Forward Deployed Engineer (AI Defense)

Location: Paris, France; on-site

Company

hirify.global is an air-defense startup building AI-guided interceptors against drones and cruise missiles, together with the software platform that powers them.

What you will do

• Prepare and execute customer deployments, live-fire exercises, demonstrations, and acceptance trials.
• Deploy, configure, integrate, and validate interceptors, AI guidance, mission-management software, sensors, networks, and customer C2 systems.
• Develop scripts, configuration tools, APIs, and integration components for field deployments.
• Troubleshoot software, hardware, GNC, sensors, communications, networking, and operator-workflow issues using logs, telemetry, and test data.
• Implement safe field workarounds, drive permanent engineering fixes, and improve observability, diagnostics, automation, and reliability.
• Work directly with military operators, integrators, partners, and cross-functional Software, AI, Embedded, GNC, Hardware, and Product teams.

Requirements

• 3–7 years of experience in software engineering, systems integration, robotics, embedded systems, DevOps/SRE, solutions engineering, or a similar hands-on technical role.
• Strong Python and Linux skills, with a good understanding of networking, APIs, logs, and distributed systems.
• Experience deploying and debugging complex hardware/software systems outside controlled development environments.
• Ability to troubleshoot systems end to end and work across code, hardware, networks, telemetry, and field operations.
• Fluent English required; professional French is strongly preferred.
• Comfort with frequent travel and flexible hours during deployments and exercises, plus the integrity and discretion required for sensitive defense technologies.

Nice to have

• Experience with UAVs, robotics, autonomous systems, AI/ML, sensors, or mission-management systems.
• Defense, aerospace, C-UAS, ISR, or other mission-critical experience.
• Experience working directly with demanding customers or end users in the field.

Culture & Benefits

• High-ownership role in a fast-growing company founded in 2024.
• Pragmatic environment balancing speed, performance, safety, and maintainability.
• Direct exposure to military operators, defense institutions, integrators, and program stakeholders.
• Work on operational demonstrations and exercises across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.