| Location | Scottsdale, AZ |
Senior Engineering Program Manager II - New VenturesScottsdale, Arizona, United StatesJoin 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 ImpactAxon'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 -- spanning drone hardware, ground control station hardware, radio integration, international contract manufacturing, regulatory certification, and product launch. The work crosses multiple engineering disciplines, multiple build phases, multiple countries, and multiple vendor relationships simultaneously. Your job is to hold all of it together, see around corners, and drive outcomes that no single team could deliver alone.You will report directly to the Director of PMO and operate as the single‑threaded hardware execution leader -- owning the integrated master schedule, the risk register, vendor and manufacturing relationships across 3 countries, phase gate governance, and executive communication. You are stepping into a live, complex program mid‑flight. There is no ramp‑up runway. You must be someone who has walked into ambiguity before, built situational awareness fast, and started driving outcomes within weeks.What You'll DoLocation: Onsite in Scottsdale, AZ (travel 20‑30% – Taiwan, Belgium, Poland, vendor sites)Reports to: Director, PMO – Robotics & New VenturesDirect Reports: None initially; potential to build hardware program operations teamINTEGRATED SCHEDULE & EXECUTIONOwn the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) across drone, GCS, radio, and supporting subsystems -- from SP2 design through EVT, PVT, and mass production -- ensuring all workstreams are synchronized, dependency‑mapped, and resource‑loadedManage the cross‑functional integration points where design, manufacturing, firmware, test, and certification converge -- these are where execution breaks down, and your job is to see it before it happensDrive formal change control: evaluate scope, schedule, and cost impacts of proposed changes before they are accepted; maintain a change log with full traceabilityEnsure configuration management discipline across hardware revisions, BOM versions, ECOs, and firmware builds so that every unit in every location is on a known, controlled configurationGOVERNANCE & PHASE GATESOwn phase gate execution (Concept, SP, EVT, DVT/PVT, Mass Production) with formally defined entry/exit criteria, evidence packages, and readiness reviewsPrepare and present gate readiness assessments to leadership -- evidence‑based arguments for why the program is or is not ready to proceed, not status slidesEstablish and enforce governance cadence: weekly execution reviews, bi‑weekly risk reviews, monthly executive briefings, and ad‑hoc decision forums when issues demand rapid resolutionMaintain the decision log -- every material decision, who made it, what alternatives were considered, what evidence supported it, and what constraints appliedRISK MANAGEMENTOwn the risk register end-to-end: identification, qualitative and quantitative assessment (likelihood, severity, detectability, schedule/cost impact), response planning, and active monitoringConduct structured risk analysis using FMEA methodology for hardware and manufacturing processesDrive risk response strategies (avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept) with assigned owners, funded mitigations, and measurable triggersQuantify schedule confidence on key milestones -- probabilistic assessment, not single-point estimatesTrack risk velocity and trending: which risks are heating up, which are cooling down, and what the aggregate posture looks like week‑over‑weekSTAKEHOLDER & EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONServe as the primary hardware execution voice to VP‑level and C‑level leadership -- milestone readiness, risk posture, budget health, and critical pathTranslate complex technical situations into decision frameworks: options, tradeoffs, recommendation, and rationaleRepresent the hardware program in cross‑program reviews, QBRs, MBRs, and customer trial readiness assessmentsManage expectations proactively -- bad news delivered early with a mitigation plan is always better than surprises at the gateVENDOR & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENTManage contract manufacturer relationships across multiple international sites (Taiwan, Belgium, Poland) -- accountability, delivery performance, quality, and costOwn PCB/PCBA supply chain execution: fab house qualification, dual‑sourcing strategy, yield tracking, root cause analysis on quality escapes, and supplier corrective actionsDrive factory readiness for each build phase: test fixtures, assembly stations, calibration equipment, operator training, SOPs, production line layout, and throughput validationLead hardware build execution at contract manufacturers -- on‑site during critical buildsManage vendor budgets, purchase order tracking, and statement‑of‑work execution within approved spend envelopesDrive procurement planning aligned to the IMS: long‑lead item identification, vendor lead time management, and material availability gatesCROSS‑FUNCTIONAL TECHNICAL LEADERSHIPLead design reviews (CDR, TRR, MRR) and