---
title: 'Machine Learning Engineer - Foundational at Harmattan AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-engineer-foundational-harmattan-ai-zurich-e77xm8rnma9c'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-21'
---

# Machine Learning Engineer - Foundational at Harmattan AI

- **Company:** [Harmattan AI](https://feeny.ai/companies/harmattan-ai)
- **Location:** Zurich, Switzerland
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-06-18
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-21
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/harmattan-ai/4e63d35a-935f-4f1d-9076-5a75a7f50ea9/application

**Skills:** PyTorch, Python, Vision Transformers, Self-Supervised Learning, Masked Autoencoders, Contrastive Learning, C++, Rust, Go, Multi-GPU training, Multi-node distributed training

> Harmattan AI seeks a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to design and scale multi-modal foundational models for autonomous defense systems. The role involves building self-supervised learning architectures for EO/IR data and managing distributed training infrastructure.

## 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 Machine Learning Engineer on our Foundational team in Paris, you will build the "brain" of our tactical robots. You will design and scale large-scale, multi-modal foundational models that learn robust representations of the battlefield using Self-Supervised Learning (SSL) from massive amounts of unlabelled Electro-Optical (EO) and Infrared (IR) data. Your work provides the critical foundational weights that our Edge AI team distills into hyper-accurate models running on tactical hardware.

## Responsibilities

- Multi-Modal SSL Architecture Design: Design neural network architectures (Vision Transformers) and loss functions (Masked Autoencoders, Contrastive Learning) to jointly learn from paired and unpaired EO and IR data.
- Distributed Training Infrastructure: Manage and optimise training pipelines across multi-node GPU clusters, handling mixed-precision training and data loading.
- Representation Evaluation: Develop metrics and linear-probing benchmarks to prove the latent space captures useful semantic features before distillation.
- Data Strategy: Audit existing EO/IR data lakes and implement cross-attention mechanisms to fuse diverse sensor features.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Sync with Data Engineers on ingestion pipelines and collaborate with the Edge AI team to ensure high-performance model handoffs.

Candidate Requirements

- Educational Background: A PhD or a highly research-focused MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, or Applied Mathematics.
- Proven Experience: Minimum of 5-6 years of experience for senior levels. Experience training and scaling deep learning vision models (ViTs, CNNs) from scratch in multi-GPU/multi-node environments. Successful application of novel SSL or multi-modal architectures (e.g., CLIP, MAE, DINO) to real-world, non-standard imaging data (IR, SAR, or hyperspectral).
- Technical Proficiency: Hardcore PyTorch engineering skills combined with deep mathematical intuition for representation learning. Knowledge of system-level languages (C++, Rust, or Go) and resource optimisation for edge computing.
- Complexity & Leadership: Ability to architect state machines for fault-tolerant data pipelines and mediate technical trade-offs between hardware and algorithm teams.
- Commitment & Mindset: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission of providing an ethical defence edge to allied countries. A hybrid researcher-engineer mindset that treats data quality as seriously as algorithm design

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