Lead Warhead Engineer

About the role

Harmattan AI is building autonomous, scalable defense systems and seeks a Lead Warhead Engineer to serve as the technical authority for all warhead development. You will guide design trade‑offs across energetics, safety, arming, mechanical integration and testing, and act as the primary liaison between the warhead team and program, product, operations and customers.

Key responsibilities

• Own the warhead architecture and arbitrate design decisions across energetics, electronics, safety, mechanical and test disciplines from requirement to manufactured product.
• Define engineering standards, design‑review practices and drive developments from concept through qualification to industrialisation on rapid cycles.
• Build and scale the warhead supply chain, including energetic materials, loading, machining and test capacity.
• Translate mission requirements into warhead specifications and development plans, managing timelines, risks and technical maturity.
• Ensure compliance with pyrotechnic regulations and NATO safety and qualification standards (MIL‑STD, STANAG) throughout the product lifecycle.
• Establish and manage relationships with test centres, energetic‑material suppliers and industrial partners.

Required profile

• Master’s degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Energetics, Physics or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in warhead or munitions development, with a proven track record of leading projects through qualification to serial production.
• Deep knowledge of the munitions ecosystem, including DGA, prime contractors, state test centres and relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Strong familiarity with NATO safety and qualification standards (MIL‑STD, STANAG) for munitions.

Required skills

• Energetics and pyrotechnic regulations
• Mechanical integration and testing
• Warhead architecture design
• NATO safety standards (MIL‑STD, STANAG)
• Supply‑chain design for energetic materials