Head of Supply Chain and Procurement

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.
We are seeking a Purchasing Manager to support growth and expansion of rapidly growing company. A role like this isn't for someone who merely manages purchasing-it's for someone who thrives where precision, pressure, and purpose collide. You'll be the force that maintains continuity of supply despite shifting demand, supplier constraints, and unforgiving schedules. If you're the kind of professional who stays sharp under pressure, solves problems before others even see them coming, and understands how tightly procurement must sync with dynamic production schedules, this is where your expertise becomes missioncritical. Candidates with prior hands-on experience in production planning and scheduling are strongly preferred.
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.
Direct and control all purchasing and materials management activities, ensuring alignment with aerospace quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer contractual obligations

• Develops, implements, and continuously improves procurement policies, procedures, and systems governing aerospace material, components, tooling, capital equipment, and specialized services
• Ensures uninterrupted material flow to support production schedules despite long lead times, constrained suppliers, engineering changes, and urgent customer requirements
• Serves as a primary escalation point for supply chain disruptions, supplier quality issues, expedites, and delivery recovery actions
• Supports aerospace programs and offsite operations while maintaining compliance with AS9100, ITAR, FAR/DFARS, and customerspecific requirements
• Partners crossfunctionally with engineering, planning, production, quality, supplier quality, warehouse, sales, and finance to rapidly resolve productioncritical material issues
• Develops and maintains a robust supplier selection, qualification, and risk assessment process appropriate for aerospace components and special processes
• Establishes systems to evaluate supplier quotes using aerospaceappropriate negotiation techniques considering quality, traceability, lead time, capacity, and lifecycle cost
• Builds and maintains a qualified aerospace supplier base capable of meeting technical, quality, delivery, and compliance requirements
• Prepares, issues, and manages purchase orders and change notices with a focus on configuration control, traceability, and documentation accuracy
• Reviews and negotiates contracts, bids, and longterm supplier agreements to ensure legal compliance, pricing integrity, and adherence to aerospace specifications
• Negotiates complex procurements involving long leadtime components, solesource suppliers, special processes, and highvalue aerospace equipment
• Tracks and drives key performance metrics including supplier quality, delivery performance, cost variance, and corrective action closure
• Supports audits, customer visits, and regulatory reviews related to procurement and supplier management
• May require up to 10% travel to suppliers for qualification, corrective action followup, audits, or escalation support

6-10+ years of combined Planning and Procurement experience in aerospace or similarly regulated manufacturing environments

• Demonstrated experience in production planning and scheduling, with the ability to align procurement execution to dynamic aerospace manufacturing schedules and program milestones.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a disciplined approach to documentation, traceability, and configuration control
• Solid understanding of aerospace supply chain risk management and supplier performance management
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including interaction with customers, auditors, and suppliers
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint), including data analysis and executivelevel reporting

ACS Equity Package
Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports.

• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies.
• office supplies, packages).

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. #