Allen Control Systems

Electrical Engineer-All Levels at Allen Control Systems (Austin, TX)

Allen Control Systems· Austin, TX·

Role details

Employment
Full-Time
Skills
Altium DesignerSchematic DesignPCB LayoutOrCADEagleSPICEANSYS ElectronicsC++PythonEmbedded SystemsReal-Time RoboticsElectromechanical Integration
Benefits

Competitive Salary · ACS Equity Package · Health Insurance · Dental Insurance · Vision Insurance · Paid Time Off

Allen Control Systems at a glance

Defense-tech startup building Bullfrog, an autonomous robotic weapon station that uses AI and computer vision to shoot down drones at a fraction of the cost of missiles.

ACS builds Bullfrog, an autonomous weapon station that mounts a common service machine gun and adds passive optical sensing, machine-vision tracking, and AI fire control to detect and neutralize hostile drones. A human authorizes every shot. The pitch is battlefield economics: driving the cost-per-kill of a drone down to as low as ten dollars.

$242M raised · latest: Series B · $200M · 2026 · backed by Smash Capital, Craft Ventures, Rally Ventures, Inspired Capital

Summary

Design and develop high-performance electrical systems, PCB layouts, and embedded C++/Python software for autonomous defense robots. The role involves schematic design, simulation, electromechanical integration, and real-time control optimization to meet military-grade requirements.

Job description

Company Overview ACS (Allen Control Systems) is a defense technology company building precision robotic systems for the United States and its allies. Founded by two former U.S. Navy electrical engineers with deep experience in robotics and software, ACS brings together AI, computer vision, precision motion, and advanced hardware to solve complex defense challenges across land, air, and maritime environments. Our flagship product, Bullfrog, is an autonomous precision weapon system that transforms existing weapons into highly accurate counter-drone systems — giving warfighters a scalable, cost-effective response to one of the fastest-growing threats on the modern battlefield. Bullfrog is deployed with U.S. forces, and ACS works with organizations throughout the U.S. military and national security community. Following a $200 million Series B at a $2.2 billion valuation, ACS is rapidly expanding manufacturing, accelerating Bullfrog deployments, and developing the next generation of autonomous battlefield systems. This is an opportunity to join a proven, fast-moving team and help scale technology with direct, real-world impact on national security. ACS is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional operations in Alexandria, Virginia; Mountain View, California; and Huntsville, Alabama. For more information, visit allencontrolsystems.com.

Position Overview: We are seeking a highly skilled Electrical Designer with strong expertise in schematic design, electrical simulatio printed circuit board (PCB) design. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in developing robust, high-performance electrical systems that integrate seamlessly with our electromechanical components, helping to ensure our products meet rigorous military-grade requirements. The ideal candidate would contribute to both power and embedded design for our highly dynamic robotic systems. In addition, this person would contribute to developing, optimizing, and implementing embedded software for real-time control of our systems. We’re hiring across multiple experience levels, including:

  • Associate Engineer
  • Engineer
  • Senior Engineer
  • Staff Engineer
  • Senior Staff Engineer

Your title and level will be determined based on your experience, skills, and the scope of responsibility appropriate for the role.

What You'll Do:

  • Design and Develop Electrical Systems: Create detailed electrical schematics and PCB layouts that meet performance and durability requirements for autonomous turret systems including embedded and power circuits.
  • Simulation and Testing: Perform simulations for signal integrity, thermal management, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) to ensure robust and reliable designs.
  • Electromechanical Integration: Collaborate closely with mechanical and software teams to integrate electrical and mechanical components, ensuring optimal performance and reliability in harsh environments.
  • PCB Design: Lead the development of high-quality printed circuit boards, adhering to best practices in layout, signal integrity, power distribution, and EMC considerations per military standards.
  • Documentation and Reporting: Develop and maintain detailed documentation of designs, including schematics, PCB layouts, simulation results, and test protocols.
  • Test and Debug Embedded Systems: Conduct extensive testing, simulation, and debugging in both lab and field environments, troubleshooting and optimizing electronics and software for various real-world conditions.
  • Performance Optimization: Continuously improve code performance and reduce power consumption to maximize system efficiency on hardware-constrained platforms.

What You'll Need:

  • Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
  • Embedded circuit design: Knowledge of microcontroller-based control systems including power conversion and motor drive.
  • Schematic Design & PCB Layout: Expertise with electrical design and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, or Eagle.
  • Simulation Tools: Proficiency with simulation software (e.g., SPICE, ANSYS Electronics) for evaluating circuit behavior under various environmental and operational stresses.
  • Electromechanical Integration: Proven experience integrating electrical components with mechanical systems, such as sensors, motors, and actuators.
  • Testing and Validation: Hands-on experience with testing methodologies, equipment, and protocols for validation of designs against military standards.
  • Strong Background in Embedded Software: experience in embedded software development with a focus on real-time, safety-critical systems.
  • Experience with Real-Time Robotics Systems: Hands-on experience designing and deploying software for robotics applications, with a focus on real-time control and responsiveness.
  • Systems Integration: Ability to integrate software with various sensors, actuators, and control hardware in robotic and autonomous systems.
  • Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

You'll Stand Out:

  • Thermal Management Expertise: Knowledge of techniques and materials used in heat dissipation and thermal design for high-power systems.
  • Embedded Linux Experience: Familiarity with embedded Linux and RTOS environments, as well as experience building custom kernels for embedded platforms.
  • Networking and Communication Protocols: Knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP) and communication protocols used in robotics systems (e.g., CAN, UART, I2C).
  • High-Performance Embedded Systems: Skills in optimizing code for low-latency, high-performance applications with strict power and computational constraints.

What We Offer:

  • Competitive salary
  • ACS Equity Package
  • Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off

Allen Control Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Allen Control Systems prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Why work at Allen Control Systems

  • Mission: Directly contribute to protecting soldiers and changing the economics of drone warfare.
  • Culture: Described as a remote-friendly organization with a strong engineering focus; HQ in Austin with a satellite office in Alexandria.
  • Work Model: Remote core, but many roles require on-site presence in Austin for manufacturing and testing.
  • Growth: Hyper-growth stage – employees have significant ownership and impact.
  • Tech Stack: State-of-the-art tools: PyTorch, CUDA, Unreal Engine, ROS, Linux, Docker, Git, MLflow, and more.
  • Team: High density of talent from SpaceX, Firefly, DoorDash, Lockheed Martin, and Carnegie Mellon.
  • Perks: Not publicly detailed; typical for defense startups include competitive compensation, equity, and a chance to work on cutting-edge hardware-software integration.

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