Data Acquistion Module Lead

Harmattan AI; Paris (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Harmattan AI is seeking a Data Acquisition Module Lead to own how real-world sensor data is collected to train onboard detection and tracking models. You will manage end-to-end acquisition, sensor integration, field campaigns, and dataset quality, while growing and mentoring a hands-on team.

You will lead data collection efforts across EO/IR and radar sensors, coordinate field sessions, and ensure timely delivery of curated datasets to AI teams.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in sensor data collection or field testing for perception or AI systems, ideally airborne.
• Hands‑on experience with EO/IR, radar or comparable sensors, including synchronization, calibration, storage and metadata.
• Experience running multi‑person field campaigns and leading a small team.

Responsibilities

• Turn the data needs of the computer vision and AI teams into a prioritized roadmap of collection campaigns.
• Plan and run field campaigns across sensors, scenarios, environments and data volumes.
• Act as single owner and point of contact for every field session assigned to the module.
• Own sensor integration and calibration on aircraft and ground systems, including time synchronization and logging.
• Build the pipeline from raw field capture to curated, documented and versioned datasets, with quality checks before leaving the field.
• Define dataset acceptance criteria and clear handovers with the computer vision team and the annotation provider.
• Arbitrate flight slots and test field access with Flight Operations and Validation to maximize usable data per flight.
• Structure the team’s work, hire the profiles the module needs to grow, and mentor engineers.
• Stay hands-on by operating alongside the team in the field and reporting regularly on progress, dataset coverage and gaps.

Skills

Sensor data collection

Field testing

Team leadership

Data pipeline design

Payload integration

Data quality assurance

Tools

EO/IR sensors

Radar sensors

Field campaign planning tools

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 Data Acquisition Module Lead, you own how Harmattan collects the real-world sensor data that trains its onboard detection and tracking models. You run the module end to end: acquisition roadmap, sensor integration, field campaigns, and dataset quality and delivery to the computer vision and AI teams. You lead and grow a team of engineers while staying hands-on in the field. Every flight you run turns scarce test time into usable data.

Responsibilities

• Turn the data needs of the computer vision and AI teams into a prioritized roadmap of collection campaigns.

• Plan and run field campaigns across sensors, scenarios, environments and data volumes.

• Act as single owner and point of contact for every field session assigned to the module.

• Own sensor integration and calibration on aircraft and ground systems, including time synchronization and logging.

• Build the pipeline from raw field capture to curated, documented and versioned datasets, with quality checks before leaving the field.

• Define dataset acceptance criteria and clear handovers with the computer vision team and the annotation provider.

• Arbitrate flight slots and test field access with Flight Operations and Validation to maximize usable data per flight.

• Structure the team’s work, hire the profiles the module needs to grow, and mentor engineers.

• Stay hands-on by operating alongside the team in the field and reporting regularly on progress, dataset coverage and gaps.

Candidate Requirements

• At least 6 years of experience in sensor data collection or field testing for perception or AI systems, ideally airborne.

• Hands‑on experience with EO/IR, radar or comparable sensors, including synchronization, calibration, storage and metadata.

• Experience running multi‑person field campaigns and leading a small team.

• Track record of turning a model team’s needs into a concrete data collection plan.

• Piloting or flight operations exposure.

• Safety-conscious, organized and pragmatic in the field, and comfortable arbitrating scarce flight time.

• Clear communicator toward AI engineers who depend on the data you deliver.

• A background in electronics, signal processing, robotics, physics or computer science is a plus; demonstrated field and data experience matters more.

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