Computer Vision & Machine Learning Engineering Manager 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 Computer Vision/Machine Learning Engineering Manager to join the Computer Vision and Machine Learning team behind our autonomous gun turret, with a focus on real-time drone detection, tracking, and classification. This begins as a player-coach role: you will contribute directly to the CV/ML stack while managing and growing the team, with your hands-on share shifting toward management and technical review as the team scales. You will partner with our Chief Engineers and VP of AI to define the CV/ML technical roadmap and own its execution, translating product goals into team plans and delivery commitments as we harden the prototype into a military-grade system.
What You’ll Do
Manage and grow a CV/ML team: lead the existing engineers, hire across levels from Junior through Senior Staff, and develop your engineers' careers and technical skills.
Partner with Chief Engineers and VP of AI to define the CV/ML technical roadmap, and own its execution within your team.
Translate product and company goals, such as new weapon system variants, engagement ranges, hardening milestones, into quarterly team plans, priorities, and staffing decisions.
Contribute directly to development and optimization of computer vision algorithms for real-time drone detection, tracking, and classification.
Own delivery commitments for the CV/ML stack, coordinating integration milestones with electrical engineering and hardware teams.
Drive engineering quality through design and code review, and rigorous testing and validation practices across environmental conditions and scenarios.
What You’ll Need
Deep expertise and 10+ years of experience working on machine-learning-based computer vision and traditional image and signal processing, ideally in the context of robotics, including a proven track record of deploying CV systems in real-time or safety-critical applications.
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.
Experience managing or tech-leading a team of CV/ML engineers, and a desire to grow into a larger management scope.
Evidence of successfully owning a technical roadmap or planning process for a perception, autonomy, or similar product area.
Proficiency in Python and C++, and experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar; experience with embedded systems and sensor integration (cameras, LIDAR, RADAR) strongly preferred.
Comfort driving execution while collaborating on technical direction with senior technical leadership, in a fast-moving, engineering-first environment.
You’ll Stand Out
Formal management experience, including having hired and scaled a CV/ML or perception team at a startup or in a 0-to-1 product environment.
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 deploying and optimizing models on 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 leading teams through field testing and hardware integration cycles, 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
- 10+ years experience in machine-learning-based computer vision and image/signal processing, with real-time or safety-critical deployments
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- Experience managing or technical-leading a team of CV/ML engineers
- Proven ownership of a technical roadmap or planning process for perception, autonomy, or similar product areas
- Proficiency in Python and C++
- Experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch
- Experience with embedded systems and sensor integration (cameras, LIDAR, RADAR)
- Experience deploying and optimizing models on edge hardware (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson) or embedded GPU platforms
- Formal experience hiring and scaling CV/ML or perception teams, especially in startup or 0-to-1 product environments
- Ph.D. in computer vision, machine learning, or related fields
- Background in defense, aerospace, or autonomous systems with strong performance and reliability focus
- Experience leading teams through field testing and hardware integration cycles
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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