Want to know if this job is worth applying to?
Paris, Île-de-France, France
Onsite
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 Field Deployment Engineer - Global Lead, you are the senior authority building and leading Harmattan's global deployment function for our ground systems — across hardware and software, and across sites and contracts. You define the deployment strategy, methodology, and documentation used company-wide, you stand up and grow local deployment teams, and you serve as the primary interface between field deployment teams and our engineering teams. Local Deployment Leads report into this role as the function scales into new sites and geographies.
This role combines deep technical ownership with field leadership and direct responsibility for building a function from the ground up, in a demanding, high-stakes environment.
Responsibilities
Deployment Strategy Leadership: Own the worldwide deployment strategy — methodology, documentation, and playbooks used across all sites and contracts.
Team Management: Guide and coordinate local deployment teams; local deployment leads report into this role; ensure hiring, training, and execution quality as the function grows.
Technical Authority: Own end-to-end system functionality in the field across hardware and software layers; serve as the senior escalation point for technical issues.
Commissioning & Acceptance: Oversee system configuration, testing, and validation across sites; own the acceptance process through to sign-off.
Cross-functional Coordination: Act as the primary interface between field deployment teams and engineering teams — relaying product requirements, debugging needs, and updates in both directions.
Team Enablement: Build the training and enablement approach that brings local deployment teams toward growing autonomy.
Documentation: Produce rigorous deployment strategy, process, and training documentation; maintain structured records across sites.
Candidate Requirements
5+ years of experience in field deployment, systems integration, or technical commissioning on enterprise-grade or complex electronics systems.
Demonstrated experience leading, hiring, or building a team in field or operational environments.
Hands-on experience with hardware/software integration in operational environments — experience with complex integrated sensing or control systems is a strong plus.
Strong systems-level understanding: ability to troubleshoot and own resolution across hardware, software, and connectivity layers.
Proven ability to build structure and documentation from scratch, and to bring teams to operational autonomy on complex systems.
High degree of field autonomy and composure in high-stakes, time-sensitive environments.
Detail-oriented with strong documentation and organisational skills.
Comfortable with a dynamic schedule requiring frequent international presence.
Fluency in English required; additional languages relevant to the regions of operations are a plus.
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.