--- title: 'Systems Engineer (Munitions) at Harmattan AI' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/systems-engineer-munitions-harmattan-ai-lausanne-prxzbdhs8sh2' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-19' --- # Systems Engineer (Munitions) 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/79e1f46d-4b97-4eee-acc3-cbc805d209ca ## 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 Systems Engineer in the Warhead team at Harmattan AI, you will help structure and build complete development assurance and qualification frameworks for energetic effectors. Working alongside the effectors and platform teams, you will help develop the necessary protocols, requirements management, S3 assessment frameworks and qualification programs for the energetic systems and sub-systems in the final use case. The role requires an individual with a pragmatic and rigorous approach and an understanding of NATO doctrine and qualification regimes. ## Responsibilities - Review system architectures and advise on compliance with military doctrine, with a focus on safety and mission objectives. - Define clear system and sub-system requirements, and maintain a traceable verification and validation matrix. - Work with product leads and engineers on design choices to ensure smooth integration and pragmatic delivery. - Develop qualification programs and master test plans for systems and sub-systems, from specification through to final reporting. - Run qualification readiness reviews and flag risks to qualification early. - Lead engagements with defense customers and test facilities on product qualification and testing, including regular travel to test sites. - Document system safety and suitability for service in line with NATO and customer requirements. - Coach wider teams on qualification processes and the safety of munition systems. Candidate Requirements - Engineering degree in Systems, Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. - Minimum of 5 years of experience in systems engineering roles qualifying weapon systems such as missiles, drones or other effectors. - Pragmatic, structured approach to stakeholder management in fast-moving programs. - Experience managing qualification programs end to end, including handling test failures and non-conformances. - Safety assessment experience on munition systems. - Strong understanding of NATO doctrine, and experience working with defense customers and ministries of defense. - Comfort working with energetic systems such as warheads, fuzes and rocket motors. - Strong technical writing and reporting skills. - Fluency in English required. 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 - [Machine Learning Research Engineer – Visual Navigation](https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-research-engineer-visual-navigation-harmattan-ai-lausanne-dwt2jjfwj645) — 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