Executive Assistant at Harmattan AI (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Harmattan AI· Lausanne, Switzerland·
Role details
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
As Executive Assistant at Harmattan AI, you will serve as a trusted right-hand partner to our founders, ensuring seamless coordination across his priorities, stakeholders, and strategic initiatives. You will be embedded at the heart of a founder-led environment operating at the intersection of advanced technology and national security — where the pace is relentless, discretion is paramount, and your impact is direct.
The C-Suite operates across multiple time zones, engaging daily with government officials, investors, and senior defense stakeholders. This role demands a resilient, solutions-oriented individual who can anticipate needs, act with precision, and communicate with confidence at the highest levels.
Responsibilities
Executive Support
- Provide senior-level, strategic EA support across all business and personal priorities
- Manage a highly complex and evolving international calendar with strong prioritisation and proactive anticipation
- Act as a professional gatekeeper and communication filter, managing inbound requests with sound judgment
- Prepare briefing materials and ensure preparedness for all engagements
- Track actions and ensure consistent follow-through across key initiatives
Stakeholder & Communications Management
- Coordinate interactions with senior stakeholders, including government, investors, and strategic partners
- Draft and manage high-quality communications in both French and English
- Build and maintain strong relationships across internal and external networks
Operations & Logistics
- Manage complex international travel planning and logistics
- Act as a central point of coordination across business and leadership activities
- Support ad hoc projects linked to strategic and operational priorities
- Maintain organisation, structure, and efficiency within a fast-moving environment
Candidate Requirements
- At least 5–10 years of proven experience supporting in a high-performance environment (private equity, private office, or equivalent)
- Fully bilingual in French and English, with exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Strong track record of operating in fast-paced, international, high-pressure settings
- Outstanding technical capability and confidence using modern productivity tools, including AI
- Demonstrable ability to manage complexity with precision and sound judgment
- High levels of discretion, professionalism, and emotional intelligence
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and naturally proactive
- Calm, solutions-driven mindset with the ability to anticipate needs before they arise
- Comfortable working on-site in Paris with flexibility across working hours and time zones
- Eligibility to work in France; security clearance requirements may apply given the nature of the organisation
- Excellent, verifiable references
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.