Key Takeaways
- Apply through carriere.dassault-aviation.com for France-based positions (engineering, production, defense programs) or dassaultfalcon.com/careers for US-based Falcon Jet roles (MRO, completion, flight operations). These are SEPARATE portals with different ATS platforms — apply through the correct one for your target location.
- Both a CV and a cover letter are expected. Dassault Aviation's recruitment team explicitly advises candidates to submit both documents. The cover letter should address three themes: your interest in Dassault specifically, what you bring, and what you envision accomplishing together. International applicants should provide documents in both French and English.
- The average hiring process takes 31 days, with a pre-selection phone screen followed by one or more interviews. Defense positions add 3-6 months for security habilitation processing, during which new hires work on non-classified projects.
- Dassault Aviation interviews are moderately difficult (2.65/5) with 61% positive candidate experience. The process is conversational — candidates describe it as 'feeling more like a conversation' — but you must demonstrate both technical expertise and genuine passion for aerospace.
- French language proficiency is strongly recommended for all positions and effectively required for France-based engineering roles. For US-based Falcon Jet positions, French is a differentiator but not mandatory.
- Dassault Aviation's three core values — Taste of the Challenge, Family Feeling, and Integrity — are central to the hiring evaluation. Prepare specific examples demonstrating each, particularly your appetite for complex technical challenges and collaborative team contributions.
- Security clearance (habilitation) is required for defense-related positions. EU nationals can generally obtain clearance. The process involves a background investigation by the DGSI or Ministry of Defense and takes 3-6 months. If you hold existing clearance, state it on your CV.
- Attend recruitment events for accelerated access. Dassault Aviation organizes Job Dating events at the Paris Air Show and partners with French engineering schools for campus recruitment. Pre-selected online applicants receive VIP invitations to expedited interview sessions.
- Dassault Aviation is consistently ranked among the top 5 most attractive employers for French engineering students. The company hired 2,400 people in 2024 alone and is growing due to Rafale exports and Falcon production — the hiring pipeline is active and substantial.
About Dassault Aviation
Application Process
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1
Search for open positions on Dassault Aviation's dedicated careers portal at car
Search for open positions on Dassault Aviation's dedicated careers portal at carriere.dassault-aviation.com (France-based roles) or dassaultfalcon.com/careers (US-based Falcon Jet roles). The French portal allows filtering by experience level (student, beginner, experienced), contract type (CDI permanent, CDD fixed-term, apprenticeship, internship, VIE international volunteer), field of activity, and location. Create a candidate profile to save jobs, set up job alerts, and track your application status. As of April 2026, approximately 63 positions are listed on the French portal across production, IT, engineering, and support functions.
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2
Prepare and submit your application with a tailored CV and cover letter
Prepare and submit your application with a tailored CV and cover letter. Dassault Aviation's recruitment team explicitly requires both documents. Your CV should be clear, well-structured, and consistent in presentation — include your name with a title reflecting your target role, academic background, and professional experience with concrete metrics (context, objectives, responsibilities, measurable results). Your cover letter must go beyond the CV by addressing three elements: why you are interested in Dassault Aviation specifically, what you bring to the company, and what you envision accomplishing together. Both documents must be free of errors. For international applicants, submit your CV and cover letter in both French and English.
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3
Undergo pre-selection screening, typically conducted as a telephone call with a
Undergo pre-selection screening, typically conducted as a telephone call with a Dassault Aviation recruiter. During this 20-30 minute conversation, the recruiter will verify your training background, career path, technical specialisms, career plans, availability, and salary expectations. This call serves as the initial filter — be prepared to articulate concisely why you are interested in defense and civil aerospace, and what draws you specifically to Dassault Aviation rather than competitors like Airbus, Thales, or Safran.
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4
Attend one or more face-to-face or remote interviews with hiring managers and te
Attend one or more face-to-face or remote interviews with hiring managers and technical leads. Dassault Aviation advises candidates to research the company thoroughly — its activities, culture, and latest developments — before the interview. Prepare a compelling personal pitch for the 'Tell me about yourself' question, and be ready to discuss your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Bring your CV, the job description, and a notepad. The interview is described as conversational — 'Be yourself' is the company's consistent advice — but you must demonstrate both technical expertise and interpersonal skills. Take notes during the interview, as you may be asked to summarize key points.
