---
title: 'Machine Learning Research Engineer – Visual Navigation at Harmattan AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-research-engineer-visual-navigation-harmattan-ai-lausanne-dwt2jjfwj645'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-19'
---

# Machine Learning Research Engineer – Visual Navigation at Harmattan AI

- **Company:** [Harmattan AI](https://feeny.ai/companies/harmattan-ai)
- **Location:** Lausanne, Switzerland
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-19
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-19
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/harmattan-ai/87b1afe9-d23e-47e8-bab4-91ed61152276

## 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.

As an ML Research Engineer in the Visual Navigation team, you will join us at an early stage to heavily influence our technical direction. Operating out of Paris, Lausanne or Zurich, you will focus on developing Machine Learning models to enable our drones to navigate on the battlefield, with responsibilities ranging from data curation and model architecture definition to onboard inference on our drones.

## Responsibilities

- DL Algorithm Development: Design deep learning models to analyze a drone's environment in multiple modalities and enable its localization through time and space.
- Edge AI Optimization: Embed models on heterogeneous platforms with limited shared compute. Optimize trade-offs between model speed and accuracy to minimize pipeline latency.
- Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with the VIO, Navigation, and Embedded Software teams to build a robust, real-time localization pipeline, communicating trade-offs clearly to stakeholders.
- Research & Innovation: Stay at the absolute forefront of scientific trends in Deep Learning to introduce cutting-edge methodologies to the team.
- Pipeline Management & MLOps: Build, heavily modify, and manage training, evaluation, and MLOps pipelines while ensuring reproducibility, robust logging, and version control.
- Validation & Field Testing: Actively participate in real-world flight tests. Analyze in-field failures to continuously iterate and improve deployed models.

Candidate Requirements

- Educational Background: Strong academic record with a STEM degree (e.g., Computer Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, Mathematics).
- Deep Learning & Computer Vision Expertise: Proven track record of researching and productizing Deep Learning models for Computer Vision in the industry (Drones, Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, etc.)
- Technical Competence: Proficiency in Python and DL frameworks (PyTorch/Lightning). Experience with MLOps and edge deployment optimization.

Professional Attributes:

- Highly structured, analytical, and research-oriented.
- Excellent communicator able to translate complex algorithmic benchmarking to downstream users and stakeholders.
- Thrives in a fast-paced environment with a hands-on, “no-task-is-too-small” mentality.
- Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and growth plans, ready to go the extra mile for operational excellence.

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

- [Systems Engineer (Munitions)](https://feeny.ai/job/systems-engineer-munitions-harmattan-ai-lausanne-prxzbdhs8sh2) — Lausanne, Switzerland
- [Computer Vision Engineer (VIO)](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-vision-engineer-vio-harmattan-ai-paris-pv0e4bb7fy2n) — Paris, France
- [Computer Vision Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-vision-engineer-harmattan-ai-zurich-9e7kze8xtrqj) — Zurich, Switzerland
- [Computer Vision Engineer - Tracker](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-vision-engineer-tracker-harmattan-ai-zurich-vbkf4kthyg8p) — Zurich, Switzerland
- [Computer Vision Engineer - Tracker](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-vision-engineer-tracker-harmattan-ai-lausanne-q6jtb7p70g03) — Lausanne, Switzerland
- [Computer Vision Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-vision-engineer-harmattan-ai-lausanne-dbmbmybfb6ed) — Lausanne, Switzerland
- [Computer Vision Engineer - Tracker](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-vision-engineer-tracker-harmattan-ai-paris-zbxhd0h6b0q2) — Paris, France
- [Computer Vision Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/computer-vision-engineer-harmattan-ai-paris-ckgmk03yrnbn) — Paris, France
- [Lead RF Engineer - Electronic Warfare](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-rf-engineer-electronic-warfare-harmattan-ai-paris-9xrwd5w7v7h3) — Paris, France
- [Mechanical Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-design-engineer-harmattan-ai-lausanne-pdsvfqbv7v1t) — Lausanne, Switzerland