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Weapons Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Wild West Systems Inc.

Firmware Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

Firmware Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone Systems Location: Onsite -Leander, TX Type: Full-Time Eligibility: U.S. Citizenship or ITAR-Eligible Status Required Build the intelligence behind the ...

Wild West Systems Inc.

Firmware Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

Firmware Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone SystemsLocation: Onsite -Leander, TXType: Full-TimeEligibility: U.S. Citizenship or ITAR-Eligible Status RequiredBuild the intelligence behind the ...

Wild West Systems Inc.

Firmware Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

Firmware Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone Systems Location: Onsite -Leander, TX Type: Full-Time Eligibility: U.S. Citizenship or ITAR-Eligible Status Required Build the intelligence behind the ...

Wild West Systems Inc.

Firmware Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

Firmware Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone SystemsLocation: Onsite -Leander, TXType: Full-TimeEligibility: U.S. Citizenship or ITAR-Eligible Status RequiredBuild the intelligence behind the ...

Wild West Systems Inc.

Firmware Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

Firmware Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone Systems Location: Onsite -Leander, TX Type: Full-Time Eligibility: U.S. Citizenship or ITAR-Eligible Status Required Build the intelligence behind the ...

Wild West Systems Inc.

Firmware Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

Firmware Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone Systems Location: Onsite -Leander, TX Type: Full-Time Eligibility: U.S. Citizenship or ITAR-Eligible Status Required Build the intelligence behind the ...

Socket.dev

Firmware Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Firmware Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone Systems Location: Onsite -Leander, TX Type: Full-Time Eligibility: U.S. Citizenship or ITAR-Eligible Status Required Build the intelligence behind the ...

Wild West Systems Inc.

Senior Electrical Engineer

Leander, TX · On-site

$102K - $133K/yr

Electrical Engineer - Autonomous Weapons & Drone Systems Onsite | Leander, TX Full-Time | U.S. Citizenship or ITAR Eligibility Required Be part of a mission-driven team redefining autonomous defense.

Allen Control Systems

Chief CV/ML Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$250K - $350K/yr

... across weapon system variants and engagement ranges. * Personally drive the hardest and most ... Lead a small group of senior CV/ML engineers, and mentor senior and staff engineers and managers ...

Allen Control Systems

Chief CV/ML Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$250K - $350K/yr

... across weapon system variants and engagement ranges. * Personally drive the hardest and most ... Lead a small group of senior CV/ML engineers, and mentor senior and staff engineers and managers ...

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All JobsWeapons Engineer JobsWeapons Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX

Weapons Engineer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$68.5K

$87.2K

$103.5K

How much do weapons engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for weapons engineer in Austin, TX is $87,222.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $96,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are common challenges weapons engineers face when working on multidisciplinary defense projects?

Weapons Engineers often collaborate with specialists in electronics, materials science, software, and systems engineering. One common challenge is integrating complex subsystems to ensure reliability and safety, while meeting strict military specifications. Effective communication and project management skills are essential, as projects usually involve cross-functional teams and tight deadlines. Staying updated with evolving technologies and regulations is also crucial for success in this field.

What does a weapons engineer do?

As a weapons engineer, you design test, analyze, update, and improve military weapons systems, such as missile defense systems, fighter jets, body armor, and conventional weapons. Your duties depend on the type of industry in which you work. Many weapons systems are now very complex, requiring numerous systems and parts. For example, a fighter jet involves input from aerospace engineers or guidance systems design experts and optical engineers. However, many of your responsibilities are the same across industries. You work with teams of engineers in consultation with military experts to identify weaknesses in weapons and prepare prototypes before beginning full production.

What is a weapons engineer?

Weapons engineers are specialized professionals who design, develop, test, and maintain military weapons and defense systems. Their work involves applying principles of mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering to create advanced weaponry such as missiles, firearms, and defense technologies. Weapons engineers often collaborate with government agencies and defense contractors to ensure that their designs meet safety, reliability, and regulatory standards. They may also be involved in research and development to innovate new technologies for national security. This career requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and adherence to strict ethical and legal guidelines.

What type of weapons engineers work on weapons?

Weapons engineers who work on weapons typically specialize in designing, developing, testing, and maintaining military or defense-related weapon systems such as firearms, missiles, or explosive devices. They often have expertise in areas like ballistics, materials science, and systems integration, and may work with tools like CAD software and testing facilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a weapons engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Weapons Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering, often supported by a relevant degree and security clearance. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and defense industry standards or certifications is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help you excel in this role. These competencies ensure the safe, innovative, and compliant development of advanced weapon systems in a highly regulated field.

