Senior Engineering Program Manager II - New Ventures

Axon's Robotics & New Ventures division is building the next generation of autonomous public safety technology -- TASER-enabled drones, ground control stations, ground robots, and the command-and-control ecosystem that connects them. These are complex, multi-disciplinary hardware-software-firmware systems designed, manufactured, certified, and launched for law enforcement agencies across three continents. You will own the integrated execution of the hardware portfolio for our flagship robotics platform.

Responsibilities

Own the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) across drone, GCS, radio, and supporting subsystems from SP2 design through EVT, PVT, and mass production; Manage cross-functional integration points where design, manufacturing, firmware, test, and certification converge; Drive formal change control and maintain a change log with full traceability; Ensure configuration management discipline across hardware revisions, BOM versions, ECOs, and firmware builds; Own phase gate execution (Concept, SP, EVT, DVT/PVT, Mass Production) with formally defined entry/exit criteria, evidence packages, and readiness reviews; Prepare and present gate readiness assessments to leadership; Establish and enforce governance cadence: weekly execution reviews, bi-weekly risk reviews, monthly executive briefings, and ad-hoc decision forums; Maintain the decision log; Own the risk register end-to-end: identification, assessment, response planning, and active monitoring; Conduct structured risk analysis using FMEA methodology; Drive risk response strategies with assigned owners, funded mitigations, and measurable triggers; Quantify schedule confidence on key milestones; Track risk velocity and trending; Serve as the primary hardware execution voice to VP-level and C-level leadership; Translate complex technical situations into decision frameworks; Represent the hardware program in cross-program reviews, QBRs, MBRs, and customer trial readiness assessments; Manage expectations proactively; Manage contract manufacturer relationships across multiple international sites (Taiwan, Belgium, Poland); Own PCB/PCBA supply chain execution; Drive factory readiness for each build phase; Lead hardware build execution at contract manufacturers; Manage vendor budgets, purchase order tracking, and statement-of-work execution; Drive procurement planning aligned to the IMS; Lead design reviews (CDR, TRR, MRR) and drive engineering closure; Partner with EE, ME, FW, and test engineering; Drive DFM/DFA/DFT reviews at the design stage; Manage the BOM lifecycle from prototype through production; Coordinate hardware certification activities (FCC, CE, radio type approval); Ensure export control compliance (ITAR/EAR); Drive product safety and reliability requirements; Ensure execution is aligned to the division's strategic objectives; Track and report program-level KPIs; Drive lessons learned capture at each phase gate; Identify and champion process improvements

Requirements

10+ years of engineering program management in hardware product development (aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, medical devices, or complex consumer electronics); Track record of owning and delivering complex multi-disciplinary hardware products from prototype through mass production at scale (10K+ units), managing the interdependencies across hardware, firmware, test, manufacturing, certification, and supply chain simultaneously; Direct experience managing contract manufacturers in Asia (Taiwan, China, Korea, or Japan) including on-site build oversight and supplier quality management; Integrated Master Schedule ownership: building, maintaining, and defending schedules with 500+ tasks, cross-functional dependency chains, and critical path analysis; Formal risk management practice: risk registers, quantitative scoring, FMEA, response planning, risk trending, and executive risk communication; Phase gate process ownership: defining entry/exit criteria, assembling evidence packages, and presenting readiness arguments to senior leadership; Change control and configuration management discipline across hardware revisions and multi-site builds; Deep understanding of PCB/PCBA manufacturing, supply chain management, yield optimization, and supplier corrective action processes; Strong technical foundation: ability to read schematics, understand mechanical tolerances, and engage credibly with EE, ME, and FW engineers on design and manufacturing tradeoffs; Excellent written and verbal communication: executive-ready briefings, vendor negotiations, and the ability to translate technical complexity into leadership decision frameworks; Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or related technical field; Must be able to qualify for an export control license (ITAR)

Nice to have

PgMP (Program Management Professional) or PMP certification; Experience with autonomous systems, UAS/drones, or robotics hardware; Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) principles applied to hardware programs; Experience with schedule risk analysis (Monte Carlo simulation or equivalent probabilistic methods); Experience managing programs with $5M+ annual budgets and 5+ active vendors simultaneously; MS Project, Jira, Confluence, or equivalent integrated scheduling and tracking toolsets; Lean/Six Sigma methodology, PFMEA, or structured quality framework experience; Experience with ITAR/EAR-controlled hardware programs and international shipment compliance; Multi-lingual or experience working across culturally diverse international teams

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; And yes, we have snacks in our offices