Staff Wireless Software Engineer

Axon; United States; Hybrid; USD 168,750 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and 401(k) with employer match

Discretionary paid time off

Paid parental leave

Fitness programs

Emotional and mental wellness support

Job summary

A tech company specializing in public safety is searching for a Staff Wireless Software Engineer to lead the development of mission-critical communication systems. The role involves designing wireless protocol stacks and enhancing performance across embedded systems. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of software development experience. This position is based in the U.S. and follows a hybrid work schedule, ensuring a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• 10+ years experience in wireless software development.
• Strong C/C++ experience in embedded or systems environments.
• Deep understanding of wireless protocols like LTE and 5G.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of wireless communication stacks.
• Develop transport abstraction layers across multiple radios and networks.
• Optimize performance for latency and packet loss.

Skills

Wireless software development

C/C++ programming

Wireless protocols (LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi)

Networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, UDP)

Debugging packet-level issues

Mission-critical communications

Tools

Qualcomm SDKs

Android/Linux device platforms

Job description

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

We are developing the next generation of mission‑critical communications systems to build devices used by public‑safety professionals worldwide. As a Staff Wireless Software Engineer, you will be a technical leader driving architecture and implementation of wireless protocol stacks, transport abstraction layers, and real‑time communication systems across our devices. You will operate at the intersection of RF, embedded systems, and cloud‑connected software.

Work Location

This role is eligible to be based out of Axon's U.S. hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Scottsdale (HQ), San Francisco, or Seattle and follows a hybrid schedule. We rely on in‑person collaboration and ask that team members work onsite 4 days per week, Tuesdays through Fridays, with the flexibility to work remotely on Mondays, unless there is an approved workplace accommodation. We believe that connection fuels innovation, and our in‑office culture is designed to foster meaningful teamwork, mentorship, and shared success.

Reports to

VP of Software Engineering • Direct Reports: 0

What You’ll Do

You will be tasked with solving the toughest wireless problems our products face, translating research into resilient, high‑performance PHY/MAC systems; architecting firmware and toolchains that meet extreme latency, power and reliability targets; and defining the wireless roadmap that balances innovation, manufacturability and real‑world performance. You will shape how our devices connect and perform at scale — from lab prototypes to deployed fleets — and your work will be judged by field performance under real conditions, not just simulations.

• Lead design and implementation of wireless communication stacks (LTE, 5G, Wi‑Fi, sidelink, mesh, P2P, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.)
• Architect low‑latency, high‑reliability PTT and real‑time voice transport systems
• Develop transport abstraction layers across multiple radios and networks
• Optimize performance (latency, jitter, packet loss, handover behavior)
• Collaborate with RF, hardware and firmware teams to ensure end‑to‑end system performance
• Drive modem integration (e.g., Qualcomm, MediaTek) and carrier certification efforts
• Implement QoS, prioritization and congestion control mechanisms
• Contribute to secure communication layers (encryption, key management, secure boot integration)
• Define metrics and instrumentation for wireless performance at scale
• Mentor engineers and set technical direction across projects

What You Bring

• 10+ years experience in wireless software development
• Strong C/C++ experience in embedded or systems environments
• Deep understanding of wireless protocols (LTE, 5G NR, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, sidelink, or mesh)
• Experience working with modem vendors (e.g., Qualcomm SDKs)
• Experience with real‑time systems and low‑latency audio transport
• Strong networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, UDP, RTP, QUIC, QoS)
• Familiarity with RF performance constraints (RSSI, SINR, handovers, link budgets)
• Experience debugging packet‑level and radio‑layer issues
• Experience with mission‑critical communications (LMR, MCPTT, public safety)
• Experience with 3GPP standards (Rel 16+)
• Experience with 5G sidelink (PC5) or device‑to‑device protocols
• Experience implementing mesh or MANET routing
• Knowledge of secure communications (AES, TLS, PKI, FIPS environments)
• Familiarity with Android/Linux device platforms
• Experience with satellite backhaul or hybrid transport systems

Benefits that Benefit You

• Competitive salary and 401(k) with employer match
• Discretionary paid time off
• Paid parental leave for all
• Fitness programs
• Emotional and mental wellness support
• 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 depends on 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

$168,750 – $270,000 USD

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 anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

This 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 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.