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. Position Overview: 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. What You’ll Do: Safety Strategy & Organizational Leadership

• 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

• Enterprise Risk Management & System Safety

• 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

Specialized Safety 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

Emergency Preparedness & Business Resilience

• 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

Training, Compliance & Governance

• 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 performance dashboards, executive reporting, and governance reviews for leadership and board-level visibility

• Oversee compliance documentation, recordkeeping, audits, and regulatory reporting requirements

• Champion leadership engagement through safety councils, management reviews, and company-wide communications

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Define and monitor leading and lagging safety performance indicators across the organization

• Drive enterprise-wide corrective and preventative action programs to eliminate systemic risks

• Benchmark industry best practices and continuously elevate safety standards as operations, technologies, and facilities evolve

• Build and lead a high-performing EHS organization capable of supporting rapid company growth and increasingly complex operations

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Safety Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, or a related technical field

• 10+ years of progressive EHS leadership experience within manufacturing, aerospace, defense, industrial technology, or other highly regulated environments

• 5+ years of experience leading and developing EHS teams and cross-functional safety programs

• Deep expertise in OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry) and applicable federal, state, and local regulations

• Proven experience building and scaling safety management systems in complex, high-risk operational environments

• Experience leading enterprise risk assessments, hazard analyses, and system safety programs

• Demonstrated ability to influence executive leadership and drive organizational change

• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills

• Ability and willingness to maintain a visible presence in manufacturing and testing environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or equivalent professional certification

• Experience with explosives, energetics, ordnance, or weapons safety programs

• Experience supporting field testing and operational test environments

• Experience applying MIL-STD-882 or comparable system safety frameworks

• Experience with high-power laser safety standards (ANSI Z136.1, MIL-HDBK-828, or equivalent)

• Experience in defense, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, or other mission-critical industries

• Experience supporting multi-site operations and facility expansion efforts

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. #LI-AS1