Optical Engineer — EO/IR Imaging Payloads

Harmattan AI; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Harmattan AI, a next-generation defense company, seeks an Optical Engineer for the Gimbal team to own the optical performance of EO/IR payloads and guide products from prototype to production. You will collaborate with mechanical, electronics, software and perception teams to size, select optics, and validate image quality.

We value rigor, ownership and pragmatic execution in a startup environment, and look for hands-on engineers with experience in optical measurements, test benches, and

Qualifications

• Master's degree or engineering degree with a specialization in optics.
• 3+ years of experience in optical engineering.
• Proven experience sizing an electro-optical or infrared optical system.
• Hands-on experience with camera calibration, MTF, and NETD.
• Experience developing optical test benches, from architecture to validation and integration.
• Solid grounding in image processing: distortion, gamma, and geometric and photometric correction.
• Experience with thermal cameras is a strong plus.
• Hands-on, rigorous and pragmatic with startup autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Size and design EO/IR imaging payloads, balancing FOV, resolution, range, and sensor choice.
• Select lenses and sensors or lead custom optical designs.
• Design, build, and maintain optical test benches for development and production.
• Measure and validate image quality: MTF, focus, boresight, distortion, NETD.
• Develop the calibration pipeline with software and perception teams.
• Integrate optics into mechanical assemblies with tolerancing and sealing.
• Investigate optical issues from prototype to production.
• Manage optical suppliers and support industrialization of lenses and components.
• Run field tests to assess image quality in real operating conditions.

Skills

Optical engineering

Camera calibration

MTF

NETD

Test benches

Image processing

Education

Master's degree or engineering degree with a specialization in optics

Tools

Optical design tools

Job description

Harmattan AI, a next-generation defense company, seeks an Optical Engineer for the Gimbal team to own the optical performance of EO/IR payloads and guide products from prototype to production. You will collaborate with mechanical, electronics, software and perception teams to size, select optics, and validate image quality.

We value rigor, ownership and pragmatic execution in a startup environment, and look for hands-on engineers with experience in optical measurements, test benches, and