Staff Mechanical Engineer, Communications Hardware (Remote Eligible | Relocation Assistance Available)

axon; United States; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Axon is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to own the full mechanical design of next-generation rugged communications hardware for public safety professionals. You will lead from concept through mass production, balancing durability, sealing, antenna and RF performance, thermal management, and ergonomic intent.

You will collaborate with RF/electrical teams and manufacturing partners to ensure robust DFM/DFA, tolerance control, and certification readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of mechanical product design experience on ruggedized, portable, wearable, or similar compact electronics.
• 5+ years of technical leadership providing direction to 3+ mechanical engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design from concept through EVT, DVT, PVT, certification, and mass production for ruggedized, portable, and wearable hardware.
• Develop components and assemblies using plastic injection molding, stamped metal, die casting, machining, adhesives, and bonded joints.
• Design for field environments: drop, shock, vibration, long-term durability, IP66/IP68 protection.
• Integrate PCB/PCBA, flex circuits, batteries, and antennas within compact form factors with passive thermal management.
• Collaborate with RF and electrical engineers on antenna placement and certification requirements.
• Run FEA, tolerance analysis, and testing; communicate trade-offs in design reviews.
• Work with manufacturers and internal teams on DFM/DFA and production ramp.

Skills

Creo CAD

FEA

Tolerance analysis

DFM/DFA

Mechanical design

Technical leadership

Electronics integration

Product development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Creo

Job description

Role overview

This staff mechanical engineering position owns the full mechanical design and development of next-generation, mission-critical communications hardware for public safety professionals. The work spans concept through high-volume production for compact, ruggedized, wireless-connected devices carried and relied on in the field every day. The role partners closely with industrial design, electrical engineering, RF engineering, and manufacturing teams to balance competing constraints across durability, sealing, antenna and RF performance, thermal management, battery integration, size, weight, ergonomics, and industrial design intent.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design from concept through EVT, DVT, PVT, certification, and mass production for ruggedized, portable, and wearable hardware.
• Develop complex components and assemblies using plastic injection molding, stamped metal, die casting, machining, adhesives, and bonded joints.
• Design for demanding field environments, including drop, shock, vibration, long-term durability, and IP66/IP68 dust and water ingress protection.
• Integrate PCB/PCBA, flex circuits, batteries, and antennas within compact form factors while developing passive thermal-management solutions.
• Partner with RF and electrical engineers on antenna placement, keep-out zones, RF-transparent materials, and FCC/IC certification requirements.
• Run FEA, tolerance analysis, and physical testing, then communicate trade-offs and risks in cross-functional design reviews.
• Collaborate with external manufacturers, vendors, and internal operations teams on DFM/DFA, tolerance management, engineering builds, and production ramp.

Requirements

• 12+ years of mechanical product design experience on ruggedized, portable, wearable, or similar compact electronics, with a proven track record taking products from concept through high-volume production.
• 5+ years of technical leadership experience providing direction to 3+ mechanical engineers.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Deep experience with plastic injection-molded, stamped metal, die-cast, machined, adhesive, and bonded components and assemblies, plus strong DFM/DFA and tolerance analysis skills.
• Strong proficiency in Creo or comparable 3D CAD software.
• Experience designing to ruggedization standards such as MIL-STD-810 and IP66/IP68, and to carry/wear ergonomics including belt-, holster-, or body-mounted form factors and one-handed operation.

Nice to have

• Hands-on experience integrating antennas, keep-out zones, RF-transparent materials, and EMI/EMC shielding within connected devices.

Benefits and work setup

• Remote-eligible with relocation assistance available; some domestic and international travel may be required to support vendors, manufacturing partners, and engineering builds.