Test Operations Engineer

Allen Control Systems
Austin, TX
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with hands-on technical expertise in robotics or systems integration working in defense technology environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on experience in robotics or systems integration and a preference for fieldwork
    — “Engineering degree or 5+ years of relevant hands-on experience in robotics, electromechanical systems, systems integration, test engineering”
  • Individuals who thrive in dynamic, high-stakes field environments and value direct impact on national security
    — “Operate effectively in dynamic field environments where schedules and priorities can shift quickly”
  • Candidates with strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex findings into actionable insights
    — “Strong written and verbal communication; able to provide clear, useful feedback to engineers and leadership”

Things to consider

  • The role involves working in outdoor/range environments under strict safety protocols
    — “comfortable operating in outdoor/range environments under strict safety procedures”
  • Candidates must be capable of troubleshooting across hardware, software, and integration boundaries
    — “Troubleshoot hardware, software, electrical, mechanical, and integration issues in the field”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with field test execution and data collection in your resume and interview responses
    — “Execute live test events and support end-to-end field test operations”
  • Emphasize your ability to diagnose and communicate cross-system issues effectively
    — “diagnose problems across system boundaries and communicate findings clearly to engineering”
  • Showcase your familiarity with programming for telemetry, logging, and debugging
    — “Programming familiarity is required; enough to understand interfaces, automation, telemetry, logging, and debugging”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Successful field test events
  • Improved system performance
Typical background
Test EngineerRobotics Engineer

Skills & requirements

Required

RoboticsElectromechanical SystemsTest EngineeringTroubleshootingData Collection

Preferred

ProgrammingSystem Integration

Stack & domain

RoboticsElectromechanical SystemsSystems IntegrationTest EngineeringDefense TechnologyPrecision Robotic Systems

About the role

Original posting from Allen Control Systems via Ashby

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 http://allencontrolsystems.com.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Test Operations Engineer to execute live field test events and serve as the technical link between the ACS system and the engineering team. You will be on the ground running tests, capturing data, troubleshooting issues across hardware and software, and feeding actionable findings back to engineering. We are building a team with complementary strengths, and welcome candidates who lean toward hardware/electrical, software/integration, or instrumentation and data collection.

What You’ll Do

  • Execute live test events and support end-to-end field test operations, including system setup, checkout, validation, and post-test teardown.
  • Troubleshoot hardware, software, electrical, mechanical, and integration issues in the field; diagnose problems across system boundaries and communicate findings clearly to engineering.
  • Collect, organize, and report test data, observations, anomalies, and recommendations; assist with instrumentation, logs, video capture, and other methods of documenting system performance.
  • Help translate engineering objectives into executable field tests with clear pass/fail criteria; build and refine repeatable test processes, checklists, and readiness procedures.
  • Support rehearsals, demonstrations, validations, and other high-visibility test events; work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and program teams to rapidly identify issues and drive corrective action.
  • Operate effectively in dynamic field environments where schedules and priorities can shift quickly; work independently with limited guidance and maintain a strong safety culture at all times.

What You’ll Need

  • Engineering degree or 5+ years of relevant hands-on experience in robotics, electromechanical systems, systems integration, test engineering, or a comparable technical field.
  • Strong troubleshooting ability across hardware and software; comfortable working around sensors, actuators, control systems, power systems, and networked equipment.
  • Programming familiarity is required; enough to understand interfaces, automation, telemetry, logging, and debugging in a practical engineering environment. Linux experience is a plus, particularly for candidates with a software/integration focus.
  • Experience collecting, organizing, and reporting technical test data; mechanically inclined and comfortable with tools, system setup, teardown, and reconfiguration in the field.
  • Strong written and verbal communication; able to provide clear, useful feedback to engineers and leadership and comfortable operating in outdoor/range environments under strict safety procedures.

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.

Source: Allen Control Systems careers (Ashby)

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