USV Project Lead

Tallinn, Estonia (after 3-month onboarding in La Rochelle and Paris) Onboarding (3 months)
|
Full Time
Posted :
19/1/26

About Alta Ares

Alta Ares is a deeptech startup founded in 2024, building real-time AI for defense operations (ISR, C-UAS). Our primary clients are NATO-aligned militaries, with regular deployments during live exercises. Raised €2M pre-seed in May 2025 Products include:
  • Real-time AI ISR module deployable on drones and tactical platforms
  • Counter-UAS solution enabling autonomous drone takeover under GNSS-denied environment
  • Full-stack MLOps platform for training & deploying military-grade AI models
  • Data fusion and trajectory prediction

Position details

Location: Tallinn, Estonia (after 3-month onboarding in La Rochelle and Paris)Onboarding (3 months)

- La Rochelle: Technical and operational immersion, training on Alta Ares systems

- Paris: Integration into company processes, strategic alignment with leadership(CEO Hadrien Canter, COO Stanislas Walch)

- Deployment to Tallinn: Full assumption of on-site responsibilitie

Role & Mission

We are seeking a USV Project Lead to drive the development and deployment of ourUnmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) program based in Tallinn. You will be responsible for coordinating a team of 3-5 people and ensuring the operational success of thisstrategic project.

Project Management :

  • Lead the entire USV program development cycle
  • Coordinate a team of 3-5 people (engineers, technicians)
  • Ensure adherence to milestones, budgets, and technical specifications
  • Manage relationships with local and international partners

Technical Leadership :

  • Supervise integration of navigation, detection, and communication systems
  • Ensure compliance with military, local, European standards and export regulations
  • Coordinate testing and operational validation phases

Performance Optimization :

  • Optimize designs for mass reduction, vibration mitigation, and mechanical efficiency
  • Design for manufacturability and assembly (DFM/DFA)

Candidate profile

Experience & Skills :

  • Engineering degree (robotics, embedded systems, naval, or equivalent)
  • 5+ years of experience managing complex technical projects
  • Experience with autonomous systems, drones, or unmanned vehicles(USV/UAV/UGV)
  • Knowledge of defense/dual-use sector appreciated

Soft Skills :

  • Proven leadership and ability to unite a multicultural team
  • Excellent project management and prioritization skills
  • Autonomy and decision-making capability in a dynamic environment
  • Adaptability and resilience in facing technical and operational challenges
  • Experience collaborating with international or multicultural engineering teams
  • Knowledge of regulatory standards, certification processes, or qualitymanagement for mechanical systems
  • Understanding of supply chain, vendor interactions, and material sourcing forproduction is a plus

Languages :

  • Professional fluency in English (mandatory)
  • French appreciated (for work with Paris headquarters)
  • Estonian and Urkainian language skills are a plus

Nice to Have

Skills & Values

European &Technolo-gical sovereignty

Rigor &Audacity

Pragmatic,Field-Oriented Innovation

Resilience in Extreme Conditions

What We Offer

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