What is the difference between Weapons Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectWeapons EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, specialized training in weapon systems, security clearancesBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, possibly a Professional Engineer (PE) license
Work EnvironmentDefense labs, military facilities, research centersManufacturing plants, design firms, industrial settings
Industry UsageDefense, aerospace, military technologyAutomotive, aerospace, manufacturing, energy

Weapons Engineers focus on designing, developing, and testing weapon systems within defense and military sectors, often requiring security clearances. Mechanical Engineers work across various industries, designing and analyzing mechanical systems. While both roles involve engineering principles, Weapons Engineers specialize in weaponry and defense applications, whereas Mechanical Engineers have broader applications in general machinery and product design.

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For Weapons Engineer jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Cities near Austin, TX with the most Weapons Engineer job openings:

Weapons Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Weapons Engineer job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $87,222 per year, or $41.9 per hour.

Test Team Deputy Director

Allen Control Systems

Austin, TX • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

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.
About The Role
We are looking for a Deputy Director, Operations Testing to serve as the senior execution leader and trusted second-in-command to the Director of Test Operations. You will translate strategic test objectives into disciplined, safe, and executable field operations, owning the daily operating rhythm for test planning, readiness, field execution, live-fire coordination, demonstration support, and continuous improvement. This is a hands-on leadership role at the intersection of engineering, field operations, and defense testing. The successful candidate leads from the front, drives accountability, enforces disciplined execution, and makes sound decisions in high-consequence field environments. Role is on-site in Austin, TX and requires regular travel in support of field test campaigns, demonstrations, and customer events.
What You'll Do
  • Serve as the Director of Test Operations' primary execution deputy; convert strategic intent into detailed operational plans, schedules, readiness gates, and field execution frameworks; own day-to-day synchronization across engineering, safety, range control, logistics, instrumentation, and external evaluators; act as the Director's delegate in internal meetings, customer engagements, and government-facing events.
  • Lead detailed planning for test events, live-fire operations, and customer demonstrations; develop and manage test plans, operations orders, schedules, risk assessments, and safety documentation; lead operational risk management to ensure hazards are identified, mitigations implemented, and safety controls verified before execution.
  • Oversee on-range execution to maintain tempo, safety, communication discipline, and scenario integrity during dynamic field events; provide real-time decision-making during live-fire, autonomous system, and counter-UAS demonstrations; serve as primary on-site interface for commercial customers, U.S. government personnel, and foreign government representatives.
  • Integrate across mechanical, electrical, software, autonomy, controls, perception, and weapons engineering disciplines to ensure test events produce credible, traceable, decision-quality data; maintain alignment between customer expectations, engineering readiness, safety requirements, and schedule realities.
  • Build scalable test operations processes to support increasing test volume, more complex demonstrations, and concurrent government or customer efforts; lead post-event debriefs and after-action reviews; identify execution bottlenecks and recurring failure modes and drive corrective actions into future planning cycles.

What You'll Need
  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related technical field.
  • 8+ years in test operations, system testing, range operations, defense field operations, or similarly complex technical environments; including 3+ years leading teams or coordinating multi-disciplinary field operations in high-tempo, high-consequence conditions.
  • Strong technical fluency across complex hardware/software systems; demonstrated ability to translate leadership intent into executable plans, readiness gates, and field execution rhythms while managing competing priorities under pressure.
  • Strong understanding of safety processes, operational risk management, range discipline, and compliance requirements in field or high-hazard environments; excellent communication skills for briefing senior leaders and aligning stakeholders during dynamic field operations.
  • Active Secret clearance or higher, with the ability to obtain and maintain additional clearances required for classified test environments.

You'll Stand Out
  • Direct experience testing or operating autonomous systems, robotics, unmanned systems, counter-UAS systems, weapon systems, or integrated hardware/software defense platforms.
  • Background in counter-UAS, directed energy, kinetic defeat systems, air defense, ground robotics, or advanced weapons programs.
  • Prior military service, especially in test, range operations, fires, air defense, special operations support, or unmanned systems roles.
  • Experience supporting U.S. government evaluations, foreign military sales demonstrations, or international partner field events; active Top Secret clearance or TS/SCI eligibility.
  • Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical discipline.

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

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