Director of Environmental Health & Safety

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 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.

We are seeking an experienced safety professional to lead and scale our manufacturing safety program. This role will own the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safety policies, training, compliance systems, and hazard controls across our facility. Our work involves industrial manufacturing processes, hazardous materials, high-energy systems, and emerging weapons-related technologies—so this role requires strong judgment, technical credibility, and the confidence to stop unsafe work when necessary.

This is a hands-on leadership position. You will spend time on the production floor, working directly with manufacturing, engineering, and leadership to proactively identify risks, strengthen safeguards, and build a culture where safety is a shared responsibility.

• Develop and execute the company's long-term Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) strategy in support of business growth, manufacturing scale-up, and operational excellence

• Establish, govern, and continuously evolve company-wide safety management systems, policies, standards, and procedures

• Serve as the executive owner of safety culture, accountability, and stop-work authority across all operations

• Partner with executive leadership to integrate safety considerations into strategic planning, facility expansion, product development, and operational decision-making

• Act as the primary company representative for regulatory agencies, audits, inspections, and external safety stakeholders

• Lead enterprise-wide risk identification, assessment, and mitigation efforts across manufacturing, testing, engineering, and future operational environments

• Establish system safety methodologies and governance frameworks, including application of MIL-STD-882 or equivalent risk management standards

• Drive cross-functional implementation of Design for Safety principles throughout product and process development

• Oversee safety requirements related to Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, lifting operations, keep-out zones, and industrial automation systems

• Develop safety strategies for emerging operational risks, including high-power laser systems, autonomous systems, weapons integration, and explosive ordnance programs

• Establish and govern safety programs for firearms handling, weapons integration, explosives, energetics, and other regulated activities as company capabilities evolve

• Provide executive oversight for field testing operations, ensuring safe planning, execution, and continuous risk reduction

• Direct chemical hygiene, hazardous materials management, storage, transportation, disposal, and digital SDS systems

• Oversee company-wide PPE, respiratory protection, industrial hygiene, and facility zoning programs

• Develop and maintain enterprise emergency preparedness, crisis management, and business continuity programs

• Oversee emergency action plans, evacuation procedures, incident command structures, and response capabilities

• Provide leadership for fire protection systems, emergency response equipment, drills, and emergency preparedness exercises

• Establish scalable incident reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action processes

• Ensure readiness of first aid, AED, trauma response, and emergency responder training programs

• Establish enterprise-wide training standards and competency frameworks for all safety-critical activities

• Ensure compliance with OSHA and all applicable federal, state, local, and industry-specific regulations

• Develop safety…