What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Manager position at Allen Control 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 a small, autonomous gun turret that employs advanced computer vision and control systems to precisely target and neutralize small drones and loitering munitions. Our innovative approach requires overcoming significant technical challenges, making this an exciting and dynamic environment for experienced engineers.
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.
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced and highly accountable Production Manager to lead our manufacturing operations in Austin, TX. As we transition from R&D to high-rate production, you will be responsible for the end-to-end execution of our manufacturing schedule. You will oversee a team of technicians and planners, manage our facility’s physical throughput, and ensure that every Bullfrog unit leaving the floor meets our rigorous standards for reliability and performance.
This role requires a rare blend of "boots-on-the-ground" shop leadership and sophisticated digital resource planning.
What You’ll Do
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 a small, autonomous gun turret that employs advanced computer vision and control systems to precisely target and neutralize small drones and loitering munitions. Our innovative approach requires overcoming significant technical challenges, making this an exciting and dynamic environment for experienced engineers.
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.
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced and highly accountable Production Manager to lead our manufacturing operations in Austin, TX. As we transition from R&D to high-rate production, you will be responsible for the end-to-end execution of our manufacturing schedule. You will oversee a team of technicians and planners, manage our facility’s physical throughput, and ensure that every Bullfrog unit leaving the floor meets our rigorous standards for reliability and performance.
This role requires a rare blend of "boots-on-the-ground" shop leadership and sophisticated digital resource planning.
What You’ll Do
- Production Execution: Drive the daily manufacturing schedule to meet aggressive delivery milestones for defense and commercial partners.
- Team Leadership: Hire, train, and lead a high-performing production team. You will embody our "hire slow, fire fast" methodology—ensuring we only have the best talent on the line and maintaining a culture of extreme ownership.
- ERP & Workflow Mastery: Own the digital production flow within Odoo, ensuring all manufacturing orders, work centers, and inventory movements are tracked with 100% accuracy.
- Facility Optimization: Manage the throughput of our Austin production facility from sub-assembly production through turret acceptance testing.
- Quality & Accountability: Implement and enforce rigorous QA/QC protocols alongside the Quality Manager. You will be responsible for identifying underperformance in the process—or the team—and correcting it immediately.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Bridge the gap between Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production to resolve assembly bottlenecks and implement DFM (Design for Manufacturing) feedback in real-time.
- Experience: 8 years in manufacturing or production management, specifically with complex electromechanical hardware (robotics, aerospace, or automotive).
- Leadership: Proven track record of managing production teams in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. You should be comfortable making difficult personnel and operational decisions.
- Systems Expertise: Deep experience with ERP systems (Odoo highly preferred) for managing BOMs, inventory, and work orders.
- Technical Literacy: Ability to read technical drawings and oversee the assembly of high-tolerance robotic components.
- Operational Grit: A "no-excuses" approach to meeting deadlines and solving equipment or supply chain stalls on the fly.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, a related field, or equivalent years of experience
- Startup Scaling: You have experience taking a production floor from "hand-built prototypes" to "standardized high-volume output."
- Defense Industry Knowledge: Understanding of the rigors required for hardware deployed to the tactical edge.
- Lean/Six Sigma: Practical application of lean manufacturing principles without the corporate bureaucracy.
- Competitive salary
- ACS Equity Package
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Paid Time Off