Senior Technical Program Manager, Dedrone

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

As a Senior Technical Program Manager, you will own the end-to-end launch of the organization's counter-UAS Solution offerings, from readiness through field deployment. You will work at the intersection of engineering execution, operational readiness, and customer need to drive how Dedrone products leveraging RF, Radar, Camera, Networking, Software, and Firmware technologies make it from development into reliable, mission-critical field operation.

We're looking for someone who can translate program risk and cross-functional dependencies into a clear launch plan, drive go/no-go decisions, and hold engineering, compliance, manufacturing, and business stakeholders accountable to launch readiness — while making thoughtful tradeoffs across performance, reliability, cost, power, schedule, and field quality. You will partner closely with electrical engineering, hardware engineering, systems engineering, RF engineering, firmware, software, operations, manufacturing, compliance, and external partners to ensure Dedrone's capabilities launch successfully into real-world public safety and defense environments.

Responsibilities

• Location: Onsite at our Sterling, Virginia office 4 days a week
• Reports to: VP of Product Management
• Direct Reports: N/A
• Own launch readiness and go/no-go governance for defense solutions within Dedrone, across hardware, firmware, software, and network workstreams
• Build and drive the cross-functional launch plan — coordinating RF, ME, EE, firmware, software, compliance, manufacturing, and supply chain teams against a shared timeline
• Translate customer, business, and operational needs into clear launch criteria and risk gates for counter-UAS field deployment
• Work with external vendors and partners to align launch timelines and dependencies
• Drive trade-off decisions across BOM cost, system capabilities, schedule, manufacturability, and quality as they affect launch readiness
• Own risk registers, escalation paths, and rollback/contingency plans for field deployments
• Ensure launch decisions reflect real-world field conditions in mission-critical environments
• Build alignment across cross-functional stakeholders and drive executive reporting on launch status and risk
• Define launch success metrics and use customer feedback, field data, and operational insights to drive post-launch iteration
• What You Bring
• 5+ years of technical program or launch management experience, with 1+ years in defense, public safety, counter-UAS, or technically complex hardware/software products; demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional alignment
• Familiarity with wireless, embedded, or sensor domains — including some combination of RF, radar, camera, cellular, Wi-Fi, GNSS, or connectivity performance
• Experience launching hardware products into operationally demanding or mission-critical environments
• Comfort with system architecture documentation, hardware/software integration concepts, and multi-discipline technical stacks
• Strong program judgment and ability to prioritize across customer value, technical complexity, business impact, and execution risk
• Ability to operate in ambiguous, high-dependency environments with multiple stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and systems thinking
• Track record of delivering launches or major capabilities with measurable customer and business impact
• Experience with mission-critical, defense, cUAS, public safety, or other operationally demanding connected products
• Experience working with hardware RF, radar, camera, network, embedded, or wireless systems engineering teams
• Technical degree, PMP, or equivalent program/launch management certification a plus

Conditions

This role is based out of our Sterling Office and follows a hybrid schedule. We rely on in-person collaboration and ask that team members work onsite 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.

Benefits

• 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
• $127,950 - $204,720 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.
• 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 recruitingops@axon.com. Please note that this email address is for accommodation purposes only. Axon will not respond to inquiries for other purposes.
• Phishing alert: Axon will never ask you to pay for any part of the hiring process, including training, equipment, or background checks. We do not make job offers via text message, WhatsApp, or instant messaging platforms without a formal interview process. All legitimate job openings are listed on our official careers page at https://www.axon.com/careers . If you receive a suspicious offer or outreach from an email address that is not @axon.com , or if you are asked for sensitive personal information (bank details, Social Security Number) prematurely, please ignore the message and report it to recruitingops@axon.com .