Electrical Engineer (Ground Control System)

Harmattan Ai
Paris, France
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to mid-level engineers with autonomous small-team experience working in defense systems. Requires expertise in RF and mixed-signal design for ruggedized hardware in Paris.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a track record of shipping complex PCBs in defense or similar high-stakes domains
    — “senior hardware engineer who has designed and shipped complex PCBs
  • Individuals who thrive in small teams and can independently manage hardware-software integration
    — “comfortable working autonomously in a small team and can bridge hardware and firmware
  • Engineers prioritizing cost optimization and manufacturability in constrained environments
    — “strong instinct for cost and manufacturability

Things to consider

  • The role demands high rigor in execution and ownership of end-to-end electronics design
    — “operating in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected

How to stand out

  • Highlight RF PCB design experience with controlled impedance and EMC compliance examples
    — “RF PCB design: controlled impedance, antenna matching, EMC management
  • Demonstrate proficiency in bench equipment like oscilloscopes and spectrum analysers
    — “bench equipment proficiency
  • Showcase cross-functional collaboration on hardware-software interfaces in prior roles
    — “define hardware/software interfaces; support firmware bring-up
  • Emphasize DFM/DFA reviews and BOM optimization in mass production contexts
    — “DFM/DFA for PCB manufacturing and assembly
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Senior

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • pcb-production
  • rf-compliance
  • hardware-software-integration
Typical background
hardware-engineeringelectronics-design

Skills & requirements

Required

Pcb-designRf-designMixed-signal-designHardware-debug

Preferred

Embedded-systemsAntenna-design

Stack & domain

PCB Schematic And Layout DesignRF PCB DesignMixed-signal DesignHardware Bring-up And DebugEMC & RF ComplianceCollaboration With Embedded SWCollaboration With MechanicalSupplier & Manufacturing Ramp-upDocumentationDefense Systems

About the role

Original posting from Harmattan Ai via Ashby

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.

Overview

Harmattan AI is developing new hardware products within the GCS module, including ruggedised drone controllers and long-range RF systems designed for demanding field environments. These products require dedicated electronics design with complex architecture in a constrained environment – PCBs integrating RF modules, microcontrollers, power management, and communication interfaces – optimised for cost at volume. The GCS team is seeking a dedicated hardware engineer to own electronics design end-to-end and accelerate the path to production milestones.

Ideal candidate

A senior hardware engineer who has designed and shipped complex PCBs, ideally mixing digital and power, into production. They are rigorous on schematics, layout, and bring-up, and have a strong instinct for cost and manufacturability. They are comfortable working autonomously in a small team and can bridge hardware and firmware.

Skills required

  • PCB schematic and layout design (Altium Designer preferred)
  • RF PCB design: controlled impedance, antenna matching, EMC management
  • Mixed-signal design: power management, MCU interfaces, communication buses (SPI, I2C, UART, USB, CAN)
  • Hardware bring-up and debug: bench equipment proficiency
  • DFM/DFA for PCB manufacturing and assembly
  • Component selection and BOM management

Responsibilities:

  • Schematic Design - Design complete schematics for mixed-signal and RF boards, from power to digital and RF sections.
  • PCB Layout & Routing - Perform or lead board placement and routing with attention to signal integrity, EMC, and RF constraints (6-8 layer layout, controlled impedance, ground planes, and RF traces).
  • Component Selection & BOM Optimisation – Select components with cost, availability, and reliability in mind; drive BOM cost reduction for mass production volumes.
  • Hardware Bring-up & Debug - Lead board bring-up and debug issues with oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, and other bench equipment; write bring-up scripts when needed.
  • EMC & RF Compliance - Address EMC challenges; ensure signal integrity across the board and correct RF performance (antenna impedance matching and power levels).
  • Collaboration with Embedded SW - Work closely with the embedded software engineer to define hardware/software interfaces; support firmware bring-up.
  • Collaboration with Mechanical - Ensure seamless PCB integration into mechanical enclosures (connectors, mounting, thermal, shielding).
  • Supplier & Manufacturing Ramp-up - Qualify PCB manufacturers and assembly houses; support DFM/DFA review for production; manage NPI transitions.
  • Documentation - Maintain schematics, layout files, test procedures, and hardware specifications.

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

Source: Harmattan Ai careers (Ashby)

Similar roles