Director of Test Operations

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 of Test Operations to own and lead the test enterprise for ACS’s autonomous weapon systems. You will set the strategic direction for how ACS proves its systems work — from live-fire validation and engineering testing to operational testing and CV data capture — and build the organization, infrastructure, and processes required to scale test capability ahead of a rapidly growing product roadmap.

You own the directorate: its people, its standards, its safety posture, and its output. This is a hands-on leadership role at the intersection of engineering, field operations, and defense testing. The successful candidate leads from the front, builds systems that outlast them, and makes sound decisions in high-consequence field environments.

This role is on-site in Austin, TX and requires regular travel in support of field test campaigns, demonstrations, and customer events.

What You’ll Do

· Own the Test Operations directorate end to end: set strategic test objectives, define the operating rhythm, and build the planning, readiness, and execution frameworks that turn engineering intent into credible, traceable, decision-quality data.

· Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary team of test engineers, operations technicians, and drone operators. Own hiring, qualification, and career development for the directorate.

· Set and drive the test strategy across all test lines, from live-fire validation to engineering testing to CV data capture. Preserve test independence so the directorate produces honest data regardless of program pressure.

· Build test capability ahead of demand. Forecast the infrastructure, instrumentation, range access, and specialized personnel required by the product roadmap, and secure them on lead times that exceed the schedule. Own the long-range plan for test facilities and range capability as system calibers, sensors, and platforms evolve.

· Scale test throughput to keep pace with manufacturing and delivery. Model capacity, identify bottlenecks across the production-to-delivery chain, and drive corrective action — inside the directorate and across engineering, manufacturing, and program interfaces.

· Represent test to senior leadership, commercial customers, U.S. government personnel, and foreign government representatives. Brief credibly on capability, gaps, results, and risk. Serve as the primary on-site authority during live-fire, autonomous system, and counter-UAS demonstrations.

· Own the safety posture for all test activity. Serve as the responsible authority for live-fire operations, operational risk management, range discipline, and the safety documentation and controls that gate every event. Hold the line on safety under schedule pressure, and build the safety culture that makes that unremarkable.

· Lead post-event debriefs and after-action reviews. Identify recurring failure modes and execution bottlenecks and drive systemic corrective action into future planning cycles, engineering processes, and manufacturing handoffs.

What You’ll Need

· Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related technical field.

· 10+ years in test operations, system testing, range operations, defense field operations, or similarly complex technical environments, including 5+ years leading multi-disciplinary teams conducting field operations in high-tempo, high-consequence conditions.

· Demonstrated experience building or scaling a test organization: standing up processes, qualification pipelines, and infrastructure to support growing test volume and increasing system complexity.

· Strong technical fluency across complex hardware/software systems. Proven ability to set direction, translate strategy into executable plans and readiness gates, and manage competing priorities under sustained pressure.

· Working proficiency with Linux and the command line, and the ability to read, troubleshoot, and reason about production code (C++ or equivalent). You will not be writing production software, but you must be able to sit with an engineer, follow the logic, and hold a credible technical conversation about what the system is doing and why a test failed.

· Deep understanding of safety processes, operational risk management, range discipline, and compliance requirements in field and high-hazard environments. Track record of holding safety standards under schedule and customer pressure.

· Excellent communication skills for briefing senior leaders, customers, and government stakeholders, and for aligning cross-functional partners during dynamic field operations.

You’ll Stand Out

· Direct experience testing or operating autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned systems, counter-UAS systems, weapon systems, or integrated hardware/software defense platforms.

· Background in counter-UAS, directed energy, kinetic defeat systems, air defense, ground robotics, or advanced weapons programs.

· Experience establishing range access, surface danger zone requirements, or test infrastructure for large-caliber or directed-energy systems.

· Prior military service, especially in test, range operations, fires, air defense, special operations support, or unmanned systems roles.

· Experience supporting U.S. government evaluations, foreign military sales demonstrations, or international partner field events.

· Master’s degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline.

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