system hardening. Hands-on experience with C/C++ embedded development; Python familiarity is a plus. Solid understanding of hardware-security primitives, TPM/SE integration, cryptographic protocols, and PKI.
  • Complex Project Management: Avid learner with a demonstrated capacity to handle large-scale, complex projects – offering innovative solutions and leading teams to deliver outstanding results.
  • Adaptability & Mobility: Thrives under pressure in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; embraces a “no-task-is-too-small” mentality.
  • Communication & Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication, capable of leading diverse principals, from junior members to senior executives.
  • Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence.

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

Why work at Harmattan AI

  • 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
  • Values: Tackle the hardest problems, build what matters, move at the speed of relevance, and aim to redefine frontiers. harmattan.ai
  • 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
  • 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.

Application questions