Mission Planning Engineer (Guidance, Navigation, Control)

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 Mission Planning Engineer , you’ll design and implement the Mission Planning algorithms that translate high-level mission goals into actionable commands for autonomous robots in multi-agent systems. You’ll bridge cutting-edge research and field-ready autonomy, ensuring our systems are both intelligent and predictable in live operations. Responsibilities 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. Candidate Requirements 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. Location and Commitments Contract Type: Full-time / Permanent Work Schedule: Arlington, Virginia / On-site Compensation: $165K-$190K + equity + benefits We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI. #J-18808-Ljbffr AIAA