drive engineering closure on open items with assigned owners and due datesPartner with EE, ME, FW, and test engineering to ensure design intent translates into manufacturable, testable, certifiable hardwareDrive DFM/DFA/DFT reviews at the design stage -- before parts are ordered, not afterManage the BOM lifecycle from prototype through production: ECO processes, alternate part qualification, and design‑to‑cost optimizationCERTIFICATION & COMPLIANCECoordinate hardware certification activities (FCC, CE, radio type approval) with test labs and regulatory agencies, ensuring certification milestones are integrated into the IMSEnsure export control compliance (ITAR/EAR) for international hardware shipments and controlled technical data access at contract manufacturer sitesDrive product safety and reliability requirements through design, manufacturing, and field operationsSTRATEGIC ALIGNMENT & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTEnsure execution is aligned to the division's strategic objectives: international GA by EOY 2026, customer trials mid‑year, and next‑gen product announcements at key industry eventsTrack and report program‑level KPIs: schedule performance, cost performance, risk burn‑down, milestone completion rate, and build yieldDrive lessons learned capture at each phase gate as a living input to the next build cycle and to next‑generation productsIdentify and champion process improvements across program execution, tools, and cross‑functional interfacesWhat You BringRequired: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 simultaneouslyDirect experience managing contract manufacturers in Asia (Taiwan, China, Korea, or Japan) including on‑site build oversight and supplier quality managementIntegrated Master Schedule ownership: building, maintaining, and defending schedules with 500+ tasks, cross‑functional dependency chains, and critical path analysisPhase gate process ownership: defining entry/exit criteria, assembling evidence packages, and presenting readiness arguments to senior leadershipChange control and configuration management discipline across hardware revisions and multi‑site buildsDeep understanding of PCB/PCBA manufacturing, supply chain management, yield optimization, and supplier corrective action processesStrong technical foundation: ability to read schematics, understand mechanical tolerances, and engage credibly with EE, ME, and FW engineers on design and manufacturing tradeoffsExcellent written and verbal communication: executive‑ready briefings, vendor negotiations, and the ability to translate technical complexity into leadership decision frameworksBachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or related technical fieldMust be able to qualify for an export control license (ITAR)Preferred:PgMP (Program Management Professional) or PMP certificationExperience with autonomous systems, UAS/drones, or robotics hardwareFamiliarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) principles applied to hardware programsExperience with schedule risk analysis (Monte Carlo simulation or equivalent probabilistic methods)Experience managing programs with $5M+ annual budgets and 5+ active vendors simultaneouslyMS Project, Jira, Confluence, or equivalent integrated scheduling and tracking toolsetsLean/Six Sigma methodology, PFMEA, or structured quality framework experienceExperience with ITAR/EAR‑controlled hardware programs and international shipment complianceMulti‑lingual or experience working across culturally diverse international teamsWhat Success Looks LikeWithin 90 days:Own the integrated hardware schedule, present critical path posture and top 5 risks to leadership with confidenceEstablish direct relationships with all contract manufacturers and key component vendorsComplete a full risk register review and present aggregate risk posture with current evidenceAbsorb current program state mid‑flight: every open risk, every pending build, every vendor dependency, every certification milestoneWithin 6 months:Successfully execute at least one major hardware build milestone (EVT or PVT) with formal phase gate reviewReduce hardware‑related schedule variance through proactive vendor management and early‑warning systemsBe the recognized single‑threaded owner for all hardware execution decisions -- engineering, manufacturing, and leadership know you are the personEstablish governance rhythm that the entire cross‑functional team relies onWithin 12 months:Ship certified hardware for international customer trials on scheduleBuild and execute the production ramp plan for international launchDeliver a lessons‑learned package that feeds the playbook for next‑generation productsDemonstrate measurable improvement in schedule predictability and risk response effectiveness vs. the baseline you inheritedBenefits that Benefit YouCompetitive salary and 401k with employer matchDiscretionary paid time offPaid parental leave for allFitness ProgramsEmotional & Mental Wellness supportAnd yes, we have snacks in our officesBenefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work.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.#J-18808-Ljbffr