---
title: 'Validation Technician at Harmattan AI'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/validation-technician-harmattan-ai-lausanne-vq4cp2r0sjcm'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-12'
---

# Validation Technician at Harmattan AI

- **Company:** [Harmattan AI](https://feeny.ai/companies/harmattan-ai)
- **Location:** Lausanne, Switzerland
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-11
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/harmattan-ai/281ef845-6df1-4dac-8c15-3cf2019ee37c

## 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.

## 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

- [Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-harmattan-ai-paris-nzhwz07wehpe) — Paris, France
- [Procurement Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/procurement-manager-harmattan-ai-orly-7zg8fv4980h3) — Orly, France
- [Superviseur de ligne de production](https://feeny.ai/job/superviseur-de-ligne-de-production-harmattan-ai-orly-yy8sgm1e18fj) — Orly, France
- [Jira Architect](https://feeny.ai/job/jira-architect-harmattan-ai-paris-c8nbe051qsse) — Paris, France
- [System Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/system-engineer-harmattan-ai-lausanne-q9s0zw0yx7qm) — Lausanne, Switzerland
- [Optical Engineer - Camera](https://feeny.ai/job/optical-engineer-camera-harmattan-ai-paris-y7vax6tgp50p) — Paris, France
- [Director Global Logistics](https://feeny.ai/job/director-global-logistics-harmattan-ai-paris-sjmznh75hm0a) — Paris, France
- [Flight Operation Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-operation-engineer-harmattan-ai-austin-br7hvn5vz7wp) — Austin, TX
- [ERP Architect (Odoo)](https://feeny.ai/job/erp-architect-odoo-harmattan-ai-paris-4gnm23xz3dmt) — Paris, France
- [Head of Marketing US](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-marketing-us-harmattan-ai-austin-s0fsc4mmshd6) — Austin, TX