Proposal Manager at Harmattan AI (Austin, TX)
Harmattan AI· Austin, TX·
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
Summary
Leads end-to-end bid management for US federal defense markets, managing RFP analysis, proposal strategy, and submission. Ensures compliance with FAR/DFARS frameworks and coordinates cross-functional teams to win complex autonomous defense system contracts.
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
At Harmattan AI, we build autonomous defense systems deployed in real-world operations. Winning programs is core to how we scale. We are hiring a Proposal Manager to own how we win across the United States, one of the most competitive and strategically critical defense markets. You will lead bids end-to-end across DoW, and institutional clients, working directly with Sales, Product, and Engineering to translate complex systems into clear, compelling proposals. This role requires operating in a high-bar environment: tight timelines, demanding stakeholders, and rigorous compliance standards.
Responsibilities
- Own the full lifecycle of bids across US federal markets
- Lead RFP analysis, qualification, proposal strategy, and submission
- Translate complex autonomous systems into clear, structured, and persuasive proposals
- Ensure full compliance with US procurement frameworks (FAR/DFARS), security, and export control requirements
- Coordinate inputs across Sales, Product, R&D, Legal, and Finance — driving alignment without direct authority
- Operate within a structured bid governance model (Go/No-Go, review cycles, submission gates)
- Interface directly with government stakeholders and prime contractors during bidding phases
- Track performance (win/loss, conversion rates) and continuously refine positioning and strategy.
Candidate Requirements
- Proven Experience: 5+ years in Bid / Proposal Management within US federal or defense environments. Proven experience responding to DoW or federal RFPs.
- Complex Project Management: Strong understanding of US procurement frameworks (FAR/DFARS, compliance, security requirements).
- 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.