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.
Overview
Harmattan AI is scaling multiple hardware programmes and needs internal tooling to help the engineering teams develop and validate products faster. The new R&D Hardware Tooling team builds the rigs, fixtures, and instrumentation that accelerate design, bring-up, characterisation, and validation across every hardware product. These are development and validation tools used in the lab and in R&D workflows — not production test equipment for a manufacturing line. This role owns the electronics of those tools end-to-end: breakout and interface boards, instrumentation and DAQ hardware, signal-conditioning and debug-access boards, and RF characterisation fixtures. Unlike product electronics optimised for cost at volume, tooling electronics prioritise measurement accuracy, flexibility, robustness, and fast turnaround.
Ideal candidate
A hardware engineer who has designed instrumentation, breakout, or DAQ electronics – or product PCBs – and now wants to build the tools. Rigorous on schematics, layout, and bring-up, with a strong instinct for measurement integrity and quick, reconfigurable designs. Comfortable working autonomously in a small team and able to bridge hardware and firmware, working closely with the tooling software engineer.
Required skills
PCB schematic and layout design (Altium Designer preferred)
Mixed-signal design: power, MCU interfaces, comms buses (SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN)
Instrumentation / DAQ / breakout design (signal conditioning, measurement front-ends)
RF / controlled impedance / EMC — nice to have
Hardware bring-up and bench debug; measurement integrity and calibration
Component selection and BOM for low-volume, high-mix tooling
Responsibilities:
Schematic Design — design mixed-signal, power, and RF instrumentation and breakout boards.
PCB Layout & Routing — layout with attention to signal integrity, measurement accuracy, EMC, and (where relevant) controlled impedance and RF traces.
Fixture & Interface Design — design device-under-development interfaces (breakouts, interposers, connectors, signal access) that are reliable and easy to reconfigure as designs change.
Component & Instrument Selection — choose components and decide COTS instrument vs. in-house board; build BOMs for low-volume, high-mix tooling.
Bring-up & Debug — lead fixture bring-up; debug with oscilloscope, spectrum/logic analyzer, and bench equipment.
Measurement Integrity & EMC — ensure accuracy, grounding, shielding, and signal integrity; manage calibration where needed.
Collaboration with Tooling SW — define hardware/software interfaces; support fixture-firmware and instrument-control bring-up.
Collaboration with Tooling Mech — integrate boards into rigs and benches (mounting, actuation, connectors, thermal, shielding).
Collaboration with Product Teams — capture each product's development and validation measurement needs.
Documentation — maintain schematics, layouts, fixture build docs, and calibration/measurement procedures.
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.
Skills Required
- PCB schematic and layout design experience, preferably using Altium Designer
- Mixed-signal design experience involving power, MCU interfaces, and communications buses such as SPI, I2C, UART, USB, or CAN
- Instrumentation, data acquisition, or breakout design experience, including signal conditioning and measurement front-ends
- Hardware bring-up and bench debugging experience
- Knowledge of measurement integrity and calibration
- Component selection and BOM development for low-volume, high-mix tooling
- RF, controlled impedance, and EMC experience
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.
