Senior Engineering Program Manager II New Ventures

Join Axon and be a Force for Good.

At Axon were on a mission to Protect Life. Were explorers pursuing societys most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our products we work better together. We connect with candor and care seeking out diverse perspectives from our customers communities and each other.

Life at Axon is fast-paced challenging and meaningful. Here youll take ownership and drive real change. Constantly grow as you work hard for a mission that matters at a company where you matter.

Your Impact

Axons Robotics & New Ventures division is building the next generation of autonomous public safety technology -- TASER-enabled drones ground control stations ground robots and the command-and-control ecosystem that connects them. These are complex multi-disciplinary hardware-software-firmware systems designed manufactured certified and launched for law enforcement agencies across three continents.

You will own the integrated execution of the hardware portfolio for our flagship robotics platform -- spanning drone hardware ground control station hardware radio integration international contract manufacturing regulatory certification and product launch. The work crosses multiple engineering disciplines multiple build phases multiple countries and multiple vendor relationships simultaneously. Your job is to hold all of it together see around corners and drive outcomes that no single team could deliver alone.

You will report directly to the Director of PMO and operate as the single-threaded hardware execution leader -- owning the integrated master schedule the risk register vendor and manufacturing relationships across 3 countries phase gate governance and executive communication. You are stepping into a live complex program mid-flight. There is no ramp-up runway. You must be someone who has walked into ambiguity before built situational awareness fast and started driving outcomes within weeks.

What Youll Do

Location: Onsite in Scottsdale AZ (travel 20-30% -- Taiwan Belgium Poland vendor sites)
Reports to: Director PMO - Robotics & New Ventures
Direct Reports: None initially; potential to build hardware program operations team

INTEGRATED SCHEDULE & EXECUTION

• Own the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) across drone GCS radio and supporting subsystems -- from SP2 design through EVT PVT and mass production -- ensuring all workstreams are synchronized dependency-mapped and resource-loaded
• Manage the cross-functional integration points where design manufacturing firmware test and certification converge -- these are where execution breaks down and your job is to see it before it happens
• Drive formal change control: evaluate scope schedule and cost impacts of proposed changes before they are accepted; maintain a change log with full traceability
• Ensure configuration management discipline across hardware revisions BOM versions ECOs and firmware builds so that every unit in every location is on a known controlled configuration

GOVERNANCE & PHASE GATES

• Own phase gate execution (Concept SP EVT DVT/PVT Mass Production) with formally defined entry/exit criteria evidence packages and readiness reviews
• Prepare and present gate readiness assessments to leadership -- evidence-based arguments for why the program is or is not ready to proceed not status slides
• Establish and enforce governance cadence: weekly execution reviews bi-weekly risk reviews monthly executive briefings and ad-hoc decision forums when issues demand rapid resolution
• Maintain the decision log -- every material decision who made it what alternatives were considered what evidence supported it and what constraints applied

RISK MANAGEMENT

• Own the risk register end-to-end: identification qualitative and quantitative assessment (likelihood severity detectability schedule/cost impact) response planning and active monitoring
• Conduct structured risk analysis using FMEA methodology for hardware and manufacturing processes
• Drive risk response strategies (avoid mitigate transfer accept) with assigned owners funded mitigations and measurable triggers
• Quantify schedule confidence on key milestones -- probabilistic assessment not single-point estimates
• Track risk velocity and trending: which risks are heating up which are cooling down and what the aggregate posture looks like week over week

STAKEHOLDER & EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Serve as the primary hardware execution voice to VP-level and C-level leadership -- milestone readiness risk posture budget health and critical path
• Translate complex technical situations into decision frameworks: options tradeoffs recommendation and rationale
• Represent the hardware program in cross-program reviews QBRs MBRs and customer trial readiness assessments
• Manage expectations proactively -- bad news delivered early with a mitigation plan is always better than surprises at the gate

VENDOR & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

• Manage contract manufacturer relationships across multiple international sites (Taiwan Belgium Poland) -- accountability delivery performance quality and cost
• Own PCB/PCBA supply chain execution: fab house qualification dual-sourcing strategy yield tracking root cause analysis on quality escapes and supplier corrective actions
• Drive factory readiness for each build phase: test fixtures assembly stations calibration equipment operator training SOPs production line layout and throughput validation
• Lead hardware build execution at contract manufacturers -- on-site during critical builds
• Manage vendor budgets purchase order tracking and statement-of-work execution within approved spend envelopes
• Drive procurement planning aligned to the IMS: long-lead item identification vendor lead time management and material availability gates

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Lead design reviews (CDR TRR MRR) and drive engineering closure on open items with assigned owners and due dates
• Partner with EE ME FW and test engineering to ensure design intent translates into manufacturable testable certifiable hardware
• Drive DFM/DFA/DFT reviews at the design stage -- before parts are ordered not after
• Manage the BOM lifecycle from prototype through production: ECO processes alternate part qualification and design-to-cost optimization

CERTIFICATION & COMPLIANCE

• Coordinate hardware certification activities (FCC CE radio type approval) with test labs and regulatory agencies ensuring certification milestones are integrated into the IMS
• Ensure export control compliance (ITAR/EAR) for international hardware shipments and controlled technical data access at contract manufacturer sites
• Drive product safety and reliability requirements through design manufacturing and field operations

