Manufacturing Automation and Digitalization Engineer

Harmattan AI

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 We are looking for a skilled and forward-thinking Senior Automation Engineer to design, implement, and optimize automation systems at our production site, the model for our future global manufacturing sites. You’ll lead automation projects that enable cost-effective, high-volume, and defense-grade production through robotics, digital integration, and lean processes. RESPONSIBILITIES Automation Systems * Design and deploy automated solutions across key manufacturing and test processes. * Translate manual tasks into robust automated stations (robotics, sensors, actuators, software). * Own equipment specifications, commissioning, and validation with suppliers and integrators. Performance & Reliability * Maximize OEE through improved uptime, performance, and first-pass yield. * Analyze real-time data and fault logs to drive continuous improvement. * Support maintenance and production teams in troubleshooting and system optimization. Digital Integration * Connect automation platforms to ERP/MES for live traceability and performance data. * Build OEE dashboards and enable predictive maintenance through data and IoT tools. * Contribute to digital twin and simulation projects for capacity and layout planning. Innovation & Standardization * Evaluate and prototype new automation and robotics technologies. * Standardize automation architectures and documentation for replication in future factories. * Train technical staff and provide user-friendly system documentation. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS * Degree in Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, or equivalent. * 5+ years experience in manufacturing automation (design, commissioning, optimization). * Strong command of robotics, PLCs, sensors, motion systems, and automation safety standards (CE). * Interest in Industry 4.0, collaborative robotics, and machine learning applications. * Proven experience deploying reliable, high-availability systems. * Communication & Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication in French and English, capable of leading diverse principals – from junior members to senior executives. * Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.

Harmattan AI

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 The Methods Engineer supports the deployment and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes across the Wissous production plant. You will contribute to structuring a greenfield drone production facility scaling fast — building manufacturing routes, supporting lean deployment, and bridging Production, Quality, and the Industrialisation & Automation team on a daily basis. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants to build real expertise fast, in a high-tempo environment where every contribution is visible and every improvement counts. The role reports to the Head of Industrialisation & Automation. MISSIONS Continuous Improvement & Shopfloor Performance * Support the deployment of lean tools on the shopfloor: 5S rollout, standardised work, and visual management boards * Participate in daily performance reviews and contribute to structured problem-solving (5-Why, A3) on process non-conformances * Contribute to plant performance tracking: standard times, first-pass yield, scrap and rework monitoring Production Line Design & Internal Flow * Support workstation layout improvements, line balancing, and tooling setup for manual assembly operations * Participate in factory layout reviews and kaizen actions to reduce non-value-added activities Process Knowledge & Documentation * Write and maintain work instructions and manufacturing routes — ensuring accuracy, versioning, and floor-level usability * Conduct time studies and cycle analysis under the guidance of the senior team * Support Odoo MES deployment on the methods perimeter: routings, work orders, and traceability Automation Roadmap Contribution * Identify and document manual operations that are repetitive, constrained, or automation-ready * Provide process and cycle time data to support automation prioritisation alongside the Industrialisation & Automation team * Participate in automation pilots and update work instructions post-deployment REQUIREMENTS Essential Qualifications * Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field * 2–3 years of experience in a Methods, Industrial Engineering, or Continuous Improvement role — or a first significant experience in a manufacturing environment (internship, apprenticeship, or junior role included) * First exposure to lean tools: 5S, standardised work, time studies, or line balancing * Structured, rigorous, and data-driven — comfortable building simple KPIs and tracking performance * Good communication in French and English — able to interact clearly with operators and engineers * Hands-on mindset; at ease on the shopfloor, not just behind a screen Preferred Skills * Exposure to a ramp-up, startup, or new product introduction context is a plus, not a prerequisite * Curiosity about automation and a desire to understand where manufacturing is heading * Familiarity with Odoo or any MES/ERP is a bonus * Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments where processes are still being built We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.

Harmattan AI

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 At Harmattan AI, we don't just design defense systems — we build them, at speed, and at scale. As an Industrialization Engineer within the Automation & Industrialization team, you will be at the heart of that challenge. This is not a desk job. You will be on the shop floor, hands-on, turning early-stage designs into robust, repeatable production processes. From writing the first work instruction to identifying the bottleneck that no one else spotted — you own it, you fix it, you improve it. You will work alongside engineers who push manufacturing boundaries every day, on products that have never been built before, in an environment where your ideas translate directly into action. If you are the kind of person who walks into a production line and immediately sees what could be better — this role was built for you. Your scope spans DFM, process development, continuous improvement, and automation support — with the opportunity to grow fast in a team scaling from prototype to high-volume production. RESPONSIBILITIES * Be present and active on the shop floor — develop work instructions, time studies, SOPs, and visual standards from direct observation and hands-on involvement * Identify improvement opportunities with a trained eye, act on them, and share knowledge to keep the team consistent and unblocked * Lead manufacturability reviews and resolve design constraints before they reach production; standardize assembly processes meeting quality, ergonomic, and safety standards * Drive time-and-motion analysis to set cycle time targets, track performance (cycle time, yield, rework), and deliver data-backed improvements with clear KPI targets * Support the transition to automated assembly and leverage robotics where applicable * Bridge R&D, prototype, and mass production sites — capturing and applying lessons learned across the full product line CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS Essential * Degree in Industrial, Mechatronics Engineering, or related field * Comfortable working from engineering drawings, assembly schematics, and evolving work instructions * Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and their application in a production or pilot environment * Adaptable and resourceful — at ease where instructions and designs change frequently * Curious, improvement-driven, and eager to take ownership quickly * Fluent French and English * Hands-on mindset; at ease on the shopfloor, not just behind a screen * Preferred * Exposure to a ramp-up, startup, or new product introduction context is a plus, not a prerequisite * Curiosity about automation and a desire to understand where manufacturing is heading * Familiarity with Odoo or any MES/ERP is a bonus * Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments where processes are still being built. * Communication & Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication in French and English, capable of leading diverse principals – from junior members to senior executives. * Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.