Mechanical Engineer - Airframe
- Location
- Lausanne, Switzerland
- Work type
- On-site
- Job type
- Full-time
- Salary
- Not listed
- Clearance
- Not required
- U.S. citizenship
- Not stated
- Posted
- Mar 12, 2026
- Department
- R&D
About the role
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 a Mechanical Engineer on Harmattan AI’s Airframe team, you will design UAV platforms and subsystems in an autonomous, fast-paced environment. You will take ownership of projects from concept through to production, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
Technical skills
Responsibilities
Design and prototype UAV platforms and complex subsystems from scratch, ensuring the right balance between durability, efficiency, and performance.
Take full ownership of system-level constraints, including thermal management, mass budget (weight), COGS (cost), and environmental sealing (IP ratings).
Work closely with R&D teams (Electrical, Software, and Industrialisation) to ensure seamless mechanical integration of sensors, payloads, and electronics.
Conduct rigorous testing, including stress and failure analysis. Identify risks proactively and develop the necessary tools (test benches, calculation sheets, or scripts) to validate designs for operation in extreme environments.
Manage your own delivery packages and technical specifications with precision, consistently meeting or exceeding requirements under tight deadlines.
Oversee the manufacturing process by collaborating directly with suppliers and external manufacturers, with a focus on plastic injection moulding and precision machining, to ensure quality and schedule targets are achieved.
Maintain the “source of truth” through Confluence and professional 2D/3D documentation. Document all designs, test results, and production workflows to support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
Candidate Requirements
Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
Proven experience designing and prototyping mechanical systems, ideally within UAVs, robotics, or defence applications.
Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks); experience with structural and thermal analysis tools (FEA) is a strong advantage.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including high-precision machining and plastic injection moulding.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document complex technical concepts and lead cross-functional discussions.
Full commitment to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and growth plans, with a willingness to go the extra mile in pursuit of operational excellence.
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.