Senior Team Lead, Propulsion & Vehicle Systems

Harmattan AI is hiring a Senior Team Lead for Propulsion & Vehicle Systems in Rabat, Morocco, for a full-time permanent on-site role. The position is responsible for propulsion and vehicle systems across the full air vehicle lifecycle, including engine choice, system architecture, fuel system ownership, vehicle electrical integration, and building test capability for hardware campaigns. It also involves leading a cross-disciplinary team and coordinating closely with airframe, avionics, and launcher teams on design and interface decisions. This role suits someone with strong technical judgment, hands-on systems experience, and the ability to lead demanding work in a fast-moving defense environment.

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 $1.4 billion, we are expanding our teams and capabilities to deliver mission-critical systems to allied forces. Our work is guided by clear values: building technologies with real-world impact, pursuing excellence in everything we do, setting ambitious goals, and taking on the hardest technical challenges. We operate in a demanding environment where rigor, ownership, and execution are expected. Location: Rabat, Morocco — on site. Contract: Permanent, full time$ ABOUT THE ROLE As Senior Team Lead, Propulsion & Vehicle Systems, you will own propulsion and vehicle systems for the air vehicle — from concept to flight. You will pick the engine, define the architecture, stand up test capability from nothing, and lead the team that proves it on real hardware in test campaigns. RESPONSIBILITIES - Propulsion & Vehicle Systems Team: Build, lead and grow a cross-disciplinary team across propulsion, fuel systems and vehicle electrical. - Propulsion: Drive engine selection and integration, engine bay and mounting, and the propulsion architecture that carries the vehicle. - Test Capability: Stand up propulsion test capability on site from nothing — bench, instrumentation and the process behind it. - Fuel System: Own the fuel system end to end, including integrated composite tank design and the constraints it places on the vehicle. - Vehicle Systems: Drive power distribution, harness routing and actuation across the vehicle. - Trade-Off & Design Analysis: Settle the open architecture questions — engine selection, tank integration and booster interface — and carry the consequences to the airframe and ground segment. - Technical Coordination: Lead cross-functional design with airframe, avionics and launcher teams. Own the propulsion and vehicle systems interfaces. - Integration & Validation: Own integration, prototyping, test campaigns and qualification evidence, ensuring performance targets are met in real operating conditions. CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS - 5+ years in propulsion or vehicle systems engineering within defense, aerospace or robotics, including experience leading or coordinating engineers. - MSc in Mechanical, Aerospace or Mechatronics Engineering, or a closely related field. A track record of building will outweigh the degree. - At least one propulsion system integrated from concept to flight. Exposure to solid motor or booster interfaces is a strong plus. - Integrator by instinct. You take the whole scope — engine, fuel and vehicle electrical — rather than a narrow slice of it. - Entrepreneurial, hands-on and comfortable a long way from headquarters. You design from first principles, take local decisions and defend them, and stay rigorous on anything touching the safety case. We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.