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Harmattan AI

Autonomous defense systems and C2 platforms

Production Technician - Fabrication Pilote, Pilot Manufacturing

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Entry
Île-de-France, France
In PersonThe pilot manufacturing unit is co-located with engineering teams in Paris; the role collaborates with industrialization in Wissous.
Manufacturing & Production OperationsProduct Assembly

About the job

Requirements
  • Practical experience assembling precision mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic products in aerospace, defense, robotics, advanced electronics, or a similar field.
  • Ability to work from engineering drawings, assembly schematics, and evolving work instructions.
  • Strong manual dexterity and attention to detail, with the ability to work on small, complex assemblies with tight tolerances.
  • Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles and their application in a production or pilot environment.
  • Adaptability and resourcefulness when instructions and designs change frequently.
  • Precise communication skills to engage constructively with engineers and relay manufacturing feedback effectively.
Responsibilities
  • Assemble prototype, development, and pre-series units from engineering drawings, work instructions, and direct engineering guidance.
  • Perform mechanical, electromechanical, and electronic assembly on complex defense equipment with manual dexterity and precision.
  • Manage frequent design changes and make modifications quickly as pilot builds evolve across revisions.
  • Report assembly issues, ambiguities, and manufacturability concerns directly to engineers in real time.
  • Represent manufacturing in engineering reviews by providing practical feedback on assembly difficulty, tooling needs, and process feasibility.
  • Participate in the manufacturability process by translating manufacturing experience into structured, actionable feedback for engineering teams.
  • Collaborate with the Wissous industrialization team to transition validated designs to serial production and ensure transition standards are met before handoff.
  • Apply Lean principles in daily operations, including 5S, visual management, standardized work, and waste reduction.
  • Maintain process discipline and transition standards aligned with the Wissous production system so pilot builds are repeatable and ready to scale.
  • Contribute to developing work instructions and assembly procedures as designs mature, creating documentation for serial production.
  • Follow safety and maintenance standards aligned with the Wissous production system.
  • Maintain accurate manufacturing records, assembly logs, and nonconformance reports for all units produced at the pilot site.
  • Apply rigorous quality standards, including first article inspection, in-process checks, and final verification, to prototypes and pre-series units.
  • Follow traceability requirements and coordinate local component inventory with the Wissous supply-chain team.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience in a pilot, prototype, or New Product Introduction (NPI) environment.
  • Familiarity with quality documentation, including nonconformance reports, first article inspection, and manufacturing records.
  • Exposure to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Manufacturing Execution System (MES) traceability systems.
  • Interest in autonomous systems, robotics, or defense technologies.

About the company

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.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Series B

Total Funding

$242M

Headquarters

Paris, France

Founded

2024

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • July 2026 NAMIB testing linked a drone sensor to Rafale targeting in flight.
  • June 2026 France ordered 5,000 Sonora ISR drones after a prior 1,000-unit tranche.
  • September 2026 Series B raised $200 million at $1.4 billion, funding global expansion.

What critics are saying

  • Defence procurement concentration in France and UK ties revenue to two ministries.
  • Harmattan claims 10,000 drones monthly, but public production audits remain absent.
  • A high-profile Rafale or NATO autonomy failure could freeze deployment and kill trust.

What makes Harmattan AI unique

  • Dassault embeds Harmattan autonomy into Rafale F5 and UCAS programs.
  • Harmattan ships ISR, strike, EW, and C2 systems from one software stack.
  • France and UK Programs of Record validate procurement traction against European peers.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Remote Work Options
  • Paid Vacation
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Company Equity
  • Stock Options
  • Wellness Program
  • Mental Health Support

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

12%

1 year growth

2%

2 year growth

0%
Legal Era
Aug 13th, 2026
White & Case advises Bpifrance and Future French Champions on Harmattan AI investment

Bpifrance and Future French Champions have invested in Harmattan AI, a defence company developing autonomous systems, alongside Dassault Aviation. Global law firm White & Case advised on the strategic investment. The transaction was led by Dassault Aviation as part of a strategic partnership to accelerate the integration of controlled autonomy and AI technologies into combat aviation systems. Future French Champions is a joint venture between the Qatar Investment Authority and Bpifrance. Harmattan AI develops autonomous, scalable and attritable defence systems. The White & Case team was led by partners Saam Golshani and Jean-Guillaume Meunier, with support from several other partners, counsel and associates across the firm.

Associated Press
Jul 13th, 2026
Rafale and drone complete collaborative electronic warfare flight with new NAMIB payload

Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI have successfully tested NAMIB, a new electronic warfare payload, during a collaborative flight with a Rafale F4 fighter jet. The system, mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle, detected and geolocated a radar several dozen kilometres away, transmitting target coordinates to the Rafale for a simulated strike. NAMIB can detect, identify, and geolocate electromagnetic emissions from air defence systems. It operates on tactical drones and fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. Development began in January 2026 as part of a strategic partnership between the two companies. The test demonstrates the Rafale's multi-domain combat capabilities and its ability to integrate with autonomous systems. Harmattan AI is a defence technology company specialising in autonomous robotic systems for contested environments.

Sifted
Jan 12th, 2026
French drone maker Harmattan AI seeks billion-dollar valuation with fresh raise

The Paris-based defence startup is said to have won backing from German VC Atlantic Labs

Sifted
Jan 12th, 2026
French drone maker Harmattan AI raises $200m Series B at $1.4bn valuation

The fundraise was led by French aerospace manufacturer Dassault Aviation

Bloomberg
Jan 12th, 2026
Dassault Invests In French Dronemaker at $1.4 Billion Valuation

Dassault Aviation SA, developer of the Rafale fighter jet, led a $200 million investment into the relatively unknown drone company Harmattan AI, making it one of Europe’s newest unicorn startups.