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 ventures 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 Director, Manufacturing Finance to be the primary finance business partner to our Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Execution functions at a company shipping autonomous counter-drone systems to SOCOM, the U.S. Army, and customers across multiple countries, on a clear trajectory to $1B in annual revenue. This is a hands-on individual contributor role for someone who thinks in cash, not just revenue. You will own the financial planning, CapEx modeling, working capital analysis, and reporting infrastructure that keeps production decisions grounded in financial reality. The right candidate has done this work before in a hardware manufacturing environment and is comfortable being the person operations leaders call when they need a fast, reliable answer. This role is on-site in Austin, TX.
What You’ll Do
Act as the primary finance business partner to Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Execution leadership; provide financial support for capacity planning, inventory management, and continuous improvement initiatives; collaborate with operations leadership to surface efficiency opportunities and implement changes that improve productivity and reduce cost.
Build and maintain the CapEx plan covering equipment needs, procurement timing given production lead times, cost phasing against cash balance and debt facility availability; develop business cases and analytics for make-versus-buy decisions on manufacturing equipment.
Own the end-to-end financial planning cadence across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Program Execution, including annual budgeting, monthly forecasting, and long-range planning, translating operational plans into the numbers that drive company decisions.
Model working capital dynamics as production scales, including component procurement timing, inventory build-up ahead of deliveries, WIP balances, and cash conversion cycle at various production rates; translate the production schedule into a cash demand curve showing when cash goes out for materials, when it comes back in from contract milestones, and where the gaps are.
What You’ll Need
Deep fluency in manufacturing operations, standard costing, inventory accounting, and supply chain finance, with the ability to translate operational mechanics into financial strategy and executive decision-making.
Strong financial modeling skills including scenario and sensitivity analysis and the ability to rebuild a model quickly when the production plan changes; experience at a scaled hardware company in defense, aerospace, robotics, or industrial manufacturing, with firsthand exposure to how rapid production scaling impacts working capital and liquidity.
Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills; comfortable using AI tools for financial modeling and analysis.
You’ll Stand Out
Familiarity with how government contracts shape manufacturing operations, including production schedules, delivery milestones, and contract deliverables, along with exposure to government contract accounting.
Familiarity with debt facility management including draw mechanics, covenant tracking, and borrowing base.
Has modeled working capital for a business with significant inventory and long supplier lead times.
Experience at a company that scaled through a major equity raise and had to manage liquidity through the transition.
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
- Deep fluency in manufacturing operations, standard costing, inventory accounting, and supply chain finance
- Strong financial modeling skills including scenario and sensitivity analysis
- Experience at a scaled hardware company in defense, aerospace, robotics, or industrial manufacturing
- Ability to model working capital dynamics, WIP, inventory build-up, and cash conversion cycle
- Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills
- Comfortable using AI tools for financial modeling and analysis
- Familiarity with how government contracts shape manufacturing operations and government contract accounting
- Familiarity with debt facility management including draw mechanics, covenant tracking, and borrowing base
- Experience modeling working capital for businesses with significant inventory and long supplier lead times
- Experience managing liquidity through major equity raises and scaling transitions
Allen Control Systems Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Allen Control Systems Offices
OnSite Workspace
