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 Forward Deployed Software Engineer, you own the company's software solutions in the field. You are responsible for integrating our platforms into the customer's existing technical environment, and for customising, configuring, and deploying solutions to each operational context. You are the engineer who makes the software work end-to-end where it's used — writing connector code, adapting the application to field realities, and bridging customer environments and the core product team.
Responsibilities
Systems Integration: Develop and implement software interfaces that connect our software to the customer's existing client systems; adapt integrations to each customer context and validate data flows end-to-end on site.
Customisation & Deployment: Configure, customise, and parameterise software for each deployment's operational context; deploy and commission on site; iterate on configuration and behaviour based on feedback.
Release & Update Management: Support the on-premises release and update process; ensure changes to the baseline do not break deployed instances.
Troubleshooting: Debug software issues in operational settings; drive resolution on site and escalate with structured documentation.
Product Feedback Loop: Surface reusable integration and customisation needs to the core product team so durable capability lands in the baseline rather than accumulating as per-deployment forks.
Customer Interface: Work directly with customer technical teams to understand operational requirements and ensure the software delivers against them.
Documentation: Maintain rigorous records of integration architecture, configuration decisions, deployment states, and issue resolution.
Candidate Requirements
3–6 years of experience in software engineering, with demonstrated hands-on experience in both software integration (interfaces and connectors between systems) and application configuration and customisation for specific environments.
Strong software engineering foundation — comfortable owning software end-to-end: build, configure, debug, deploy.
Comfortable on Linux; deploying, configuring, and debugging software in operational settings.
Systems thinking: able to reason across an integrated system and across external interfaces, not just a single component.
Familiarity with enterprise software standards, protocols, and industry interoperability standards is a strong plus.
Understanding of network architecture, communication protocols, and data links relevant to enterprise environments.
Customer-facing maturity — comfortable working directly with customer technical teams on site.
Field temperament: autonomous in challenging environments, procedurally rigorous, strong safety mindset in mission-critical environments.
Comfortable with a high travel rate, domestic and international — significant on-site presence is core to this role.
Proficiency in English is mandatory; French is a plus.
Nice to Have
Prior forward-deployed or customer-facing software engineering experience.
Experience integrating with third-party enterprise or operational environments.
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.
Skills Required
- 3-6 years of software engineering experience
- Hands-on experience with software integration, including interfaces and system connectors
- Experience configuring and customizing applications for specific environments
- Strong software engineering foundation with end-to-end build, configuration, debugging, and deployment experience
- Comfort working with Linux
- Systems thinking across integrated systems and external interfaces
- Understanding of network architecture, communication protocols, and enterprise data links
- Customer-facing maturity and ability to work directly with technical teams on site
- Autonomy, procedural rigor, and a strong safety mindset in mission-critical environments
- Comfort with a high rate of domestic and international travel
- Proficiency in English
- Familiarity with enterprise software standards, protocols, and interoperability standards
- Prior forward-deployed or customer-facing software engineering experience
- Experience integrating with third-party enterprise or operational environments
- French proficiency
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.
