Energetic Materials Scientist (Munitions)

Harmattan Ai
Lausanne, Switzerland
On-site

Who this role is best for

Energetic materials scientists with hands-on lab experience and NATO qualification knowledge will find this technical and collaborative role in defense systems development in Lausanne.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with advanced chemistry degrees and experience in explosive safety and characterization techniques
    — “Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or a related field.”
  • Individuals who can lead supplier assurance and qualification programs with rigorous standards
    — “Assess supplier specifications, process capability and quality requirements to ensure repeatability and traceability.”
  • Those with a background in building lab capabilities and managing material qualification frameworks
    — “Run hands-on material characterization and build the laboratory capability, in-house or through partners, to support it.”

Things to consider

  • The role demands fluency in English for technical communication and collaboration.
    — “Fluency in English required.”
  • Candidates must be prepared to work in a high-stakes, technically demanding environment.
    — “We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience with NATO standards in material qualification programs.
    — “Experience characterizing and evaluating materials in accordance with NATO qualification standards.”
  • Emphasize your ability to evaluate chemical stability and environmental sensitivity of energetic materials.
    — “Evaluate chemical stability, ageing and environmental sensitivity to define safe-for-use, storage and operational requirements.”
  • Showcase your hands-on lab skills, especially with DSC, TGA, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy.
    — “Hands-on experience with analytical techniques such as DSC, TGA, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • technical authority on energetic materials
  • material selection and testing
  • qualification frameworks for materials
Typical background
Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering

Skills & requirements

Required

Explosive MaterialsPropellantsPyrotechnicsExplosive SafetyHazardous Materials HandlingAnalytical Techniques (dsc, TGA, Ftir, Raman Spectroscopy)NATO Qualification StandardsMaterials Manufacturing ProcessesQuality Controls

Stack & domain

ChemistryMaterials ScienceChemical EngineeringExplosive MaterialsPropellantsPyrotechnicsExplosive SafetyHazardous Materials HandlingAnalytical TechniquesDSCTGAFTIRRaman SpectroscopyNATO Qualification StandardsMaterials Manufacturing ProcessesQuality ControlsCollaborationCommunicationProblem-solvingAttention To DetailTeamworkDefenseEngineering

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.

About the Role

As Energetic Materials Engineer in the Warhead team, you will be the technical authority ensuring the energetic materials in our systems are properly selected, tested and qualified for their intended use. You will build Harmattan AI’s expertise in energetic materials chemistry, stability and supplier assurance, so we can safely and repeatedly source and produce energetics as we scale. You will work daily with systems, warhead and fuze engineers, as well as test facilities and partners.

Responsibilities

  • Act as the internal reference on energetic materials chemistry, properties and compatibility to guide material selection.
  • Baseline the energetic materials requirements and material inventory across our products.
  • Evaluate chemical stability, ageing and environmental sensitivity to define safe-for-use, storage and operational requirements.
  • Develop and oversee material qualification in line with NATO standards, internally and with external partners.
  • Run hands-on material characterization and build the laboratory capability, in-house or through partners, to support it.
  • Assess supplier specifications, process capability and quality requirements to ensure repeatability and traceability, and manage inspections and non-conformances.
  • Support warhead and fuze engineers in sourcing and preparing materials for prototype testing, and report results to systems engineers.
  • Build qualification frameworks and guidance for the wider team, and contribute to growing an internal materials team.

Candidate Requirements

  • Master’s degree or PhD in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or a related field.
  • Strong understanding of explosive materials, propellants and pyrotechnics, including explosive safety and hazardous materials handling.
  • Hands-on experience with analytical techniques such as DSC, TGA, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.
  • Experience characterizing and evaluating materials in accordance with NATO qualification standards.
  • Experience running qualification programs for materials used in pyrotechnic or energetic systems.
  • Understanding of materials manufacturing processes and quality controls.
  • Fluency in English required.

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

Source: Harmattan Ai careers (Ashby)

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