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Principal Systems Engineer, Communications… at Axon · San Diego
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.
About Axon 911
Axon 911 brings together Prepared and Carbyne under Axon. Together, we are creating the only platform that combines modern 911 infrastructure with an AI intelligence layer—helping public safety agencies move faster, make better decisions, and deliver better outcomes in the moments that matter most.
911 is the backbone of public safety, yet the professionals behind it have long been held back by outdated technology. Axon 911 is here to change that. Joining this team means more than taking a job—it means helping shape the future of emergency response and building a safer, more connected world.
Your Impact
We are seeking a Principal Hardware Systems Architect to own system architecture and technical integration across electrical, RF, mechanical, thermal, and power domains.
Joining as a founding leader within the Axon 911 hardware team, you will define and drive the technical standards, architecture, and engineering processes that shape how our mission-critical hardware is designed, validated, and scaled to mass production.
You will partner closely with Electrical Engineering (EE), Radio Frequency (RF) Engineering, Software (SW) Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering (ME) leads to define system requirements, drive cross-functional design decisions, and ensure each subsystem comes together as a cohesive, production-ready device. When technical constraints compete, from antenna performance and enclosure design to thermal budgets and power delivery, you will be responsible for driving the system-level decision.
What You’ll Do
System Architecture & Design
- Develop system architecture with consideration for industrial design, electrical design, radio frequency integration, mechanical design, software, and product management.
- Build system architectures, block diagrams, and interaction diagrams to guide implementation.
- Analyze power, thermal, and computational budget constraints, and develop solutions that balance performance, size, and cost.
- Lead concept studies with internal and external development teams and present outcomes and recommendations.
Systems Requirements
- Write and vet system requirements with clear, testable design targets for engineering and test teams.
- Review and provide input on product requirements for next-generation devices.
- Simulate and estimate subsystem capability against requirements.
- Manage requirements and maintain traceability from PRD through V&V.
Technical Leadership
- Lead cross-discipline design reviews and organize cross-functional system reviews, building stakeholder buy-in.
- Resolve competing engineering constraints and provide technical direction to EE, RF, and ME leads.
Design verification, validation planning & risk mitigation
- Own the system-level verification and validation strategy, catching integration risks before certification and production.
- Perform risk analysis, develop mitigation strategies, and close the loop on design characterization and verification results.
- Carry technical accountability for program schedule and risk, translating complex engineering tradeoffs into clear decisions for program and executive leadership.
Manufacturing & Certification
- Partner with ODM/JDM and manufacturing teams on DFM/DFA, engineering builds, and production readiness.
- Own the system-level certification strategy across U.S. and international regulatory standards.
What You Bring
- 10+ years of hardware engineering experience, with deep expertise in at least two of electrical engineering, RF engineering, or mechanical engineering and strong working knowledge of the third.
- Proven experience owning system architecture and cross-disciplinary technical decisions for complex, integrated hardware, including the judgment to resolve competing engineering constraints.
- Track record of taking compact, connected, battery-powered hardware from concept through mass production, including EVT/DVT/PVT, certification, and manufacturing ramp.
- Deep experience across RF/antenna integration, power architecture, thermal management, EMI/EMC, shielding, enclosure design, and mechanical tolerances.
- Experience developing system requirements and validation plans, with familiarity across U.S. and international hardware certification and regulatory requirements.
- Experience working with ODM/JDM or contract manufacturing partners through development and production.
- Familiarity with relevant hardware design, simulation, testing, and lifecycle tools, such as Altium/Cadence, SolidWorks/Creo/NX, RF and electrical test equipment, thermal characterization tools, and PLM/BOM or requirements-management systems.
- Strong ability to communicate technical risk to senior leadership and thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment while helping establish the standards and processes needed to scale.
Travel: Approximately 10–20%.
Work Location
This position offers a hybrid schedule, requiring team members to work onsite at one of our regional hubs, located in New York City, Boston, or Scottsdale, Arizona - Tuesday through Friday.
- Relocation Assistance: Relocation support is available for qualified candidates who are currently based in the U.S., authorized to work for a U.S. employer, and open to relocating closer to one of our regional hubs.
- Fully Remote Eligibility: Full-time remote eligibility will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to accommodate specific needs.
Benefits that Benefit You
- Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
- Discretionary paid time off
- Paid parental leave for all
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Fitness Programs
- Emotional & Mental Wellness support
- Learning & Development programs
- 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.
Pay Transparency
Axon offers a comprehensive total compensation package, which includes base salary, a generous annual bonus, and company equity.
The starting base annual pay for this role is between $210,600.00 - $242,100.00 excluding annual bonuses, and equity depending on your geographic market. The actual base salary will vary based on several factors, including level, function, training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, and location—often a combination of these elements.
Our benefits are designed to support you physically, financially, and emotionally—through life’s major milestones and in your everyday moments. To learn more about our benefits, please visit www.axon.com/careers/benefits.
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.
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 CCPA rights at axongreenhousesupport@axon.com 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 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.