Thales
Global defense and aerospace electronics
Data Architect - MSBI
Hybrid role in Vélizy-Villacoublay; full remote is not available.
About the job
- A Bac+5 qualification in information technology.
- At least 10 to 15 years of permanent employment experience in architect and manager roles.
- Significant experience designing and implementing cloud data architectures.
- Deep knowledge of cloud services such as AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, and Google BigQuery.
- Good level of English.
- Strong project management and team coordination skills.
- Ability to solve complex problems and work independently.
- The position may require obtaining a national defense security clearance.
- Develop data architecture solutions suited to data analysis and processing needs in public clouds such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
- Plan and execute data migrations to the cloud while minimizing interruptions and ensuring data integrity.
- Implement data storage and management systems, including data lakes and data warehouses, suited to business needs.
- Provide technical advice and support throughout the lifecycle of data-related projects.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
About the company
Thales designs and delivers critical technology for aerospace, defense, and digital security, including electronics, software, and data-security systems used in air travel, credit cards, and modern military platforms. It combines hardware and software to create avionics, radar, cybersecurity, and secure communications systems that collect sensor data, run specialized software, and protect networks. It distinguishes itself through end-to-end solutions across defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity, ongoing deep-tech research in AI and quantum, and strategic acquisitions such as Gemalto and Imperva, plus its partial state ownership. Its goal is to provide reliable, secure, and connected technologies that support national security, public safety, and everyday life by solving complex security and connectivity challenges.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Meudon, France
Founded
1893
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- H1 2026 order intake hit €12.5 billion, up 21%, with €52 billion backlog.
- Germany ordered thousands of Thales optronics systems in July 2026, with 2027 deliveries.
- Thales launched Luna 8 in August 2026, strengthening post-quantum security leadership.
What critics are saying
- UK SFO and France PNF probe Thales over an Asia contract since 2024.
- JetBlue passengers sued Thales in February 2026 over A320 ELAC failures.
- Defense and aerospace concentration leaves Thales exposed if one major platform program slips.
What makes Thales unique
- Thales controls critical avionics, air traffic, and cryptographic hardware across sovereign systems.
- TopSky manages 40% of global aerospace traffic, anchoring durable aviation infrastructure lock-in.
- Its defense-electronics depth spans missiles, optronics, satellites, and post-quantum security hardware.
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Benefits
Remote Work Options
Paid Parental Leave
Professional Development Budget
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -4%1 year growth
↓ -4%2 year growth
↑ 3%Airspace Link has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Altos Ventures, with participation from Thales Group, Indicator Ventures, Matchstick Ventures, Ludlow, DVP and Techstars. The company works with local and state governments to create permissible flight routes for drones. Airspace Link maintains an extensive database of where drones can and cannot fly, such as over schools or jails. The company provides an API for drone operators to determine optimal routes for local drone flights, similar to how the FAA manages plane routes. Founders Michael Healander and Danny Bradshaw aim to build the platform powering drone flights beyond the line of sight as drone delivery becomes a reality.
VW factory prepares to pivot from cars to air defense. 3 hours, 19 minutes ago by James Paton The New York Times For more than a century, the German city of Osnabrück has built cars ranging from Beetle convertibles to Porsche Boxsters. In the future, the city may be better known for air defense, not autos. Volkswagen's agreement with an Israeli investment firm and the German state of Lower Saxony, announced earlier this month, is expected to turn its fading factory in Osnabrück into a defense manufacturing hub, potentially rescuing more than 1,200 jobs. It may also provide a road map for European industrial companies struggling to adapt to mounting Chinese competition, punishing U.S. tariffs and rising energy costs. Employees who had been bracing for the plant to shut down next year now face a very different prospect: building air defense systems and parts for European militaries. The plant "is far more than an industrial facility - it is part of our civic DNA," Osnabrück's mayor, Katharina Pötter, said in an email. "This marks the painful end of an era of civilian car production. On the other hand, it represents an act of industrial resilience." A pivot to military work is seen as a way to help ease the strain for manufacturers and their employees and strengthen European security as the Continent ramps up spending to counter the threat from Russia and reduce reliance on the United States. But it is unlikely to make up for the auto industry's losses, with Volkswagen alone planning to cut about 100,000 jobs by 2030. Overall, the auto sector in the European Union supports an estimated 14 million jobs and accounts for about 7% of its economic output. "Defense will not be the sole lifeline for the auto industry," said Max Becker, a policy fellow and security and defense specialist at the German Council on Foreign Relations. "That much is clear." German automakers produce large volumes and employ hundreds of thousands of skilled workers. How many will be able to shift smoothly into manufacturing complex weapons systems and other technologies remains unclear, he said. Becker recently visited a European factory producing fuses for warheads, work he said that is so specialized it is like assembling Swiss watches. Some German employees will be reluctant to go from making "family vans to tanks," he said, while those who do make the leap may need to gain a government security clearance for some projects, which can take a year or more. Companies expanding in defense also have to clear regulatory hurdles, he added. The two sectors have business models that "are as different as ready-to-wear fashion and haute couture," according to a report in May by Paul