Operational Buyer (Approvisionneur)

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 a Drone System Validation Technician and Pilot, you will be at the front line of our quality, safety, and reliability efforts. Your primary mission is to ensure that our defense-grade products meet rigorous operational standards before they are cleared for active duty. Working within a dedicated flight testing team, you will manage, prepare, and operate fleets of newly assembled drones or related product during intensive field validation campaigns. By logging massive operating hours, you will actively hunt for rare, hard-to-replicate system bugs and edge-case anomalies. We are looking for operators who combine rigorous testing discipline with the hands-on piloting expertise required to accurately assess and validate nominal drone behavior in flight. Your technical feedback will directly enable our engineering teams to secure and polish our next-generation defense systems.   RESPONSIBILITIES * Intensive Flight Testing: Conduct high-volume flight testing of newly assembled interceptors to log hours, validate systems, and actively hunt for rare, intermittent flight anomalies. * Aviation Performance Assessment: Manually operate, stress-test, and critically evaluate the flight dynamics of various platforms (multirotors, fixed-wing, flying wings, and RC planes) to ensure they handle exactly as designed. * Field Deployment: Lead and execute demanding on-site flight missions, sometimes lasting several weeks, under diverse weather and environmental conditions. * Mission Safety & Logs: Rigorously follow test checklists, maintain safety protocols during high-throughput flight operations, and accurately report flight observations to the engineering, production and industrialisation teams. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS * Good RC/UAV Piloting Skills: You have extensive hands-on experience piloting RC planes, flying wings, or multirotor UAVs. Manual piloting dexterity and a deep instinct for flight mechanics are the absolute priorities for this role. * Rigor & Endurance: Strong discipline to run repetitive, structured test cycles with consistent attention to detail and unwavering focus on safety. * Adaptable Mindset: You thrive in fast-paced, lean startup environments where initiative, quick decision-making, and teamwork are valued over rigid hierarchy. * Field-Ready & Mobile: You possess a valid driver’s license (Permis B) and are ready to drive team vehicles, transport flight gear/drones. You are looking for a highly active, hands-on role where you will be out in the field on a daily basis, all year round. * Technical background: Any technical degree or professional experience in electronics, RC modeling, mechanics, or aeronautics is a great plus, but passionate self-taught pilots are highly encouraged to apply. * Basic Technical English: Capable of understanding technical guidelines and writing flight reports in English. NICE-TO-HAVE * Certifications & FPV: Official drone pilot certifications, instructor ratings, or solid FPV (First Person View) racing/freestyle experience. * Military or Field Background: Past experience in specialized military units or demanding field-oriented professions. * Basic data/technical literacy: a basic grasp of autopilot systems, telemetry or flight-log reading, to help bridge the field and R&D. This is what turns an operator into a genuine validator, and is worth probing even if not required. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.

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 an Automation & Robotics Project Engineer within Harmattan AI's Automation & Industrialisation team, you will work alongside a Senior Automation & Robotics Engineer to design and commission robotics and automation cells hands-on, on a modular mixed-model assembly line built to run multiple quadcopter platforms on shared infrastructure. You will own the full integrator relationship — defining requirements, managing suppliers technically and commercially, and controlling cost, quality, and delivery. Operating in a live ramp-up environment, you will make real industrial decisions on where and when automation creates value — directly strengthening Harmattan AI's capacity to manufacture autonomous systems at speed and scale. RESPONSIBILITIES Hands-On Automation and robotics * Design, assemble, and commission automation and robotics cells hands-on, directly within the shopfloor environment. * Integrate robotic systems, sensors, and actuators into modular stations compatible with a mixed-model assembly line. * Validate and deploy industrial equipment in collaboration with production teams to ensure operational readiness. * Execute rapid iterations on automation cells to keep pace with evolving products and processes during the production ramp-up. * Conduct technical and commercial assessments to justify automation investments and create value before implementation. Integrator & Supplier Management * Define technical requirements and functional specifications for automation integrators. * Manage integrators end-to-end — from RFQ and design reviews through FAT/SAT and go-live. * Own cost tracking, budget control, and lead time management on automation projects. * Challenge supplier proposals technically and commercially — hold them to quality, cost, and delivery. Performance & Continuous Improvement * Monitor cell performance post-deployment and drive OEE improvements across the shared line. * Identify root causes of faults and implement corrective actions — on the floor or with suppliers. * Ensure automation cells remain compatible with mixed-model production as the product portfolio grows. * Feed lessons learned into future specifications and cell designs. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS Essential Qualifications * Degree in Robotics, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or equivalent. * 0–3 years of experience — hands-on internships and academic projects are fully valued. * Practical hands-on experience with industrial and collaborative robots including brands such as Universal Robots, Doosan, FANUC, or KUKA. * Working knowledge of PLCs — notably Siemens TIA Portal/S7 — and associated automation architectures. * Familiarity with sensors, actuators, motion systems, and cell-level safety standards. * Ability to write clear technical specifications and functional requirements. * Comfortable managing suppliers and integrators — technically, commercially, and on schedule. * Thrives in fast-moving, iterative environments with incomplete information and evolving processes. * Rigorous, structured, and able to prioritize under ramp-up pressure. * Good communication in French and English — able to interact clearly with operators and engineers * Hands-on mindset; at ease on the shopfloor, not just behind a screen Preferred Skills * Familiarity with vision systems, force/torque sensing, or automated quality inspection. * Understanding of OEE metrics and lean manufacturing principles. * Exposure to Industry 4.0 tools — digital twins, IoT, or predictive maintenance concepts. * Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments where processes are still being built * Communication & Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication in French and English, capable of leading diverse principals – from junior members to senior executives. * Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.