Chief Computer Vision & Machine Learning Engineer for Autonomous Anti-Drone Systems
Company Overview:
Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a cutting-edge defense startup founded by two former Navy electrical engineers with a proven track record in robotics and software. We are developing an autonomous gun turret using advanced computer vision and control systems to precisely detect, track, and neutralize enemy drones.
With an engineering-first culture, ACS values technical excellence and innovation. Backed by our founders' successful exits from two previous venture acquired for a combined $180M in 2022, we are committed to ensuring that the groundbreaking technologies we develop will have a real-world impact.
About The Role:
We are looking for a Chief Engineer, Computer Vision/Machine Learning to own technical direction and architecture for the CV/ML systems at the core of our autonomous gun turret. Working with our VP of AI and CV/ML Engineering Managers and individual contributors, you will set the technical strategy for real-time drone detection, tracking, and classification, and see it through from architecture to fielded, military-grade systems. This is a senior technical leadership role: your time will center on architecture, design review, and the hardest technical problems on the program, with a small group of senior engineers reporting to you.
What You’ll Do
Own the technical roadmap and architecture for the CV/ML stack, setting direction that Engineering Managers and their teams execute against.
Make and document the consequential technical decisions: sensor and compute architecture, model strategy, real-time performance tradeoffs, and how the perception system evolves across weapon system variants and engagement ranges.
Personally drive the hardest and most ambiguous technical problems on the program, from concept through field validation.
Lead a small group of senior CV/ML engineers, and mentor senior and staff engineers and managers across the broader team through design review and technical guidance.
Partner with the VP of AI and Engineering Managers to align technical strategy with product goals, delivery commitments, and hiring plans.
Set and uphold the technical quality bar across the CV/ML organization through architecture review, design review, and validation standards.
What You’ll Need
Deep expertise and 15+ years of experience in machine-learning-based computer vision and traditional image and signal processing, ideally in robotics, including systems deployed in real-time or safety-critical applications.
A track record of owning the architecture of a complex perception or autonomy system across multiple years and releases, from initial design through production hardening.
Demonstrated ability to set technical direction that other teams execute against, and to drive alignment through expertise and influence as well as authority.
Experience mentoring and leading senior team members, whether as a formal manager or as a principal-level technical leader.
At least a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with a strong focus on machine learning and computer vision.
Strong command of Python and C++ and modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow, with the depth to review and guide work across the stack even where you are not writing the code yourself.
Comfort operating in a fast-moving, engineering-first environment where architecture decisions carry hard real-world consequences.
You’ll Stand Out
Prior experience as a Principal Engineer, Chief Engineer, or technical director for a perception, autonomy, or weapons/aerospace program.
Ph.D. in computer vision, machine learning, or related fields.
Experience with object detection and tracking in challenging real-world conditions such as small targets, cluttered backgrounds, or low-contrast imagery.
Background in defense, aerospace, or autonomous systems where performance and reliability requirements are non-negotiable.
Experience architecting systems for edge hardware such as NVIDIA Jetson or similar embedded GPU platforms, or with multi-sensor fusion across modalities such as optical and infrared cameras.
Experience taking a system through field testing, hardware integration cycles, and production hardening, not just software-only development.
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
Skills Required
- 15+ years experience in machine-learning-based computer vision and image and signal processing, ideally in robotics and real-time or safety-critical applications
- Track record of owning architecture of a complex perception or autonomy system from initial design through production hardening
- Demonstrated ability to set technical direction and drive alignment across teams
- Experience mentoring and leading senior team members or serving as a principal-level technical leader
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- Strong command of Python and C++
- Experience with modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Comfort operating in a fast-moving, engineering-first environment where architecture decisions have real-world consequences
- Prior experience as a Principal Engineer, Chief Engineer, or technical director for perception, autonomy, or weapons/aerospace programs
- Ph.D. in computer vision, machine learning, or related fields
- Experience with object detection and tracking in challenging real-world conditions (small targets, clutter, low-contrast)
- Background in defense, aerospace, or autonomous systems with strict performance and reliability requirements
- Experience architecting systems for edge hardware (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson or similar embedded GPU platforms) and multi-sensor fusion (optical and infrared)
- Experience taking systems through field testing, hardware integration, and production hardening
Allen Control Systems Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health, dental, and vision coverage are consistently listed as employer‑provided across current role descriptions, indicating a solid core healthcare offering. This aligns with the startup‑standard package the company advertises.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is explicitly advertised alongside core health benefits in multiple postings. While accrual details aren’t shown publicly, its consistent inclusion signals baseline time‑off coverage.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An “ACS Equity Package” is repeatedly called out in job descriptions, suggesting equity grants are a standard component of total compensation. Visibility of equity across roles points to broad access to ownership upside, with specifics to be confirmed.
Allen Control Systems Insights
What We Do
Allen Control Systems is a defense technology company for a new era of drone warfare and to completely change battlefield economics. ACS is developing counter-drone robotic gun systems targeted at neutralizing attacking drone swarms, drones that are pre-programmed with AI, and drones that are non-jammable. ACS was created to lower the cost per kill of a drone to a few dollars. We do this by combining cutting-edge hardware and software that allows us to point an inexpensive gun that already exists in the field more accurately than anyone ever has before. ACS is a remote organization, with our HQ in Austin, Texas, and an office in Alexandria, Va. If you're passionate about our mission, we’d love to hear from you.
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