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 RoleAs the Director of Engineering at Harmattan AI, you will build and lead an engineering organisation with various engineering modules from the ground up.
You will own the full technical chain, take the system through qualification and into series production, and build a supplier base and engineering ecosystem that sustains it.
ResponsibilitiesOrganisation Building: Stand up the engineering group including hiring key engineering roles.
Project Management: Act as a project manager handling the delivery of key milestones.
Technical Ownership: Own the full technical chain across airframe, propulsion, avionics, launcher and ground segment, through to flight test and trials.
People Management & Mentorship: Manage managers while staying close to the engineering, run regular design reviews across multiple disciplines.
Supplier Ecosystem: Develop a supplier base.
Educational Background: An MSc in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical or a strongly related engineering field. A track record of building organisations will outweigh the degree.
Proven Leadership: An engineer who moved into management and then into managing managers.
Experience: 10+ years, with at least 4 in engineering management. You have stood up or materially scaled an engineering site, including hiring at pace.
Track Record: You have taken a hardware system through qualification and into series production. Background in UAV, autonomous systems or advanced robotics.
Technical Engagement: While this is a leadership role, you remain credible across every discipline in the group without claiming depth in any, and you take written positions on the cross-module questions no one else will close.
Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI's mission of building autonomous defence systems
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.
Skills Required
- MSc in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or a closely related engineering field
- Engineering background with progression into management and experience managing managers
- 10+ years of engineering experience
- At least 4 years of engineering management experience
- Experience establishing or materially scaling an engineering site, including rapid hiring
- Experience taking a hardware system through qualification and into series production
- Background in UAVs, autonomous systems, or advanced robotics
- Ability to remain technically credible across multiple engineering disciplines and resolve cross-module technical issues
- Commitment to building autonomous defense systems
Harmattan AI Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Harmattan AI and has not been reviewed or approved by Harmattan AI.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay ranges are publicly shown for multiple U.S. roles (e.g., $140k–$200k base) and appear broadly in line with late‑stage startup/defense‑tech expectations based on the postings cited.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is repeatedly referenced in several job postings as part of total compensation, which can increase upside potential at a recently funded, high‑valuation company.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Sign‑on bonuses are explicitly mentioned in a hiring post for candidates who can start quickly, indicating the use of cash incentives in at least some hiring situations.
Harmattan AI Insights
What We Do
Harmattan AI is rising as a next-generation defense prime, building the future of autonomous warfare. We leverage AI-driven autonomy, real-time intelligence, and conflict-ready production to deliver attritable systems and autonomous mission management software. Designed for the real-world needs of warfighters, our solutions enable faster deployment, sharper decision-making, and battlefield dominance.
