Senior Hardware Systems Engineer – Counter-UAS (Onsite)

Axon; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with 401k match

Discretionary paid time off

Paid parental leave

Medical, Dental, Vision plans

Fitness Programs

ERGs

Snacks in offices

Job summary

Axon in Sterling, VA is seeking a hardware systems engineer to architect fixed-site, portable, and mobile counter-UAS systems. You will own power, thermal, and weight budgets, guide V&V, and lead SRR/CDR with cross-functional teams.

Required: 7+ years in hardware development with system ownership, hands-on lab experience, and a degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Systems Engineering. U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering.
• 7+ years hardware development with system ownership.
• Experience with CAD, PLM, and requirement management systems.
• Ability to obtain U.S. security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship and willingness to travel domestically.

Responsibilities

• Architect fixed-site, portable, and mobile counter-UAS systems and own interfaces.
• Own power, thermal, and weight budgets balancing performance, size, and cost.
• Lead concept generation and trade studies with internal teams and external partners.
• Translate mission and product needs into testable system requirements.
• Lead SRR, PDR, and CDR and drive cross-discipline technical decisions.
• Own system V&V from requirements through qualification.
• Drive product-level qualification strategy and support regulatory certification (FCC, CE/RED, NRTL/UL, EMC).

Skills

System-level ownership

Lab testing

Hands-on hardware

CAD software

PLM

Requirements management

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering

Tools

CAD software

PLM systems

Requirements management tools

Job description

Join Axon and be a Force for Good. At Axon, we’re on a mission to Protect Life. We’re explorers, pursuing society’s 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, you’ll 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 Drone threats evolve quickly, and our hardware must evolve with them.

What You’ll Do

• Location: Onsite at our Sterling, VA office
• Reports to: Senior Systems Engineer II
• Direct Reports: N/A
• Architect fixed-site, portable, and mobile counter-UAS systems, and own the block diagrams and interfaces that guide development.
• Own power, thermal, and weight budgets, balancing performance, size, and cost.
• Lead concept generation and trade studies with internal teams and external partners.
• Translate mission and product needs into testable system requirements.
• Own requirements, interfaces, and verification criteria, maintaining traceability through V&V and change control.
• Serve as technical lead and primary technical contact for assigned programs.
• Lead SRR, PDR, and CDR, resolve competing constraints, and drive cross-discipline technical decisions.
• Own system V&V from requirements through qualification, ensuring integration risks surface before certification and production.
• Lead integration, lab, and MIL-STD qualification testing, and support field testing against live threats.
• Drive the product-level qualification strategy and support regulatory certification for U.S. and international markets, including FCC, CE/RED, NRTL/UL, and EMC.

What You Bring

• 7+ years of hardware development experience with system-level ownership and technical depth in at least one of mechanical, electrical, or RF, plus working breadth across the others.
• Hands-on aptitude in the lab and shop, with experience using hand tools, lab equipment, and shop tools to build, modify, and test hardware.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
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• Proven ownership of system architecture and cross-discipline technical decisions on integrated hardware, from concept through production.
• Experience developing system requirements, interfaces, and V&V plans, and meeting U.S. and international certification requirements.
• Experience with hardware development tools such as CAD, PLM, and requirements management systems.
• Strong troubleshooting skills, sound judgment with incomplete information, and clear communication of technical risk to leadership in a fast-paced, high-ambiguity environment.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
• Travel: Flexibility to travel domestically as needed.

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
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• And yes, we have snacks in our offices

To see more details on our benefits offerings please visit https://www.axon.com/careers .

Base Pay Range

$108,750 - $174,000 USD

Don’t meet every single requirement? That's 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. 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.

We collect personal information from applicants to evaluate candidates for employment. You may request access, deletion, or exercise other CCPA rights at [e-mail] or via our Axon Privacy Web Form . For more information, please see the Your California Privacy Rights section of our Applicant and Candidate Privacy Notice.

Axon’s mission is Protect Life and is committed to the well-being and safety of its employees as well as Axon’s impact on the environment. All Axon employees must be aware of and committed to the appropriate environmental,