Harmattan AI
Mechanical Engineer - Airframe
4mo ago
Europedesignprototypethermal managementfailure analysis
Design UAV platforms and subsystems ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and manufacturability in an autonomous defense systems environment.
About the company
- 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.
Responsibilities
- As a Mechanical Engineer on Harmattan AI’s Airframe team, you will design UAV platforms and subsystems in an autonomous, fast-paced environment. You will take ownership of projects from concept through to production, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
- Design and prototype UAV platforms and complex subsystems from scratch, ensuring the right balance between durability, efficiency, and performance.
- Take full ownership of system-level constraints, including thermal management, mass budget (weight), COGS (cost), and environmental sealing (IP ratings).
- Work closely with R&D teams (Electrical, Software, and Industrialisation) to ensure seamless mechanical integration of sensors, payloads, and electronics.
- Conduct rigorous testing, including stress and failure analysis. Identify risks proactively and develop the necessary tools (test benches, calculation sheets, or scripts) to validate designs for operation in extreme environments.
- Manage your own delivery packages and technical specifications with precision, consistently meeting or exceeding requirements under tight deadlines.
- Oversee the manufacturing process by collaborating directly with suppliers and external manufacturers, with a focus on plastic injection moulding and precision machining, to ensure quality and schedule targets are achieved.
- Maintain the “source of truth” through Confluence and professional 2D/3D documentation. Document all designs, test results, and production workflows to support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
- Proven experience designing and prototyping mechanical systems, ideally within UAVs, robotics, or defence applications.
- Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks); experience with structural and thermal analysis tools (FEA) is a strong advantage.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including high-precision machining and plastic injection moulding.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document complex technical concepts and lead cross-functional discussions.
- Full commitment to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and growth plans, with a willingness to go the extra mile in pursuit of operational excellence.
- We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.