Chief Engineer

Harmattan AI; Vaud; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Harmattan AI in Vaud, Switzerland seeks a Chief Engineer to own architecture, system definition and implementation of one of our robotic systems—from concept to field deployment. You will translate mission needs into system-level designs, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and ensure overall performance, robustness and reliability.

You will lead cross-functional design across mechanical, electrical, software, GNC, and ML teams, conduct feasibility studies, and drive system reviews to maintain

Qualifications

• 10+ years of system engineering experience in robotics, aerospace, or defense.
• Strong background in system architecture and requirements engineering.
• Experience leading full lifecycles from concept to validation.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage interfaces.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• System Architecture: Transform system requirements into architecture solutions.
• Technical Coordination: Lead cross-functional design across mech, electrical, software, GNC, and ML.
• Trade‑Off & Design Analysis: Conduct feasibility studies and simulations to guide choices.
• Integration & Validation: Oversee system integration, prototyping, validation and performance.
• System Reviews: Drive design/architecture reviews and ensure traceability.
• Continuous Improvement: Improve requirements traceability and validation workflows.

Skills

System architecture

Requirements engineering

Trade-off analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Robotics integration

System validation

Documentation

Education

MSc in Engineering

PhD (advantageous)

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.

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 Chief Engineer, you will own the architecture, system definition and implementation of one of our robotic systems — from concept to field deployment. You will work hand‑in‑hand with project managers and technical leads to translate mission needs into system‑level designs, coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams, and ensure overall system performance, robustness, and reliability.

Responsibilities

• System Architecture: Transform system requirements into architectures solutions.
• Technical Coordination: Lead cross‑functional design across mechanical, electrical, software, GNC, and ML teams.
• Trade‑Off & Design Analysis: Conduct feasibility studies, trade‑off analyses, and system‑level simulations to guide technical choices.
• Integration & Validation: Oversee system integration, prototyping, and validation, ensuring performance targets are achieved.
• System Reviews: Drive design and architecture reviews, maintaining consistency between requirements, design, and testing.
• Continuous Improvement: Implement processes to enhance requirements traceability, system documentation, and validation workflows.

Candidate Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in system engineering within robotics, aerospace, or defense sectors.
• MSc in Engineering (any field); PhD is a plus.
• Proven experience leading full system lifecycles (concept → prototype → validation).
• Strong background in system architecture, requirements engineering, and trade‑off analysis.
• Broad engineering culture with understanding of mechanical, electrical, and embedded systems.
• Experience coordinating multi‑disciplinary teams and managing technical interfaces.
• Rigorous, structured, and mission‑driven mindset with strong analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.
• Bonus: Experience with UAS or defense systems.

We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.