Mission Planning Engineer - Guidance

Harmattan AI; United States; Remote; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A defense technology company is seeking a Mission Planning Engineer to design cutting-edge algorithms for autonomous defense systems. The ideal candidate has a strong background in aerospace or robotics with 5-10 years experience in algorithm design, particularly in mission-planning and navigation. The position is full-time and requires on-site work in Washington DC, offering a competitive salary of $165K-$190K with equity and benefits.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years designing mission-planning or navigation algorithms (defense, aerospace, robotics).
• Eligible for U.S. DoD Security Clearance.
• Research-to-deployment mindset, system thinker, operator-focused.

Responsibilities

• Develop mission-planning, routing, and path-optimization algorithms.
• Implement visual navigation and map-preloading for GPS-denied or spoofed conditions.
• Integrate algorithms into backend and simulation frameworks for real-time use.
• Build and run simulations to validate algorithm robustness under contested scenarios.
• Collaborate with UX and Product to ensure outputs are interpretable and usable.

Skills

GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Control)

Visual navigation

SLAM

Python

C++

MATLAB

Education

M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Applied Math, or related

Job description

About Us

At Harmattan AI, we are a next-generation defense prime building autonomous and scalable defense systems. Driven by rigorous engineering developments of new defense products based on recent robotics and AI developments, we are on a steep growth trajectory. If you are interested in a career in a highly technical environment, thrive on pushing boundaries, and want to achieve ambitious goals, we would love to hear from you.

About the Role

As Mission Planning Engineer, you will design and implement the algorithms that form the core of Harmattan’s mission planning engine. You’ll develop routing, guidance, and navigation capabilities that operators can rely on, even when the environment is uncertain or adversarial.

Responsibilities

Algorithm Design & Implementation

• Develop mission-planning, routing, and path-optimization algorithms.

• Implement visual navigation and map-preloading for GPS-denied or spoofed conditions.

• Integrate algorithms into backend and simulation frameworks for real-time use.

Simulation & Validation

• Build and run simulations to validate algorithm robustness under contested scenarios.

• Design stress-testing methodologies and performance metrics for field validation.

Cross-Functional Work

• Collaborate with UX and Product to ensure outputs are interpretable, usable, and operationally meaningful.

• Work closely with backend teams to ensure scalability and low-latency integration.

Candidate Requirements

• Education: M.S. or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Applied Math, or related.

• Experience: 5–10 years designing mission-planning or navigation algorithms (defense, aerospace, robotics).

• Technical Skills: Expertise in GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Control), visual navigation, SLAM, and Python/C++/MATLAB.

• Mindset: Research-to-deployment mindset, system thinker, operator-focused.

• Clearance: Eligible for U.S. DoD Security Clearance.

• Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence.

Location and Commitments

• Contract Type: Full-time / Permanent

• Work Schedule: Washington DC (on-site preferred)

• Compensation: $165K-$190K + equity + benefits

• Start Date: November 2025

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