Harmattan AI
Defense
DirectorofEngineering-Optronics
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optimal for Director candidates.
“Director of Engineering - Optronics at Harmattan AI. Skills: People management, Optronics engineering, Team building. Manage engineers. Oversee performance reviews”
Industry & Context.
Double headcount in first year
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Experience leading optronics teams, Shipped stabilised optical payload, Shipped EO/IR product, Academic record in Optics, Academic record in Photonics, Academic record in Opto-mechanical Engineering, Academic record in related technical field, Transitioned from IC to management
Nice to Have
Backgrounds at Safran Electronics & Defense, Backgrounds at Thales Optronics, Backgrounds at Lynred, Backgrounds at Hensoldt Optronics, Backgrounds at Teledyne FLIR
What You'll Do.
Oversee performance reviews
Oversee career growth
Oversee training initiatives
Own recruitment process
Build engineering team
Develop standardised work processes
Implement standardised work processes
Audit internal tooling
Improve internal tooling
Contribute to organisational structure
Initiate changes to optimise delivery
Collaborate with leadership on vision
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Cross-functional delivery
Communication Scope
Exceptional soft skills
Full 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 the Director of Engineering for Optronics at Harmattan AI, you will act as a vital management layer between R&D modules and leadership, focusing on elevating our people and standardising our engineering excellence. This is a "hands-off" people management role designed to relieve pressure on senior leadership by building high-performing teams, improving internal tooling, and standardising work processes across the company without sacrificing execution speed. You will be a visionary partner to our leadership, contributing to organisational structure and the long-term technical vision. In this role, you will lead our Optronics team in Paris — covering gimbal optics, opto-mechanical design, and the electro-optical / infrared (EO/IR) systems that give our drones their sensing payload. The team is small and in growth mode; you will more than double its headcount in your first year. Responsibilities - People Management & Mentorship: Act as a dedicated people manager for engineers, overseeing performance reviews, career growth, and training initiatives. - Recruitment: Own the recruitment process as the number one priority, building and maintaining an effective engineering team to meet our ambitious growth plans in a small, well-mapped EU optronics talent market. - Process Standardisation: Develop and implement standardised work processes across optical, opto-mechanical, and EO/IR engineering to ens
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