--- title: 'Mechanical Engineer, Staff at Allen Control Systems' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-staff-allen-control-systems-austin-2p9ch1mnpnj2' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-09' --- # Mechanical Engineer, Staff at Allen Control Systems - **Company:** [Allen Control Systems](https://feeny.ai/companies/allen-control-systems) - **Location:** Austin, TX - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-05-29 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/allen-control-systems/9954b249-f3fb-45bf-aaa1-dc3a567c1803/application **Skills:** Mechanical Design, Electromechanical Integration, MIL-STD-810, Structural Simulation, Vibration Analysis, Thermal Analysis, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Modal Analysis, 3D CAD, SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Reliability (DFR), ANSYS, MIL-S-901D, MIL-STD-461, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Rapid Prototyping, Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) > Design and develop mechanical systems for autonomous gun turret systems, ensuring robustness under MIL-STD-810 conditions. The role involves performing simulations, integrating electromechanical components, and leading structural integrity testing to meet military-grade durability and reliability standards. ## 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 http://allencontrolsystems.com. Position Overview: We are looking for a highly experienced Mechanical Designer with strong expertise in mechanical simulations and electromechanical integration. The ideal candidate will be well-versed in designing for durability, reliability, and robustness according to MIL-STD-810 standards. You will play a critical role in ensuring our products meet stringent environmental, vibration, and shock requirements, while also integrating complex electromechanical components into our systems. What You'll Do: - Design and develop mechanical systems that meet MIL-STD-810 specifications, ensuring robustness under vibration, shock, thermal, and environmental conditions. - Perform mechanical simulations (FEA, modal, vibration, thermal) to assess the durability and reliability of designs under operational stress. - Collaborate with electrical and systems engineers to integrate electromechanical components, ensuring seamless interaction between mechanical structures and electrical systems. - Lead structural integrity testing and analysis, ensuring designs meet environmental test criteria for military-grade systems. - Develop and document mechanical design specifications, including detailed drawings, simulation reports, and testing protocols. - Conduct testing and validation to ensure that mechanical designs meet the required performance and safety standards. - Support prototype development and work closely with manufacturing teams to ensure designs are feasible and cost-effective. - Maintain a strong focus on product quality, safety, and reliability, adhering to Design for Manufacturing and Design for Reliability best practices. - Contribute to cross-functional design reviews, identifying potential mechanical and electromechanical risks early in the development cycle. What You'll Need: - A passion for designing robust mechanical systems that can operate in harsh environments. - Previous robotics, robotics lab, medical robotics, or autonomy experience is required. - 9+ years of experience in mechanical design, including expertise in electromechanical integration. - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field. - R&D experience - Hands-on experience performing structural, vibration, and thermal simulations using tools such as ANSYS, SolidWorks (preferred). - Proficient in 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks (preferred), CATIA, or Creo. - Strong understanding of MIL-STD-810 requirements for mechanical durability, including vibration, shock, temperature, and humidity testing. - Skilled in electromechanical integration, ensuring compatibility between mechanical structures and electrical components (e.g., wiring harnesses, sensors, actuators). - Experience conducting Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Modal Analysis, and Thermal Analysis. - Collaborate effectively with electrical, software, and systems engineers to develop integrated solutions. - Familiar with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Reliability (DFR) principles. You'll Stand Out: - Direct experience working with MIL-STD-810 (e.g., vibration, temperature, and shock tests). - Knowledge of MIL-S-901D for naval shock testing and MIL-STD-461 for EMI/EMC standards. - Familiarity with Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) considerations in mechanical design. - Experience in rapid prototyping and Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing). - Familiarity with fluid dynamics and heat transfer principles. - Experience with shock absorption and damping systems for mechanical structures. 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. ## #LI-AS1 ## About Allen Control Systems ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a defense technology company building autonomous robotic weapon stations to counter drone swarms with cost-effective, AI-driven precision. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series A; recent $200M round at $2.2B valuation) - **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, USA (also office in Alexandria, Virginia) - **Founded**: 2023 (seed round closed April 2024) - **Founders**: Luke Allen (CTO), Mike Wior (CEO), and Steve Simoni (President) – all U.S. Navy veterans and nuclear engineers ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Defense and space manufacturing, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), robotics, AI/computer vision - **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, national security agencies (B2G) - **Mission/purpose**: To completely change battlefield economics by lowering the cost per kill of a drone to a few dollars, using existing weapon systems enhanced by proprietary hardware and software. ## Products & Services - **Bullfrog™ Weapon Stations**: A family of autonomous, remotely operated weapon mounts (variants: M240C, M230, M2, M134, M240) that can be integrated with existing military platforms. Key features: - Passive sensing (no radar required) for stealth operations - Open architecture for integration with any C2 system - AI/ML-based fire control for precise targeting of Group 1–3+ UAS, including swarms and non-jammable drones - Effective range up to 1,500m depending on variant - **Autonomous Fire Control Software**: Machine vision and synthetic data generation engine that continuously updates threat libraries and enables accurate engagement without human intervention. - **Synthetic Data Training Pipeline**: Generates simulated threat scenarios to keep the system current with evolving drone threats. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: $2.2 billion (per 2026 $200M funding round; reported by company and media) - **Total Funding**: ~$242M (Seed $12M led by Craft Ventures in 2024; Series A $30M led by Craft Ventures in 2025; undisclosed $200M round in 2026) - **Notable Investors**: Craft Ventures (lead in multiple rounds) - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount grew 262% year-over-year to 131 employees (LinkedIn, 2026) - Active job postings increased 392% year-over-year (64 open roles) - Recently won a contract for an "Autonomous Identification and Decision" drone solution (FAF contract) - Opened Innovation Lab and expanded to a second office (Alexandria, VA) ## Competitive Advantages - **Passive sensing**: Operates without emitting radar, preserving battlefield stealth. - **Cost per kill**: Drives engagement costs down to a few dollars per drone. - **Open architecture**: Integrates with any existing command-and-control system and legacy weapon platforms. - **Synthetic data generation**: Continuously trains AI models on emerging threats without needing real-world data. - **Founders’ deep domain expertise**: Navy nuclear engineers with prior startup experience (Luke Allen co-founded Bbot, acquired by DoorDash). ## Strategic Focus - Scaling production of Bullfrog systems for land and naval platforms. - Advancing AI/computer vision to defeat larger (Group 3+) UAS and drone swarms. - Expanding international customer base and partnering with allied defense forces. - Building a robust supply chain and manufacturing capability in Austin. ## Why Work Here - **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. ## Sources 1. [Allen Control Systems – Company Page](https://www.allencontrolsystems.com/) 2. [Allen Control Systems – About/Team](https://www.allencontrolsystems.com/company) 3. [Allen Control Systems – Careers Page (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/allencontrolsystems) 4. [Allen Control Systems – LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/allen-control-systems) 5. 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