Taylor, a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre. While automakers focus on mass production in highly competitive consumer markets, the defense industry operates with long-term, low-volume contracts, usually for a single government or small number of national militaries. Still, the pivot is already underway. Mercedes-Benz is collaborating with Tytan Technologies to develop counter-drone vehicles based on its Sprinter vans and military versions of its G-Class SUVs that would intercept threats to critical infrastructure. Renault, the French carmaker, has agreed to produce military drones with defense technology firms Thales and Turgis Gaillard. Auto industry workers, albeit a small number, are starting to move into defense. Tytan, based in Munich, is fielding a significant number of applications from autoworkers, many of them with engineering backgrounds, as it prepares to open a new factory to make interceptor drones, the company said. Tytan plans to expand its staff to 250 employees by next year from just 35 at the start of 2026. Hensoldt, a German sensor and radar maker, said it has hired autoworkers numbering in the "low triple digits" as part of a wider recruitment campaign this year. The company is forming partnerships with companies including auto suppliers Bosch and Continental to bring on some of their employees. In Osnabrück, known for hosting the talks that led to the Peace of Westphalia, the 1648 treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War, the proposed transition has set off debate, said Pötter, the city's mayor. Some residents, she said, hold "deeply rooted" pacifist convictions. But the project is in line with a City Council resolution passed this year emphasizing the importance of protecting democracy, freedom and the community, she said. "The focus at the site is not on producing offensive munitions," she said. Instead, the factory is expected to make "air-defense systems designed specifically to intercept missiles and drones, thereby shielding civilians. Many workers and residents recognize that active protection and defensive readiness are necessary preconditions for preserving peace in Europe today."
Thales launches HexaForce multi-domain command-and-control system tested at NATO CWIX 2026. Thales says it has launched HexaForce, a multi-domain command-and-control (C2) system that uses artificial intelligence to help military commanders manage large volumes of operational data and coordinate forces across allied networks. According to the company, HexaForce was built on an open, interoperable architecture co-designed with armed forces and was tested during NATO's Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation and eXamination (CWIX) 2026 exercise. Thales positions the system as supporting "sovereign" control over data while operating across domains including land, sea, air, cyber, space, the electromagnetic spectrum and information operations. Thales says the platform is designed for high-intensity conflict scenarios and can support command requirements for forces of more than 100,000 personnel. The company claims the system is intended to help shorten planning cycles, improve situational awareness, and speed decision-making by automating analysis and correlation of large data streams from military, open-source and civilian sources. Thales said HexaForce integrates large language models and "agentic AI" through its cortAIx program, which it describes as an internal AI capability involving 800 engineers and data scientists. The company also said live trial phases are under way ahead of full-scale deployment, with an aim to increase processing capacity from 100 to 1,000 targets per day. The announcement comes as NATO members and partner nations continue to modernise C2 systems to handle higher data volumes, operate under degraded communications, and maintain interoperability across coalition operations. Thales said HexaForce uses a distributed data network intended to remain resilient in contested environments and supports Data-Centric Security (DCS) and Federated Mission Networking (FMN) standards. Thales also referenced operational feedback from Artemis.IA, a data-centric platform it says has been deployed with the French Ministry of Armed Forces since 2023, as influencing HexaForce's design and data-processing approach.
Thales launches HexaForce ai-powered multi-domain command and control platform for NATO and allied Armed Forces. (IN BRIEF) Thales has launched HexaForce, an AI-enhanced multi-domain command and control system designed for NATO and allied armed forces operating across land, air, sea, cyber, electromagnetic, space and information domains. The platform supports command structures involving more than 100,000 personnel and uses a resilient distributed architecture intended to connect national systems, coalition partners and legacy technologies. HexaForce integrates AI capabilities from cortAIx, Thales' AI accelerator involving around 800 engineers and data scientists, and uses large language models and agentic AI to support planning, situational awareness, decision-making, effector allocation and maintenance. Thales says live trials are targeting an increase in target-processing capacity from 100 to 1,000 targets per day. The system builds on operational experience from Artemis.IA, deployed with the French Ministry of Armed Forces since 2023. HexaForce was tested during NATO CWIX 2026 and supports Data-Centric Security and Federated Mission Networking standards while giving nations control over their own data and technology integrations. (PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 18-Sep-2026 - /EuropaWire/ - Thales has launched HexaForce, a next-generation, AI-enhanced multi-domain command and control platform designed for NATO and allied armed forces operating in high-intensity environments. The system has been developed to support national sovereignty while helping armed forces manage rapidly increasing volumes of operational data and faster decision-making cycles. HexaForce is already available and has been tested during NATO CWIX 2026, where its open and interoperable architecture was evaluated in a multinational environment. Thales said HexaForce is designed to support command structures involving more than 100,000 personnel and to operate across land, air, sea, cyber, the electromagnetic spectrum, space and information operations. The platform uses a distributed and resilient architecture intended to connect and coordinate existing military systems across national armed forces and coalition partners. Its purpose is to provide commanders with a consolidated operational picture while allowing information, commands and data to move between