Production Manager - Electrical Components

Company Overview

Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a cutting-edge defense startup, founded by two ex-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.

This is an onsite position. You will initially work from the current facility in Austin and will transition to our new Pflugerville, TX location upon completion of the facility move, anticipated in Q3/Q4 2026.

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and highly accountable Production Manager – Electrical Components to build and lead our wire harness and PCBA manufacturing operations in Austin, TX. This is a build role: you will stand up the team, facility, and processes needed to take us from low-rate, hand-built harness production to high-volume IPC Class 3 harness manufacturing, while also owning our PCBA rework and processing operations so that boards failing test or inspection are diagnosed, repaired, retested, and shipped without compromising reliability.

This role requires a rare blend of hands-on harness/cable and PCBA rework expertise with the leadership and systems discipline to build a team and a facility from the ground up.

What You'll Do:

• Team & Facility Build-Out — Hire, train, and lead a team of harness assemblers, PCBA rework technicians, and production planners; design and stand up the physical layout, workstations, and tooling needed to support high-volume Class 3 harness production.

• Harness Process Development — Design and implement repeatable, documented processes — cutting, stripping, crimping, soldering, lacing/braiding, potting, and continuity/hipot testing — that meet IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 3 workmanship standards at scale.

• PCBA Rework & Processing — Own rework, repair, and reprocessing of PCBAs that fail test or inspection, applying IPC-7711/7721 and J-STD-001 standards to determine repair vs. scrap and to drive down recurring failure modes.

• Production Execution — Drive the daily manufacturing schedule to meet aggressive delivery milestones for defense and commercial partners.

• Team Leadership — 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, travelers/routings, and inventory movements are tracked with 100% accuracy.

• Quality & Accountability — Implement and enforce rigorous QA/QC protocols alongside the Quality Manager, including IPC Class 3 inspection criteria and rework/repair traceability. 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 harness and PCBA bottlenecks and implement DFM/DFA feedback in real time.

What You'll Need:

• Experience — 8+ years in manufacturing or production management, specifically with wire harness/cable assembly and/or PCBA manufacturing and rework.

• Standards Expertise — Deep, hands-on knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 (harness) and IPC-7711/7721 & J-STD-001 (PCBA rework); IPC Class 3 experience required, CIS/CIT certification a plus.

• 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, travelers, and work orders.

• Build-From-Scratch Experience — A track record of standing up or scaling a harness and/or PCBA production line — including facility layout, tooling selection, and workforce training/certification.

• 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.

You'll Stand Out:

• Startup Scaling — You have experience taking a production floor from "hand-built prototypes" to "standardized, high-volume, Class 3 output."

• Defense Industry Knowledge — Understanding of the rigors required for hardware deployed to the tactical edge, including relevant quality and traceability expectations.

• Certifications — IPC J-STD-001 and/or IPC/WHMA-A-620 Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) or Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) credentials.

Lean/Six Sigma — Practical application of lean manufacturing principles without the corporate bureaucracy

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary

• ACS Equity Package

• Health, Dental, and 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.

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