Junior Methods Engineer

About the role

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. The Methods Engineer supports the deployment and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes across the Wissous production plant. You will contribute to structuring a greenfield drone production facility scaling fast - building manufacturing routes, supporting lean deployment, and bridging Production, Quality, and the Industrialisation & Automation team on a daily basis. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants to build real expertise fast, in a high-tempo environment where every contribution is visible and every improvement counts. The role reports to the Head of Industrialisation & Automation. Missions Continuous Improvement & Shopfloor Performance Support the deployment of lean tools on the shopfloor: 5S rollout, standardised work, and visual management boards Participate in daily performance reviews and contribute to structured problem-solving (5-Why, A3) on process non-conformances Contribute to plant performance tracking: standard times, first-pass yield, scrap and rework monitoring Production Line Design & Internal Flow Support workstation layout improvements, line balancing, and tooling setup for manual assembly operations Participate in factory layout reviews and kaizen actions to reduce non-value-added activities Process Knowledge & Documentation Write and maintain work instructions and manufacturing routes - ensuring accuracy, versioning, and floor-level usability Conduct time studies and cycle analysis under the guidance of the senior team Support Odoo MES deployment on the methods perimeter: routings, work orders, and traceability Automation Roadmap Contribution Identify and document manual operations that are repetitive, constrained, or automation-ready Provide process and cycle time data to support automation prioritisation alongside the Industrialisation & Automation team Participate in automation pilots and update work instructions post-deployment

Requirements

• Essential Qualifications
• Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• 2-3 years of experience in a Methods, Industrial Engineering, or Continuous Improvement role - or a first significant experience in a manufacturing environment (internship, apprenticeship, or junior role included)
• First exposure to lean tools: 5S, standardised work, time studies, or line balancing
• Structured, rigorous, and data-driven - comfortable building simple KPIs and tracking performance
• Good communication in French and English - able to interact clearly with operators and engineers
• Hands-on mindset; at ease on the shopfloor, not just behind a screen
• Preferred Skills
• Exposure to a ramp-up, startup, or new product introduction context is a plus, not a prerequisite
• Curiosity about automation and a desire to understand where manufacturing is heading
• Familiarity with Odoo or any MES/ERP is a bonus
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments where processes are still being built
• We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.

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