--- title: 'Pyrotechnics Engineer H/F at Alta Ares' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/pyrotechnics-engineer-h-f-alta-ares-toulouse-fq3aa627wfxr' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Pyrotechnics Engineer H/F at Alta Ares - **Company:** Alta Ares - **Location:** Toulouse, France - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-17 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/alta-ares/0bc1e7e8-55a6-47db-88b7-b82ac1165698 ## Job description ## ABOUT ALTA ARES Alta Ares is an air defense Neoprime. We build AI-guided interceptors to counter drones and cruise missiles, along with the software platform that powers them. Our customers are NATO-aligned militaries and defense institutions, and our systems are regularly deployed during live exercises and operational demonstrations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Founded in 2024, we have grown to 90 people, raised over $60M, and increased revenue 40× this year. We are now entering a new phase of international expansion, industrial scaling, fundraising, and product development. ## ROLE & MISSION As a Pyrotechnics Engineer, you will own the integration, testing, qualification, and regulatory compliance of pyrotechnic and military payloads across Alta Ares' airborne systems. Working closely with Mechanical, Avionics, Systems, and Test teams, you will ensure payloads are safely and reliably integrated onto drones and interceptor platforms, from initial design through flight testing and operational deployment. This is a highly hands-on role combining engineering, testing, certification, and field operations in a fast-moving environment. ## PAYLOAD & PYROTECHNIC INTEGRATION - Lead the integration of pyrotechnic and military payloads onto airborne platforms - Define mechanical, electrical, and functional interfaces between payloads and vehicles - Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure successful integration - Support architecture trade-offs, supplier interactions, and system-level integration decisions ## TESTING & QUALIFICATION - Plan and execute ground tests, integration tests, and qualification campaigns - Define test procedures, acceptance criteria, and qualification requirements - Analyze test results, investigate anomalies, and drive corrective actions - Support flight test preparation, execution, and post-flight analysis ## REGULATORY COMPLIANCE & DOCUMENTATION - Prepare and maintain technical, safety, and qualification documentation - Manage regulatory authorizations required for testing and operation of pyrotechnic systems - Conduct risk assessments, hazard analys, and safety reviews - Ensure compliance with applicable defense, aerospace, and pyrotechnic regulations ## OPERATIONAL SUPPORT - Contribute to operational demonstrations, deployments, and field-testing activities - Capture lessons learned and feed improvements into future product iterations ## CANDIDATE PROFILE ## EXPERIENCE - 3–8 years of experience in pyrotechnics, aerospace, defense, or a related field - Direct experience integrating military or pyrotechnic payloads onto drones, UAVs, missiles, aircraft, or other airborne platforms - Experience leading integration, testing, and qualification activities - Experience managing technical documentation and regulatory approvals for pyrotechnic or military systems - Experience in a safety-critical aerospace or defense environment ## SKILLS & QUALITIES - Strong understanding of pyrotechnic systems and airborne payload integration - Hands-on engineer comfortable working with hardware and testing activities - Able to independently drive integration and qualification campaigns - Rigorous approach to safety, documentation, and regulatory compliance - Strong cross-functional communication and coordination skills - Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-growing company - High integrity and professionalism in handling sensitive defense technologies ## About Alta Ares ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Alta Ares builds an autonomous AI stack for next-generation air defense, ISTAR, and mission management, delivering counter-drone systems and edge intelligence to allied militaries. - **Entity Type**: Private (raised pre-seed and seed rounds; most recent €50M funding announced June 2026) - **Headquarters**: Paris, France (strategic offices in Toulouse, Kyiv, Abu Dhabi, New York, Athens, Munich, and London) - **Founded**: 2024 - **Founders**: Hadrien C. (CEO), Alain H. (Co-Founder), Stanislas W. (Co-Founder & COO) – per LinkedIn executive data ## Core Business - **Industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing; AI-powered autonomous systems - **Target Customers**: Allied governments and armed forces (B2B/B2G) - **Mission**: “The next decade of allied security will be decided by who controls the autonomous systems above the battlefield. Alta Ares was founded to help ensure that the technologies shaping the future of defense are developed by allies, for allies, and fielded where they can make the greatest difference.” [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/) ## Products & Services - **Black Bird**: Short- to mid-range multirotor autonomous interceptor for counter-drone swarms, with AI terminal guidance under jamming. - **X-LOCK**: Mid- to long-range turbojet-powered fixed-wing effector for high-speed interception of drones and glide bombs; optional strike configuration. - **Cyclops**: Sensor intelligence, mission planning, and flight monitoring system for UAVs – connects radars, classifies tracks, predicts