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5
For defense-related positions, undergo a security habilitation process
For defense-related positions, undergo a security habilitation process. France uses a formal security clearance system called 'habilitation,' administered by the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure (DGSI) or the Ministry of Defense. Candidates must complete a detailed file listing close relatives, foreign travel history, and international connections. The investigation typically takes three to six months, during which new hires work on non-classified projects. EU member state nationals can generally obtain clearance; non-EU nationals face more restrictive requirements. This process is a condition of employment, not a disqualifying barrier — Dassault's recruitment team handles the administrative aspects.
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Receive an offer and complete the hiring process
Receive an offer and complete the hiring process. Dassault Aviation aims to provide timely decisions — the average process takes approximately 31 days based on candidate-reported data. Following the interview, send a thank-you email reaffirming your interest. Successful candidates receive compensation details including salary, benefits (comprehensive healthcare, retirement, profit-sharing), and start date. For US-based Falcon Jet positions, the benefits package includes competitive compensation, healthcare coverage, retirement planning, tuition reimbursement, and a unique pilot licensing reimbursement program.
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7
Consider attending Dassault Aviation recruitment events for an accelerated path
Consider attending Dassault Aviation recruitment events for an accelerated path. The company organizes 'Job Dating' events at major industry gatherings such as the Paris Air Show, where pre-selected candidates who have applied online receive VIP invitations for expedited interviews. Dassault also maintains active partnerships with French engineering schools (Grandes Écoles) and participates in campus recruitment across France.
Resume Tips for Dassault Aviation
Lead with aerospace and defense domain relevance
Lead with aerospace and defense domain relevance. Dassault Aviation designs some of the most complex airborne systems in the world — from Rafale combat aircraft to Falcon business jets. Frame your experience in terms that resonate with this mission: aircraft systems, avionics, propulsion, aerodynamics, flight testing, composite materials, defense electronics, MRO operations, or aviation certification (EASA, FAA). Even for corporate functions, demonstrate awareness of the aerospace context your work supports.
Quantify achievements with specific metrics that demonstrate impact
Quantify achievements with specific metrics that demonstrate impact. Dassault's own recruitment guidance emphasizes 'specific details and figures including context, objectives, responsibilities, and achievements.' Instead of 'managed engineering team,' write 'led 12-engineer avionics integration team delivering Rafale F4 radar upgrade on schedule, reducing test cycle time by 18%.' Numbers, deadlines met, cost savings, and quality improvements carry weight in an engineering-driven culture.
Highlight French language proficiency and international experience
Highlight French language proficiency and international experience. Dassault Aviation explicitly states that 'French language proficiency is recommended' for all positions. If you speak French, list your level prominently (CEFR scale: B2 minimum for professional roles, C1+ for engineering positions in France). For US-based Falcon Jet roles, French is less critical but still a differentiator. International experience — especially in countries where the Rafale has been exported (India, Qatar, UAE, Greece) — demonstrates readiness for Dassault's global operations.
Showcase your academic pedigree and continuing education
Showcase your academic pedigree and continuing education. Dassault Aviation recruits from CAP/BEP vocational levels through Bac+5 engineering degrees and CIFRE doctoral programs. For engineering roles, degrees from French Grandes Écoles (ISAE-SUPAERO, ENSAE, Polytechnique, Centrale, Mines) or equivalent international programs carry significant weight. Include relevant certifications: aerospace-specific (DO-178C, DO-254, AS9100), project management (PMP), or technical specializations. Dassault values professionals who invest in continuous learning.
Include extracurricular activities that reveal character and passion
Include extracurricular activities that reveal character and passion. Dassault Aviation's recruitment guidance specifically recommends including extracurricular activities to demonstrate 'personal commitment and character development.' Aviation hobbies (private pilot license, model aircraft, aerospace associations), team sports, volunteer leadership, or involvement in engineering competitions signal the passion and drive Dassault values.
Tailor your CV to the specific entity and role type
Tailor your CV to the specific entity and role type. A resume targeting Dassault Aviation's defense engineering division in Istres should emphasize different experience than one targeting Dassault Falcon Jet's MRO operations in Little Rock or Dassault Aviation Business Services in Mérignac. Research the specific site, program (Rafale, Falcon 6X, FCAS), and team before submitting.
Keep formatting clean, professional, and ATS-compatible
Keep formatting clean, professional, and ATS-compatible. Dassault Aviation uses a proprietary recruitment system at carriere.dassault-aviation.com (not a standard third-party ATS), while Falcon Jet uses UKG Pro Recruiting. Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications), avoid graphics or complex tables, and upload as PDF. French CVs typically include a professional photo, date of birth, and nationality — follow local convention for France-based applications.
