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
Our US operations are scaling fast and we expect to be several hundred by the end of 2027, with a new US office and a US manufacturing plant on the way.
We are hiring a US IT Manager to own everything IT in our US affiliate. For export control and national security reasons, our US information systems are operated and administered exclusively by US persons, with no administrative access from our French headquarters. You will be the IT owner for the entire US perimeter: at first hands-on and supported by contractors, then as the leader of a small team you will have recruited yourself, before the end of 2027.
This is a builder's role. You will not inherit legacy systems: you get a state-of-the-art technical environment, proper resources, and the support of the central IT team.
Responsibilities
Own all IT subjects in the US affiliate: infrastructure, services, support, vendors, and budget
Operate and support day-to-day IT for US employees: workstation and mobile fleet, cloud applications (Google Workspace, Atlassian, business tools), identity and access management
Build simple, effective IT processes: onboarding/offboarding, user support, asset management — and automate everything that can be automated
Design and deploy the network and IT foundations for our new US physical sites, including the manufacturing plant
Manage IT contractors and service providers: scoping, follow-up, and quality control
Operate the US environment in compliance with legal requirements (ITAR/EAR): US-person-only administration, segregation from non-US teams
Apply and adapt group security policies to the US perimeter (identity, endpoint security, logging, incident response)
Recruit and lead a small US IT team before the end of 2027
Synchronize with the central IT team on standards, security policies, and tooling to enable optimal cooperation between among users
Candidate Requirements
Proven Experience: 8+ years in IT, as a system and network administrator in a startup or high-growth environment; you have been the "solo" IT person before, or have led an IT project and a team in a challenging environment. Experience in the defense sector is a strong plus.
Technical Breadth: IT processes (user support, automation), IT fleet management (laptops, mobile, MDM), cloud application administration (Google Workspace, Atlassian), local networking fundamentals, and practical cybersecurity.
Autonomy & Initiative: you are a builder who is not afraid to set up your own infrastructure and team, and thrives without an established playbook.
Tech Native & Pro-AI: genuinely curious, with personal projects that show your passion for technology; and eager to bring that culture to the team.
Service Mindset: welcoming and communicative — users should be glad the IT person is around. No specific degree required: self-taught profiles with a strong track record are welcome.
Eligibility: must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) as defined under ITAR, due to access to export-controlled technical data.
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.
Skills Required
- 8+ years in IT as a system and network administrator in a startup or high-growth environment
- Experience as a solo IT person or leading an IT project and team in a challenging environment
- Experience administering Google Workspace
- Experience administering Atlassian products
- Experience with MDM and fleet management for laptops and mobile devices
- Identity and access management experience
- Practical cybersecurity experience (endpoint security, logging, incident response)
- Local networking fundamentals and designing/deploying networks for physical sites
- Experience managing contractors and service providers
- Ability to build and automate IT processes (onboarding/offboarding, asset management, user support)
- Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) as defined under ITAR
- Experience in the defense sector
- Tech-native with pro-AI curiosity and personal projects demonstrating passion
- Service mindset and strong communication skills
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.
