Sr Electrical Engineer I
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:
Dedrone stands out as the global leader in airspace defense technology and counter UAS solutions. Engineering at Dedrone is tasked with delivering innovative solutions and products to maintain our position on the cutting-edge of innovation.
Sr. Electrical Engineers at Dedrone have full design ownership over next‑generation cUAS technology from conceptualization through production, and their work is highly visible to senior executives. Our passionate leadership and cross‑functional collaboration with product managers, mechanical engineers, industrial designers, and manufacturing teams is vital to the success of the team and ensuring the safety of the general public for generations to come.
This role emphasizes electrical system architecture, PCB design, firmware integration, RF and power systems, and system‑level verification. The ideal candidate will have strong hands‑on experience with schematic capture, PCB layout, mixed‑signal design, embedded firmware, and designing for rugged/regulated environments.
Location: Onsite at our offices in Sterling, VA
What You'll Do:
- Lead electrical system and subsystem development from concept through production, ensuring designs meet safety, EMC, and reliability standards.
- Define electrical architectures for sensors, radios, power distribution, and control electronics for cUAS platforms.
- Design and review schematics and perform PCB layout for mixed‑signal and RF boards; partner with mechanical for packaging and thermal constraints.
- Develop, validate, and optimize power systems (battery management, DC/DC, power sequencing) and ensure robust operation under shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.
- Implement and integrate embedded firmware for real‑time control, sensor fusion, communications stacks, and boot/load mechanisms.
- Perform hardware bring‑up, debugging, and system integration; use lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers) to characterize performance.
- Conduct electrical analysis including signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation, thermal considerations, and reliability testing.
- Produce high‑fidelity prototypes and iterate quickly to qualify designs; develop test plans and lead verification and validation activities.
- Collaborate regularly with domestic and international stakeholders across engineering, product, and manufacturing teams.
- Rigorously document and manage electrical design specifications, BOMs, firmware releases, test reports, and compliance evidence (e.g., EMC, safety).
What You Bring:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- Proven experience in electrical design and system integration for complex hardware products—ideally in aerospace, defense, robotics, or wireless systems.
- Proficiency with schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium, OrCAD, KiCad) and experience with DFM/DFX practices.
- Strong embedded firmware experience in C/C++ (RTOS and bare‑metal), bootloaders, and hardware abstraction layers; familiarity with microcontrollers (ARM Cortex family, ESP32, STM32) and single‑board computers (Raspberry Pi) a plus.
- Hands‑on experience with RF front‑ends, antenna integration, and familiarity with wireless protocols relevant to cUAS (Wi‑Fi, LTE, custom radios); experience with spectrum analysis and RF test equipment.
- Expertise in power electronics design: battery management systems, DC/DC converters, power sequencing, and thermal management for electronics.
- Solid understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC mitigation techniques, and relevant test/qualification methods.
- Experience with schematic/PCB review processes, design reviews, and partner manufacturing to move designs to production.
- Familiarity with MIL‑STD, DO‑178/DO‑254 concepts or other ruggedization and regulatory requirements for defense or industrial hardware is preferred.
- Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities; comfort debugging at the board and system level.
- Excellent communication skills to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and present technical tradeoffs to stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with high levels of ambiguity.
Work Location
This role is based out of either our Sterling, VA 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 that Benefit You
- 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
Benefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work
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.
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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.
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