Demonstrate security clearance readiness for defense roles
Demonstrate security clearance readiness for defense roles. If you hold or have previously held a security clearance (French habilitation, NATO clearance, US DoD clearance, or equivalent), state this clearly on your CV. For defense positions at Dassault Aviation, habilitation is mandatory — indicating eligibility or existing clearance removes a potential concern from the recruiter's evaluation.
ATS System: Custom Proprietary / UKG Pro Recruiting
Dassault Aviation uses a custom proprietary recruitment system for its French careers portal at carriere.dassault-aviation.com — no standard third-party ATS was detected in the page source. Job references follow a YYYY-NNNNN format. The portal supports candidate profile creation, CV upload, job alerts, and application tracking. For US-based Dassault Falcon Jet positions, the company uses UKG Pro Recruiting (formerly Ultimate Software/Kronos) at falconjet.rec.pro.ukg.net. Dassault Aviation Business Services (MRO) operates a separate portal at dassault-business.com.
- Use standard CV section headings (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications) for clean parsing in both the proprietary French system and UKG Pro Recruiting
- Upload as PDF format — both portals accept PDF and the formatting is preserved better than Word
- Create a candidate profile on the relevant portal to track application status and receive job alerts matching your criteria
- Include both French and English versions of key terms and job titles to maximize keyword matching in the French proprietary system
- For France-based roles, follow French CV conventions: include a professional photo, date of birth, nationality, and driving license status
- Reference numbers (e.g., 2025-14743) are used to track positions — note the reference when applying to multiple roles for follow-up communication
Complete Custom Proprietary / UKG Pro Recruiting Resume Guide →
Interview Culture
Dassault Aviation interviews are rated at a moderate difficulty level of 2.65 out of 5 on Glassdoor, with 61% of candidates reporting a positive experience.
What Dassault Aviation Looks For
- Passion for aerospace and aviation. Dassault Aviation builds fighter jets and business jets — this is not generic manufacturing. The company wants people who are genuinely excited about aircraft, flight, and advancing the state of aerospace technology. Demonstrating authentic enthusiasm for the Rafale, Falcon family, or aerospace engineering in general is a significant differentiator.
- Technical excellence and precision. Dassault's engineering culture demands meticulous attention to detail. Whether you are designing avionics systems, machining turbine components, performing quality inspections, or testing flight controls, the standard is zero tolerance for sloppiness. Demonstrate precision thinking, rigorous methodology, and commitment to quality in your work examples.
- Taste of the Challenge — willingness to tackle hard problems. This is one of Dassault's three stated values. They want people who are drawn to complexity rather than intimidated by it. Building the Rafale F4 standard, developing FCAS, and certifying the Falcon 10X are some of the most demanding engineering programs in Europe — Dassault needs people who thrive under that pressure.
- Family Feeling — collaborative teamwork and loyalty. Dassault Aviation positions itself as a company where 'people are the beating heart,' emphasizing knowledge-sharing, creativity, and professional fulfillment within a human-scale workplace. They value team players who contribute to a supportive working environment and build long-term careers rather than job-hopping.
- Integrity and ethical conduct. As a defense contractor handling classified military programs and operating in a highly regulated industry, Dassault requires absolute integrity. This extends from security clearance eligibility to professional ethics in engineering decisions, supplier relationships, and financial reporting.
- Adaptability across dual civil-military domains. Dassault's unique position as both a military aircraft and business jet manufacturer means employees often work across domains. Engineers may contribute to both Rafale and Falcon programs. The company values professionals who can transfer skills between defense and civil contexts.
- French language capability and cross-cultural competence. While not universally mandatory, French proficiency is explicitly recommended by Dassault's HR team and is a strong advantage for virtually all positions. For France-based roles, professional-level French is effectively required for daily collaboration. Cross-cultural skills are valuable given Dassault's export activities across 90 countries.
- Relevant academic credentials and continuous learning. Dassault recruits across all education levels from vocational (CAP/BEP) through doctoral programs (CIFRE). They maintain strong ties with French engineering schools and value candidates with strong academic foundations. Commitment to ongoing professional development — through certifications, advanced degrees, or specialized training — signals alignment with their engineering-driven culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Open Positions
Dassault Aviation currently has 17 open positions.
