Flight Operations Engineer

Job description

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 Flight Operations Engineer, you will be the bridge between our R&D lab and the operational field. You are responsible for the "last mile" of our technology: demonstrating capabilities to global defense partners, training end-users on complex autonomous systems, and conducting final field validation. This role requires a unique combination of elite piloting skills, hands-on hardware engineering and high degree of technical autonomy. RESPONSIBILITIES - Test Campaigns: Plan and execute real-world test campaigns to validate performance, reliability, and edge-case behaviors of new hardware and software releases. - Lead high-stakes live flight demonstrations for defense stakeholders, showcasing mission-specific capabilities in diverse environments. - Deliver comprehensive training programs to ensure clients can safely and effectively operate Harmattan AI systems covering flight theory, autonomous mission planning, and emergency procedures. - Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with hardware, software, and systems teams to support debugging and iteration based on test outcomes. - Execute the deployment and the tactical logistics of autonomous systems, managing the end-to-end integration of command-and-control (C2) infrastructure and RF data links in complex, real-world environments to ensure 100% mission readiness CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS - 2–5 years of experience in flight operations, flight testing or validation on aerospace or robotic systems, or embedded robotics. - Proven track record in the end-to-end assembly, integration, and maintenance of high-performance FPV, multicopters and/or Fixed-Wing systems. - Wide engineering culture around flight dynamics, control systems, avionics, and/or RF systems. - Bonus: Pilot certification, experience with military or industrial drone platforms. - Detail-oriented with excellent documentation and organizational skills. - Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide teams toward success. - Proven ability to simplify complex technical concepts for training and public presentations. - Comfortable with a dynamic schedule that requires frequent international presence. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.