Systems Engineer

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.

About the Role

As Systems Engineer, you will own the end-to-end architecture of our C2 and autonomous mission systems — ensuring that hardware, software, AI/ML, and operator workflows integrate into a cohesive, deployable platform.

We are looking for a hands-on technical systems thinker who has built and shipped real products and understands how complex subsystems behave in practice.

Your mandate: ensure the platform works reliably in real-world operational environments — from architectural definition through integration, validation, and deployment.

Responsibilities

System Architecture & Technical Design

• Define end-to-end system architecture, major components, and data flows

• Identify hardware constraints (compute, sensors, accelerators, OS) and their impact on system performance

• Evaluate architectural trade-offs (processing distribution, module frequency, process separation, etc.)

• Produce clear interface definitions and integration plans
  

Product Integration & Delivery

• Lead integration across hardware, software, AI/ML, and operator interfaces

• Drive systems from development through validation and production readiness

• Participate in architecture reviews and provide pragmatic technical judgment
  

Validation & Field Performance

• Develop simulation and field test plans

• Diagnose system-level performance gaps and propose corrective actions

• Incorporate operator feedback into system evolution

Candidate Requirements

• 5–10 years building and shipping complex technical products (defense, aerospace, robotics, autonomy)

• Hands-on experience integrating hardware and software subsystems

• Strong technical culture across:

• Compute platforms (GPU / NPU familiarity)

• Embedded or mission-critical systems

• Real-time or near real-time architectures

• Experience taking systems from development to production or field deployment

Candidate Nice-to-Have

• GNC or flight control background

• UAV / robotics / ISR systems experience

• C2 or mission systems exposure

Location and Commitments

• Contract Type: Full-time / Permanent

• Work Schedule: Arlington, Virginia / On-site

• Compensation: $140K-$175K + equity + benefits

We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.