Optical Engineer
Harmattan AI
Optical Engineer
Harmattan AI
Autonomous defense systems and C2 platforms
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 Optical Engineer in the Gimbal team, you are responsible for the optical performance of our EO/IR imaging payloads, which drive image quality, detection range, and robustness in operation. You will work on current products and shape the design of future ones. You follow each product from sizing and prototyping through validation and mass production, working closely with the mechanical, electronics, software, computer vision and industrialization teams.
Responsibilities
Sizing and design of EO/IR imaging payloads, arbitrating between field of view, resolution, range, and sensor choice.
Select lenses and sensors, or lead custom optical designs, against image quality and robustness targets.
Design, build, and maintain optical test benches for development, validation, and production.
Measure and validate image quality: MTF, focus, boresight, distortion, and NETD for infrared.
Develop the camera calibration pipeline (intrinsics, extrinsics, distortion, photometric and radiometric correction) with the software and perception teams.
Integrate optics into mechanical assemblies, covering tolerancing, athermalisation, windows, coatings, and sealing.
Investigate optical issues across the product life cycle, from prototype to series production.
Manage optical suppliers and support industrialization of lenses, sensors, and components.
Run field tests to assess image quality in real operating conditions.
Candidate Requirements
Master's degree or engineering degree with a specialization in optics.
3+ years of experience in optical engineering, ideally on camera or imaging systems.
Proven experience sizing an electro-optical or infrared optical system.
Hands-on experience with standard optical measurements such as camera calibration, MTF, and NETD.
Experience developing optical test benches, from architecture to validation and integration.
Solid grounding in image processing: distortion, gamma, and geometric and photometric correction.
Experience with thermal cameras is a strong plus.
Hands-on, rigorous, and pragmatic, with the autonomy to iterate fast in a startup environment.
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.
Autonomous defense systems and C2 platforms
Harmattan AI builds vertically integrated autonomous defense systems for NATO and allied forces. Its products include layered air defence, coordinated ISR and strike UAVs, electronic-warfare tools, and command-and-control platforms, all powered by a software-defined autonomy stack. The systems are designed to operate together, with autonomous decision-making, sensor fusion, and mission execution through its C2 framework. The company differentiates itself through large-scale industrial manufacturing, secured Programs of Record with European and UK defense ministries, and a strategic partnership with Dassault Aviation to embed Harmattan’s controlled autonomy into combat-air systems such as Rafale F5 and UCAS. The goal is to provide trusted, scalable autonomous solutions for defense missions, expanding globally and embedding autonomy into partner platforms to strengthen allied capabilities.
Explore more opportunities at Harmattan AI