Validation Technician at Harmattan AI (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Harmattan AI· Lausanne, Switzerland·
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
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 a Drone System Validation Technician & Remote Pilot, you will be a vital pillar of our flight operations. You will ensure that our fleet of autonomous drones remains operational, up to date, and ready for deployment at all times. You will manage the validation lab and support engineers during complex field testing campaigns.
Key Responsibilities
Fleet Maintenance
- Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on the drone fleet.
- Carry out repairs, upgrades, and component replacements.
- Execute soldering, wiring, and mechanical assembly operations.
Flight Operations
- Piloting drones during test campaigns.
- Serve as the safety operator during test flights.
Logistics
- Manage inventory for spare parts, batteries, and field equipment.
- Organize transport and gear preparation for field testing campaigns.
Test Execution
- Run standardized test protocols and checklists.
- Report results and anomalies to the engineering teams.
Lab Management
- Keep the workshop and validation lab clean, organized, and secure.
- Ensure all necessary tools, consumables, and equipment are available and ready to use.
Candidate Profile
- Technical degree or significant practical experience in electronics, mechanics, or RC modeling.
- Strong manual dexterity: proficient in soldering, wiring, and mechanical assembly.
- Rigorous, organized, and safety-conscious mindset.
- Experience piloting multirotor or fixed-wing drones (remote pilot certification is a plus).
- Strong interest in hands-on DIY / technical building projects.
- English language proficiency: A2 level minimum.
- Willingness to travel for field testing operations.
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.