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.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly skilled Electrical Designer with strong expertise in schematic design, electrical simulatio printed circuit board (PCB) design. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in developing robust, high-performance electrical systems that integrate seamlessly with our electromechanical components, helping to ensure our products meet rigorous military-grade requirements. The ideal candidate would contribute to both power and embedded design for our highly dynamic robotic systems. In addition, this person would contribute to developing, optimizing, and implementing embedded software for real-time control of our systems.
We’re hiring across multiple experience levels, including:
Associate Engineer
Engineer
Senior Engineer
Staff Engineer
Senior Staff Engineer
Your title and level will be determined based on your experience, skills, and the scope of responsibility appropriate for the role.
What You'll Do:
Design and Develop Electrical Systems: Create detailed electrical schematics and PCB layouts that meet performance and durability requirements for autonomous turret systems including embedded and power circuits.
Simulation and Testing: Perform simulations for signal integrity, thermal management, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) to ensure robust and reliable designs.
Electromechanical Integration: Collaborate closely with mechanical and software teams to integrate electrical and mechanical components, ensuring optimal performance and reliability in harsh environments.
PCB Design: Lead the development of high-quality printed circuit boards, adhering to best practices in layout, signal integrity, power distribution, and EMC considerations per military standards.
Documentation and Reporting: Develop and maintain detailed documentation of designs, including schematics, PCB layouts, simulation results, and test protocols.
Test and Debug Embedded Systems: Conduct extensive testing, simulation, and debugging in both lab and field environments, troubleshooting and optimizing electronics and software for various real-world conditions.
Performance Optimization: Continuously improve code performance and reduce power consumption to maximize system efficiency on hardware-constrained platforms.
What You'll Need:
Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
Embedded circuit design: Knowledge of microcontroller-based control systems including power conversion and motor drive.
Schematic Design & PCB Layout: Expertise with electrical design and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, or Eagle.
Simulation Tools: Proficiency with simulation software (e.g., SPICE, ANSYS Electronics) for evaluating circuit behavior under various environmental and operational stresses.
Electromechanical Integration: Proven experience integrating electrical components with mechanical systems, such as sensors, motors, and actuators.
Testing and Validation: Hands-on experience with testing methodologies, equipment, and protocols for validation of designs against military standards.
Strong Background in Embedded Software: experience in embedded software development with a focus on real-time, safety-critical systems.
Experience with Real-Time Robotics Systems: Hands-on experience designing and deploying software for robotics applications, with a focus on real-time control and responsiveness.
Systems Integration: Ability to integrate software with various sensors, actuators, and control hardware in robotic and autonomous systems.
Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
You'll Stand Out:
Thermal Management Expertise: Knowledge of techniques and materials used in heat dissipation and thermal design for high-power systems.
Embedded Linux Experience: Familiarity with embedded Linux and RTOS environments, as well as experience building custom kernels for embedded platforms.
Networking and Communication Protocols: Knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP) and communication protocols used in robotics systems (e.g., CAN, UART, I2C).
High-Performance Embedded Systems: Skills in optimizing code for low-latency, high-performance applications with strict power and computational constraints.
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
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
- Knowledge of microcontroller-based control systems, power conversion, and motor drives
- Expertise with schematic design and PCB layout tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, or Eagle
- Proficiency with simulation software such as SPICE or ANSYS Electronics
- Experience integrating electrical components with mechanical systems, including sensors, motors, and actuators
- Hands-on experience with testing methodologies, equipment, and validation protocols against military standards
- Experience developing embedded software for real-time, safety-critical systems
- Experience designing and deploying software for real-time robotics systems
- Ability to integrate software with sensors, actuators, and control hardware in robotic and autonomous systems
- Knowledge of thermal management and heat dissipation for high-power systems
- Familiarity with embedded Linux, RTOS environments, and custom embedded kernels
- Knowledge of TCP/IP, UDP, CAN, UART, and I2C protocols
- Experience optimizing code for low-latency, high-performance embedded applications
Allen Control Systems Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
Healthcare Strength — Feedback suggests medical, dental, and vision coverage are consistently advertised, with HSA/FSA options and coverage reportedly beginning the first day of the month after hire. These elements point to a solid healthcare foundation even if cost-sharing details are not publicly established.
-
Equity Value & Accessibility — Feedback suggests an ACS equity package is broadly included alongside salary, offering potential upside tied to company performance. The precise value depends on grant size, vesting, and exercise terms that have not been disclosed publicly.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Feedback suggests paid time off is explicitly offered, with one account noting upfront PTO for hourly employees and some scheduling flexibility. These signals indicate a tangible time-off framework despite unclear total allowances and accrual rules.
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.
Gallery
Allen Control Systems Offices
OnSite Workspace