Forward Deployed Software Engineer

Harmattan Ai
Paris, France
On-site

Who this role is best for

Geared toward candidates with end-to-end systems experience and a bias for action, comfortable with field deployment and client collaboration in the defense industry.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a background in deploying software in operational environments and solving ambiguous problems for defense clients
    — “Take loosely defined, real-world requirements from partner militaries and organizations and turn them into working software
  • Individuals who have experience building and shipping production software in Python and lower-level languages like C++ or Rust
    — “4+ years building and shipping production software, in Python and at least one lower-level language (C++, Rust, Go)
  • Candidates who thrive on direct client engagement and have a track record of rapid iteration based on field feedback
    — “Deploy your solutions on site, gather feedback directly from operators, and iterate quickly based on what you see working (or not) in practice

Things to consider

  • Frequent travel is required, including domestic and international client site visits
    — “frequent on site with partners, domestic and international
  • The role demands proficiency in English for client and stakeholder communication
    — “Proficiency in English is mandatory

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in building end-to-end systems from ambiguous requirements
    — “A track record of defining and building end-to-end systems
  • Demonstrate familiarity with deploying software in operational or field conditions
    — “owning them end-to-end from architecture through deployment
  • Showcase your ability to work with client teams and translate their needs into technical solutions
    — “Build real working relationships with client technical teams and end users
  • Emphasize your ability to debug and resolve live operational issues effectively
    — “Debug issues in live operational settings, drive them to resolution
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • Design and build software applications that solve specific operational problems for our partners
Typical background
4+ years building and shipping production software

Skills & requirements

Required

PythonC++RustGoLinux

Preferred

Computer VisionDeep LearningMission PlanningRoboticsEmbedded Software

Stack & domain

PythonC++RustGoCommunicationDefenseAutonomous 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.

As a Forward Deployed Software Engineer, you'll spend your time writing code. You'll work with partner technical teams and end users to understand what they actually need, then design and build the solution yourself: architecture, implementation, testing, deployment. You'll be close enough to the mission to see why the problem matters, and you'll ship fast, because what you build gets used in the field almost immediately. Once a solution proves itself, you'll work with our core platform team to fold the durable parts back into the product, so your work keeps paying off beyond the deployment you built it for.

Responsibilities

  • Design and build software applications that solve specific operational problems for our partners, owning them end-to-end from architecture through deployment.
  • Take loosely defined, real-world requirements from partner militaries and organizations and turn them into working software, often on tight timelines.
  • Build interfaces and connectors between our platforms and partner systems, and validate data flows end-to-end in the field.
  • Deploy your solutions on site, gather feedback directly from operators, and iterate quickly based on what you see working (or not) in practice.
  • Spot patterns and capabilities worth building into the core product, and work with our platform engineering team to get them there.
  • Debug issues in live operational settings, drive them to resolution, and document what you learn along the way.
  • Build real working relationships with client technical teams and end users so you understand their problems well enough to solve them properly.

Requirements

  • 4+ years building and shipping production software, in Python and at least one lower-level language (C++, Rust, Go).
  • A track record of defining and building end-to-end systems: projects, internships, or early-career work where you took an ambiguous problem to a working, deployed solution.
  • Comfortable owning software end-to-end — design, build, debug, deploy — including on Linux, in operational or field conditions.
  • Confident and clear communicating with client technical teams and senior stakeholders, with a bias to action
  • Practical under constraint: ill-defined problems, tight deadlines, and a working solution over a theoretically perfect one.
  • Travel: frequent on site with partners, domestic and international.
  • Proficiency in English is mandatory.

Nice to have

  • Prior forward-deployed, solutions engineering, or customer-facing engineering experience.
  • Depth in computer vision, deep learning, mission planning, robotics, or embedded software.
  • Degree from a leading engineering school.

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