trajectories. - **Gamma ISTAR**: Real-time video intelligence on the edge for Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. Includes Gamma Core (software deployable on any infrastructure) and Gamma Box (tactical rugged hardware node). Integrated with Gamma Ulixes MLOps platform for continuous model retraining. - **Pixel Lock**: Software system for detecting, tracking, and guiding interceptors toward moving aerial targets. Acts as visual aid for pilots and as automatic guidance in GNSS-denied environments. - **Mission Management Layer**: Unified platform combining air defense effectors, ISTAR products, and mission management software for autonomous operations. [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/) ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total known funding ≈ €50M+ (includes a reported June 2026 round led by top-tier AI and defense investors) [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/); earlier pre-seed ($2.2M) and seed ($2.0M) rounds confirmed on LinkedIn [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Airbus Defence and Space (signed MoU to co-develop European counter-drone solutions, June 2026); Expansion Ventures (led pre-seed). Other investors not yet named publicly. - **Growth Signals**: - Completed live Arctic trials of Black Bird interceptor with Estonian Defence Forces (Feb 2026) - Expanding to Munich and London in 2026 - Rapid hiring: 19+ active job postings (LinkedIn), 12 listed on Built In - LinkedIn followers: 11,265 (+15.8% monthly growth) - Team: ~43 employees (LinkedIn) to 62 (Built In), with strong technical talent from defense and aerospace (Armée de Terre, Safran AI, Loft Orbital) [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/alta-ares) | [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares) ## Competitive Advantages - **Sovereign European stack**: Entire AI and hardware chain developed by European allies, ensuring security and compliance for NATO and allied customers. - **GNSS-denied operations**: All systems designed to function under jamming and contested environments. - **Rapid field deployment**: Systems can be deployed by small teams in the field, reducing logistics footprint. - **Full-stack integration**: One platform combining effectors, ISR, and mission management with edge AI and continuous MLOps. ## Strategic Focus - Scale manufacturing and deployment of Black Bird, X-LOCK, and Gamma products to meet growing demand from allied nations. - Deepen integration partnership with Airbus Defence and Space for European counter-drone solutions. - Expand international presence (Munich, London offices in 2026) and grow sales in Baltic, Indo-Pacific, and Middle Eastern markets. - Continue investment in AI terminal guidance, sensor fusion, and sovereign MLOps (Gamma Ulixes). ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven**: Directly contribute to European and allied defense autonomy in a critical domain. - **Cutting-edge tech**: Work on AI, computer vision, autonomous flight, edge computing, and defense-grade hardware. - **Rapid growth**: Company raised €50M in 2026, tripling headcount timeline; many open engineering and operations roles. - **Culture**: Described as a “deeptech startup” with a hybrid workspace (combination of remote and on-site); main offices in Paris and Toulouse, plus international hubs. - **Perks**: Not detailed publicly, but typical for defense tech includes competitive compensation, equity, and mission-critical work. Engineering culture emphasized in job postings. - **Ideal for**: Engineers (embedded, robotics, GNC, data, ML), test pilots, production managers, defense sales, compliance, and talent acquisition specialists. ## Sources 1. [altaares.com](https://www.altaares.com/) 2. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/alta-ares) 3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/alta-ares) 4. [jobs.workable.com](https://jobs.workable.com/company/dTjqj5nvsJLNhfSDY12XbG/jobs-at-alta-ares) 5. [thecompanycheck.com](https://www.thecompanycheck.com/company/b/alta-ares/l5u43z56vx1ldmfss) ## Other roles at Alta Ares - [DevOps Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/devops-intern-alta-ares-paris-ys5qhbgdkt12) — Paris, France - [Structural Engineer UAV H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/structural-engineer-uav-h-f-alta-ares-toulouse-e0wecwdhef8d) — Toulouse, France - [Logistics Manager H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/logistics-manager-h-f-alta-ares-paris-jq0ba72knsyk) — Paris, France - [Software Engineer — VIE USA](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-vie-usa-alta-ares-new-york-tzvjqnfbydhe) — New York, NY - [Business Development Representative — VIE Germany](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-vie-germany-alta-ares-munich-9y82690ehp52) — Munich, Germany - [Business Development Representative — VIE Abu Dhabi](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-vie-abu-dhabi-alta-ares-middle-east-and-qksmpxad2e7g) — Middle East and Africa - [Business Development Representative — VIE Japon](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-vie-japon-alta-ares-tokyo-xd296meqgnya) — Tokyo, Japan / Nagoya, Japan - [Legal Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/legal-intern-alta-ares-paris-ew8j518ja616) — Paris, France - [Legal & IP Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/legal-ip-counsel-alta-ares-paris-7x18kmg7kddd) — Paris, France - [Junior Payroll Specialist H/F](https://feeny.ai/job/junior-payroll-specialist-h-f-alta-ares-paris-4jmkpt5nvksn) — Paris, France