Software Engineering Intern, 2027 at Allen Control Systems (Austin, TX)
Allen Control Systems· Austin, TX·
Role details
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
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 allencontrolsystems.com.
Software Engineer Intern - Summer 2026
Our interns aren't fetching coffee or shadowing — they're working alongside the same engineers building the systems we ship. This is early-career work with real stakes.
Location: Austin, TX (on-site)
Duration: Summer 2027 (~10-12 wks)
Pay: Paid internship
What You Could Work On:
- Software that connects sensors, computer vision models, and control systems into a working autonomous weapon system
- Real-time systems where latency and reliability actually matter — not just a nice-to-have
- Tools and interfaces engineers and operators use every day, from embedded Linux applications to internal tooling
- Full-stack or backend projects supporting engineering, manufacturing, or field operations
What We're Looking For:
- Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
- Coursework or project experience in one or more of C++, Python, Kotlin, or Java
- Curiosity about real-time, embedded, or systems-level software — you don't need to be an expert yet
- A builder's mindset: you'd rather ship something and iterate than wait for a perfect spec
Why ACS:
- Direct impact: your work ships on hardware being fielded to protect real people — not stuck in a slide deck.
- Real ownership: no red tape. You'll work directly with the engineers building Bullfrog, from day one.
- Small team, big scope: at a startup this size, interns take on real problems, not busywork.
- Mentorship from engineers who've designed and fielded real defense systems.
What We Offer:
- Competitive pay
- 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.