Senior Hardware Systems Engineer - Counter-UAS (Onsite)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and 401k with 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)

Snacks in our offices

Job summary

Axon in Sterling, VA is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to own the architecture and integration of counter-UAS systems from concept through production. You will lead cross‑discipline teams and set engineering standards while delivering reliable, field-ready platforms.

This role requires 7+ years in hardware development and a track record of system ownership, with U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance. Onsite work and domestic travel are involved.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

System architecture

Cross-discipline leadership

Troubleshooting

Clear communication

Lab and shop work

Education

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

Tools

CAD

PLM

Requirements management systems

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. We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to own the architecture and integration of counter-UAS systems from initial concept through production.

You’ll be the technical lead on your programs, working closely with Mechanical, Electrical, RF, Firmware, and Software leads and arbitrating cross-discipline tradeoffs. You’ll also help set the engineering standards and processes that let the team move fast while delivering reliable systems.

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.
• 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

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

Axon is a total compensation company, meaning compensation is made up of base pay, bonus, and stock awards. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as: level, function, training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, geographic market, and often a combination of all these factors. Our benefits offer an array of options to help support you physically, financially and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. 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. If you’re excited about this role and our mission to Protect Life but your experience doesn’t 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.

We collect personal information from applicants to evaluate candidates for employment. You may request access, deletion, or exercise other CCAA 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 to 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, 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. We’re 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 [e-mail]. Please note that this email address is for accommodation purposes only. Axon will not respond to inquiries for other purposes.