Validation Engineer — Autonomous Defense Flight Systems

Harmattan AI; Paris; On-site; EUR 97,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Harmattan AI in Lausanne develops autonomous defense systems and validates their performance through extensive flight tests. The Validation Engineer will lead testing campaigns on our systems, ensuring reliability and readiness for mission use.

You will collaborate with hardware, software, and systems teams to design protocols, analyze telemetry, and drive improvements, with a focus on rigor, documentation, and leadership.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in validation on aerospace or robotic systems, or embedded robotics.
• Solid understanding of methodology for rigorous testing and validation of technical system.
• Wide engineering culture around flight dynamics, control systems, avionics, and/or RF systems.
• Comfortable designing and executing structured test protocols.
• Experience with DVT/PVT phases and environmental testing methodologies.
• Strong statistical analysis skills to interpret test data and validate reliability.
• Bonus: Pilot certification, experience with military or industrial drone platforms.
• Detail-oriented with excellent documentation and organizational skills.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and guide teams toward success.

Responsibilities

• System Testing: Plan and execute validation & verification of defense systems (drone, payload…) in simulated and real-world conditions.
• Flight Test Campaigns: Design and conduct rigorous test for new features, hardware configurations, and software releases.
• Test Protocols: Define, document, and refine structured test procedures.
• Data Analysis: Capture and interpret telemetry, logs, and test outcomes to assess system behavior and recommend design improvements hand-in-hand with the R&D.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with hardware, software, and systems teams to support debugging and iteration based on test outcomes.

Skills

Validation experience

Aerospace knowledge

Robotics systems

Test planning

Data analysis

Leadership

Documentation

Communication

Flight dynamics

Control systems

Avionics

RF systems

Test protocols

DVT/PVT

Job description

Harmattan AI in Lausanne develops autonomous defense systems and validates their performance through extensive flight tests. The Validation Engineer will lead testing campaigns on our systems, ensuring reliability and readiness for mission use.

You will collaborate with hardware, software, and systems teams to design protocols, analyze telemetry, and drive improvements, with a focus on rigor, documentation, and leadership.