Contract Manufacturing Manager

Allen Control Systems•Austin, TX

About The Position

As the CM Manager, your primary mission is to stand up and validate a robust network of Contract Manufacturers (CMs) to ensure we are ready to absorb peak demand levels. You will be the strategic architect of our external manufacturing ecosystem, identifying partners and managing them through "crawl, walk, run" projects tailored to their specific strengths. This role requires a blend of strategic negotiation, technical liaison skills, and hands-on relationship management to transition our autonomous defense systems from the lab to high-volume production.

Requirements

Education: BS in Engineering or a related technical field.
Experience: 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or operations
Technical Competence: Sufficient technical depth to understand robotics and control systems and address foundational engineering queries (TQs).
Strategic Thinking: Ability to assess a CM's "strong suit" and align it with the appropriate stage of the product roadmap.
Adaptability: Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment where technical challenges are frequent and dynamic.

Responsibilities

Network Strategy: Identify, vet, and stand up a diverse network of CMs to ensure readiness for rapid scaling and peak demand.
Project Phasing: Design and execute "crawl, walk, run" validation projects, matching specific turret components or subsystems to the unique strengths of each partner.
Strategic Partnering: Lead the development and negotiation of strategic partnering agreements to secure long-term capacity and alignment.
Technical Liaison: Act as the primary bridge between Engineering and external partners; you must be able to answer basic Technical Queries (TQs) and navigate internal functions to keep production moving.
On-Site Management: Perform regular site visits to manage partner relationships and oversee production quality first-hand.
Travel: Ability to travel up to 20% of the time (or more as required) to visit regional and national manufacturing sites.