Purchasing Manager

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.

Job Overview

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. In this manufacturing environment, every decision you make keeps production moving, missions on track, and compliance airtight. 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 mission‑critical. Candidates with prior hands-on experience in production planning and scheduling are strongly preferred.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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 off‑site operations while maintaining compliance with AS9100, ITAR, FAR/DFARS, and customer‑specific requirements
• Partners cross‑functionally with engineering, planning, production, quality, supplier quality, warehouse, sales, and finance to rapidly resolve production‑critical 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 aerospace‑appropriate 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 long‑term supplier agreements to ensure legal compliance, pricing integrity, and adherence to aerospace specifications
• Negotiates complex procurements involving long lead‑time components, sole‑source suppliers, special processes, and high‑value 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 follow‑up, audits, or escalation support

Qualifications

• 6–10+ years of combined Planning and Procurement experience in aerospace or similarly regulated manufacturing environments
• Proven experience managing suppliers subject to AS9100, ITAR, FAR/DFARS, or customer‑specific aerospace requirements
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in high‑pressure aerospace manufacturing environments with zero‑defect expectations
• Demonstrated experience in production planning and scheduling, with the ability to align procurement execution to dynamic aerospace manufacturing schedules and program milestones.
• Strong prioritization and decision‑making skills in situations involving schedule compression, supply disruption, and competing program demands
• 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
• High degree of ownership, resilience, and accountability; capable of independent execution in a regulated environment
• Advanced proficiency with ERP/MRP systems used in aerospace manufacturing
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and Just‑In‑Time principles adapted for aerospace constraints
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint), including data analysis and executive‑level reporting

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• ACS Equity Package
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off

Physical Demands

• 70% of time in meetings and at desk
• Lift 25#
• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports.
• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies.
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages).

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