strategic, operational and tactical levels. Christophe Salomon, Executive Vice-President, Secure Communications and Information Systems at Thales, said armed forces have differing requirements ranging from dedicated data platforms and cross-domain interfaces to AI-enabled command functions. He said HexaForce is designed as a sovereign and modular system that can be adapted to those requirements while supporting interoperability between allies and national systems. Artificial intelligence capabilities within HexaForce are provided through cortAIx, Thales' dedicated AI accelerator, which brings together approximately 800 engineers and data scientists working with the Group's defence specialists. The platform integrates large language models and agentic AI to support operators throughout different phases of a mission. Thales said these capabilities are intended to shorten planning cycles, improve operational awareness, support real-time sharing and consolidation of tactical and operational information, accelerate decision-making, improve effector allocation and assist maintenance and support activities in the field. HexaForce is also designed to automate the analysis, correlation and prioritisation of large volumes of data originating from military systems, open sources and civilian information channels. By processing and organising these datasets, the system is intended to help armed forces identify relevant operational information more rapidly and increase the tempo of command and control activities. According to Thales, ongoing live trials are preparing the system for broader operational deployment and are targeting an increase in processing capacity from approximately 100 targets per day to as many as 1,000 targets per day. The development builds on experience gained with Artemis.IA, a data-centric platform deployed with the French Ministry of Armed Forces since 2023. Thales said Artemis.IA has demonstrated the ability to process multi-source data and scale AI applications in defence environments, providing operational feedback that has informed the development of HexaForce. The new platform is intended to connect command structures from the highest strategic level through to units operating in the field. Its distributed data network is designed to continue functioning even when communications are significantly degraded, supporting continuity of operations in contested or disrupted environments. HexaForce combines a core software platform with a range of multi-domain command applications. The system is based on open-source standards and uses an open, interoperable architecture intended to facilitate integration with third-party technologies and existing military systems. Thales said the architecture gives national authorities control over incoming and outgoing data flows without requiring them to expose data outside their chosen environment. HexaForce natively supports Data-Centric Security (DCS) and Federated Mission Networking (FMN) standards. These capabilities are intended to help allied nations exchange information while maintaining control over national data and security policies. The open architecture also allows customers to integrate technologies from selected third-party suppliers rather than relying entirely on a closed proprietary environment. This modular approach is intended to support long-term system evolution and enable armed forces to introduce new applications and technologies as operational requirements change. HexaForce also provides connectivity with legacy systems from other vendors, allowing older military infrastructure to remain connected within a broader digital command environment. Thales said the platform has been developed in close cooperation with military users, using short development and feedback cycles to incorporate operational requirements throughout the design process. This approach is intended to ensure that changes in tactics, mission requirements and battlefield conditions can be reflected more rapidly in subsequent software releases. The launch of HexaForce reflects growing demand for command-and-control systems capable of combining data from multiple military domains while applying artificial intelligence to assist operators with increasingly complex information environments. By combining multi-domain orchestration, AI-enabled analytics, sovereign data control and interoperability with NATO standards, Thales is positioning HexaForce as a platform for armed forces seeking to modernise command structures without abandoning existing systems or national control over sensitive information. About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion. The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies. Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.
France's Thales urges international framework on AI development. 17 Sep 2026 07:06PM (Updated: 17 Sep 2026 07:23PM) Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. PARIS, Sept 17: Europe's largest defence technology firm, France-based Thales, called on Thursday for an international framework to govern the development of artificial intelligence. Speaking during a presentation of war-fighting technology amid a debate over the speed of AI development, CEO Patrice Caine told reporters that machines could be kept under control with adequate technical safeguards supported by government oversight. "I am convinced that we have the ways and means to have AI under control. It's not a technical debate, it falls in the hands of governments," Caine told reporters. "The world needs a proper framework that comes on top of these technical guarantees," he said. The call for regulation came a day after Finance Minister Roland Lescure urged France and Europe to accelerate AI development to avoid dependence on US providers, amid a broader debate over whether AI should have more guardrails. US President Donald Trump has dismissed calls by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and other Silicon Valley bosses to slow the pace of AI development. AI is playing an increasingly important role on the battlefield, analysing data from drone footage and satellite imagery to identify targets and help commanders make faster decisions. Thales and other European defence companies are rolling out their own AI-enabled targeting systems after NATO selected US analytics giant Palantir Technologies' Maven Smart System for command operations at its headquarters. Thales said its recently launched Hexaforce system would boost both sovereignty and operational performance for NATO and its allies. It played down direct competition with Palantir, whose rapid growth has sparked concern in Europe about reliance on US technology platforms.