---
title: 'Software Engineer (R&D Hardware Tooling) at Harmattan AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-r-d-hardware-tooling-harmattan-ai-paris-2br58v1ze74v'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-21'
---

# Software Engineer (R&D Hardware Tooling) at Harmattan AI

- **Company:** [Harmattan AI](https://feeny.ai/companies/harmattan-ai)
- **Location:** Paris, France
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-06-23
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-21
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/harmattan-ai/96644596-89ea-491a-be08-c3c3992e6815/application

**Skills:** Python, pytest, SCPI, VISA, C, C++, ARM Cortex-M, FreeRTOS, Zephyr, SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN, JTAG, SWD, Oscilloscopes, Logic analyzers, Version control, CI pipelines

> Design and build internal hardware tooling software and embedded firmware to accelerate product development for defense systems. Responsibilities include automation frameworks, instrument control, HIL rigs, and data acquisition, requiring strong Python, C/C++, and embedded systems expertise.

## 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 Harmattan AI parallelly scales several complex hardware programs—including ruggedized drone controllers, long-range RF systems, field-deployable launchers, and the UAVs themselves—we are establishing a dedicated R&D Hardware Tooling team. This team is responsible for building internal tools that live in the lab and within engineering workflows, enabling product teams to design, bring up, characterize, and validate hardware faster and with absolute confidence. In this role, you will own the software and embedded layers of this tooling end-to-end. This is a high-impact, fast-iteration position where your tools directly dictate development velocity. Furthermore, as one of the initial hires, there is a clear path to grow into a Team Lead role based on experience and performance.

## Responsibilities

- Tooling Software Architecture: Design reusable, modular automation and analysis frameworks (typically Python-based) utilized across all product programs.
- Instrument & Fixture Control: Integrate bench instruments and custom fixtures using SCPI/VISA, serial, USB, GPIB, and Ethernet, abstracting device drivers for team-wide reuse.
- Embedded Fixture Firmware: Write and maintain robust firmware (bare-metal and/or RTOS) for MCU-based development and validation fixtures handling I/O, signal generation, and measurement.
- Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL): Build HIL and development rigs, integrating them seamlessly into CI pipelines for automated firmware regression tracking.
- Data Acquisition & Analysis: Capture, store, and surface critical measurement data via databases, dashboards, and analysis scripts to enable data-driven design decisions.
- Bring-up & Debug Support: Build specialized bring-up scripts and debug utilities to support product engineering teams directly at the bench.
- Protocol Implementation: Implement and debug hardware communication interfaces including SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN, and RF/link interfaces.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with tooling hardware and mechanical engineers to define fixture interfaces and support rig bring-up, while translating product team needs into reliable tooling.
- Documentation: Maintain comprehensive architecture documents, validation procedures, and usage guides.

Candidate Requirements Educational Background

- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Science, or an equivalent technical field.

Core Technical Competencies & Experience

- Proven Test & Automation Experience: Demonstrated success building bench automation, HIL/development rigs, or characterization tooling for real physical hardware.
- Software & Automation Skills: Strong proficiency in Python automation (using pytest or equivalent frameworks) and instrument control via SCPI/VISA.
- Embedded Firmware: Confident writing embedded C/C++ on microcontrollers (typically ARM Cortex-M), spanning both bare-metal environments and RTOS architectures (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr).
- Hardware Debugging: Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up and bench debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG/SWD interfaces.
- Protocols & Infrastructure: Solid understanding of communication buses (SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN) alongside version control and CI pipelines.

Professional Attributes & Mindset

- Rigorous & Systems-Minded: Possesses a disciplined approach to measurement integrity, clean code, and understanding both the firmware under development and the instruments measuring it.
- Autonomous & Pragmatic: Capable of independently driving software architecture decisions while balancing robustness with rapid project execution.
- Adaptability & Execution: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, bringing a "no-task-is-too-small" mentality to a lean engineering team.
- Strong Communication & Collaboration: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to work seamlessly across hardware, mechanical, and product software domains without friction.

Desirable Pluses

- Experience within drone/UAV development, RF/radio systems, or telecommunications hardware.
- Prior experience deploying CI-integrated HIL testing systems.
- Experience working in ruggedized, military, or industrial-grade hardware environments.

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

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- [Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-manager-harmattan-ai-united-arab-emirates-zyjs834esafp) — United Arab Emirates
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- [Executive Assistant](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-harmattan-ai-zurich-maxpq64eez01) — Zurich, Switzerland
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