Mission Planning Engineer; Guidance, Navigation, Control

Overview

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 Mission Planning Engineer
, you’ll design and implement the Guidance, Navigation, and Control algorithms that translate high-level mission goals into actionable guidance for autonomous robots and multi-agent systems. You’ll bridge cutting-edge research and field-ready autonomy, ensuring our systems are both intelligent and predictable in live operations.

• Design algorithms that decompose high-level missions into structured, solvable guidance tasks for autonomous robots.
• Develop and optimize mission and path-planning frameworks for autonomous systems.
• Build scalable backend integrations for mission guidance and execution.
• Run simulations and validation campaigns to assess autonomy consistency across diverse mission types.
• Partner with AI/ML, backend, and product teams to ensure algorithms are efficient, testable, and deployable in real-time environment.

• Education:
  
  Ph.D. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, Applied Math, AI, or related field.
• Experience:
  
  Proven experience designing and deploying mission- or path-planning algorithms in aerospace, defense, or robotics.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong coding in Python and C++ (or MATLAB for prototyping). Deep understanding of autonomous decision-making, multi-agent coordination, and simulation frameworks.
• Mindset:
  Ability to move from research prototype to production-grade system.
• Clearance:
  Eligible for U.S. DoD Security Clearance.
• Commitment: 100% dedication to Harmattan AI’s mission, vision, and ambitious growth plans, ready to go the extra mile to ensure operational excellence.

• Contract Type:
  Full-time / Permanent
• Work Schedule:
  
  DMV area (D.C. / Maryland / Virginia) / On-site
• Compensation: $165K-$190K + equity + benefits
• Start Date:
  
  November 2025

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