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Ensure execution is aligned to the divisions strategic objectives: international GA by EOY 2026 customer trials mid-year and next-gen product announcements at key industry events
• Track and report program-level KPIs: schedule performance cost performance risk burn-down milestone completion rate and build yield
• Drive lessons learned capture at each phase gate as a living input to the next build cycle and to next-generation products
• Identify and champion process improvements across program execution tools and cross-functional interfaces

What You Bring

Required:

• 10 years of engineering program management in hardware product development (aerospace defense robotics automotive medical devices or complex consumer electronics)
• Track record of owning and delivering complex multi-disciplinary hardware products from prototype through mass production at scale (10K units) managing the interdependencies across hardware firmware test manufacturing certification and supply chain simultaneously
• Direct experience managing contract manufacturers in Asia (Taiwan China Korea or Japan) including on-site build oversight and supplier quality management
• Integrated Master Schedule ownership: building maintaining and defending schedules with 500 tasks cross-functional dependency chains and critical path analysis
• Formal risk management practice: risk registers quantitative scoring FMEA response planning risk trending and executive risk communication
• Phase gate process ownership: defining entry/exit criteria assembling evidence packages and presenting readiness arguments to senior leadership
• Change control and configuration management discipline across hardware revisions and multi-site builds
• Deep understanding of PCB/PCBA manufacturing supply chain management yield optimization and supplier corrective action processes
• Strong technical foundation: ability to read schematics understand mechanical tolerances and engage credibly with EE ME and FW engineers on design and manufacturing tradeoffs
• Excellent written and verbal communication: executive-ready briefings vendor negotiations and the ability to translate technical complexity into leadership decision frameworks
• Bachelors degree in engineering physics or related technical field
• Must be able to qualify for an export control license (ITAR)

Preferred:

• PgMP (Program Management Professional) or PMP certification
• Experience with autonomous systems UAS/drones or robotics hardware
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) principles applied to hardware programs
• Experience with schedule risk analysis (Monte Carlo simulation or equivalent probabilistic methods)
• Experience managing programs with $5M annual budgets and 5 active vendors simultaneously
• MS Project Jira Confluence or equivalent integrated scheduling and tracking toolsets
• Lean/Six Sigma methodology PFMEA or structured quality framework experience
• Experience with ITAR/EAR-controlled hardware programs and international shipment compliance
• Multi-lingual or experience working across culturally diverse international teams

What Success Looks Like

Within 90 days:

• Own the integrated hardware schedule present critical path posture and top 5 risks to leadership with confidence
• Establish direct relationships with all contract manufacturers and key component vendors
• Complete a full risk register review and present aggregate risk posture with current evidence
• Absorb current program state mid-flight: every open risk every pending build every vendor dependency every certification milestone

Within 6 months:

• Successfully execute at least one major hardware build milestone (EVT or PVT) with formal phase gate review
• Reduce hardware-related schedule variance through proactive vendor management and early-warning systems
• Be the recognized single-threaded owner for all hardware execution decisions -- engineering manufacturing and leadership know you are the person
• Establish governance rhythm that the entire cross-functional team relies on

Within 12 months:

• Ship certified hardware for international customer trials on schedule
• Build and execute the production ramp plan for international launch
• Deliver a lessons-learned package that feeds the playbook for next-generation products
• Demonstrate measurable improvement in schedule predictability and risk response effectiveness vs. the baseline you inherited

Benefits that Benefit You

• Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
• Discretionary paid time off
• Paid parental leave for all
• Medical Dental Vision plans
• Fitness Programs
• Emotional & Mental Wellness support
• Learning & Development programs
• And yes we have snacks in our offices

Benefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work.

Dont meet every single requirement Thats ok. At Axon we Aim Far. We think big with a long-term view because we want to reinvent the world to be a safer better place. We are also committed to building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they check every box in the job description. If youre excited about this role and our mission to Protect Life but your experience doesnt align perfectly with every qualification listed here we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Important Notes

The above job description is not intended as nor should it be construed as exhaustive of all duties responsibilities skills efforts or working conditions associated with this job. The job description may change or be supplemented at any time in accordance with business needs and conditions.

Some roles may also require legal eligibility to work in a firearms environment.

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Axons mission is to Protect Life and is committed to the well-being and safety of its employees as well as Axons impact on the environment. All Axon employees must be aware of and committed to the appropriate environmental health and safety regulations policies and procedures. Axon employees are empowered to report safety concerns as they arise and activities potentially impacting the environment.

We are an equal opportunity employer that promotes justice advances equity values diversity and fosters inclusion. Were committed to hiring the best talent regardless of race creed color ancestry religion sex (including pregnancy) national origin sexual orientation age citizenship status marital status disability gender identity genetic information veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws regulations and ordinances and empowering all of our employees so they can do their best work. If you have a disability or special need that requires assistance or accommodation during the application or the recruiting process please email Please note that this email address is for accommodation purposes only. Axon will not respond to inquiries for other purposes.