Lead MES Architect & Engineering Manager

Harmattan AI; Paris; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

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

We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer to architect and scale our Manufacturing Execution System (MES). At Harmattan AI, we treat our MES as a core software product, not just any MES, but essential to our factory's traceability, quality, and analytics.

As the first senior in‑house hire for this module, you will transition from a high‑impact Individual Contributor to an Engineering Manager, building a team. You will co‑design the architecture with the Head of Corporate Tooling and set the technical standards that will allow us to scale our organization.

Responsibilities

Architecture & Strategic Ownership

• Review and redesign the strategic architecture of the MES custom layer to support high‑scale factory operations.
• Drive technical improvements across all features, including quality management, automation, and deep integrations.
• Establish and enforce technical standards for the broader MES footprint, covering accounting, purchasing, quality and others.

Product Development (ERP / MES)

• Translate the current subset of ERP open‑source manufacturing into a scalable, industrial‑grade MES that supports our factory ramp‑up.
• Hands‑on coding (modules, integrations, and code reviews).
• Develop a version 2 of the MES for production, designed to be deployed across the factory.

Leadership & Team Building

• Grow and manage the ERP/MES engineering team.
• Audit existing systems and deliver a comprehensive MES roadmap within your first 90 days.
• Mentor junior engineers and serve as the technical reference point for operational tooling.

Operational Integration

• Work closely with stakeholders in Manufacturing, Quality, and Procurement to translate vague operational needs into clean technical specifications.
• Collaborate directly with the Head of Manufacturing and Head of Quality to ensure the MES meets rigorous defense‑tech standards.
• As a vertically integrated industry, we consider our factory as a product.

Candidate Requirements

• 4-7+ years of software engineering experience at a fast‑paced, tech‑forward company.
• Strong architectural instincts and proficiency in Python. You have a proven track record of shipping non‑trivial systems to production at scale.
• Education: Degree from a top‑tier engineering school in Software Engineering.
• Exposure to MES or manufacturing systems is a plus. We prioritize sharpness and core engineering excellence over specific tool experience.
• Highly ambitious, self‑driven and looking for ownership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English and French, capable of leading diverse principals – from junior members to senior executives; proven ability to collaborate with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• 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.