HR Generalist
About this role
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 HR Generalist, you are the go-to HR contact for managers and teams in Crissier and Zurich. You turn company priorities into concrete HR actions: contract administration, onboarding, development, employee relations and compliance with Swiss employment law.
Responsibilities
Manager & Employee Partnership
Work in close collaboration with R&D management to support them in the design of the organization
Act as the single HR contact for Switzerland: present daily in Crissier, and a reliable remote partner for Zurich with regular visits
Give managers concrete, operational HR answers grounded in Swiss law, and address employee concerns promptly
Communicate with the teams with pedagogy to support and explain the organization
Stay aligned with the Paris HR team and group policy while remaining locally compliant
Local Compliance & Employment Law
Own compliance with Swiss employment law across the employee lifecycle (contracts, probation, working time, leave, termination) and adapt group contracts and HR policies to Swiss requirements
Manage relations with cantonal labor and migration authorities (Vaud and Zurich): filings, registrations, inspections
Handle employee representation obligations as headcount grows and keep leadership ahead of regulatory change
Payroll & Social Declarations
Own the monthly payroll cycle with our provider and Finance: validate variable inputs (absences, overtime, bonuses, joiners, leavers) and cross-check payslips
Ensure timely social and tax declarations and manage benefits (health, accident, pension)
HR Operations & Personnel Administration
Manage individual employee situations end to end: disciplinary procedures, conflict resolution, sensitive cases
Handle personnel administration (contracts, amendments, files, certificates), run absences in HiBob and produce HR metrics
Own work permit applications (G, B,L) for foreign nationals joining Crissier and Zurich: file with the DGEM, follow up until approval, and handle related cantonal and residence formalities
Onboarding, Offboarding & Mobility
Work with Talent Acquisition, who own recruitment: take over once an offer is accepted and run contracts, administration and onboarding for both sites
Handle offboarding with correct Swiss formalities and clear handover
Candidate Requirements
Master's degree or equivalent in HR, law, management or a related field
HR Manager certificate (Certificat de Gestionnaire RH, HRSE)
10+ years in generalist HR or HR Business Partner roles, ideally in an SME or scale-up
Strong knowledge of Swiss employment law and social insurance; experience with work permits (G, B, L) is a plus
Skills
Credibility with managers and engineers; able to advise and decide
Rigor, confidentiality, autonomy and a taste for building processes
Comfort with an HRIS (HiBob) and reporting tools
Languages
Fluent French and English; Swiss-German is an asset for Zurich
Nice to have
Experience in defense, aerospace or deeptech, and with multi-site teams
We look forward to hearing how you can help shape the future of autonomous defense systems at Harmattan AI.
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