DFx Engineering Program Manager II

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

We have an aggressive schedule for development and release of next generation De-escalation Devices. The NPI group is driving changes to ensure that new products can be built at scale with high yield and low cost, and we need highly skilled, motivated, technical people to set expectations and drive results from various internal and external factory and design teams. You’ll work with a wide range of functional teams and always have opportunities to make a meaningful impact across the organization.

What You’ll Do

Location: Hybrid working with 2 days a week in the HCMC office
Reports to: Director, NPI Engineering
Direct Reports: None

As a DFx Engineering Program Manager II, you will own end-to-end manufacturability, testability, reliability, cost, and sustainability for new hardware programs from concept through mass production with APAC contract and joint-development manufacturers (CM and JDM). Acting as the primary technical interface between Axon design engineering and factory teams, you will drive DFM, DFA, DFT, DFR, and DFC reviews, complete tolerance and stack-up analyses, and close design gaps uncovered during EVT, DVT, and PVT builds. You will define factory acceptance criteria, bring up automated test stations, characterize process capability using SPC, and lead yield-improvement loops through root-cause failure analysis. You will execute ramp-readiness audits covering equipment qualification , line balancing, operator training, and material traceability.
The role requires up to 30 % travel to factories in Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. Success is measured by NPI gate adherence, cost reduction, first-pass yield, and shipped-product quality.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and execute contract-manufacturer builds through Axon Product Lifecycle gates (SP, EVT, DVT, PVT) with clear readiness metrics and exit criteria.
• Drive DFM, DFA, DFT, DFR, and DFC reviews to ensure scalable, cost-efficient designs.
• Develop and qualify assembly, test, and automation processes; specify tooling, fixtures, line layouts, and equipment.
• Perform tolerance and stack-up analyses on critical assemblies, jigs, and fixtures.
• Produce CAD for tooling, jigs, and factory layouts in SolidWorks or equivalent.
• Design and run DOEs to optimize process parameters and confirm capability (Cpk ≥ 1.33).
• Monitor yield and process capability with SPC dashboards; trigger corrective actions from data trends.
• Lead root-cause and corrective-action activities using 8D, Ishikawa, and fault-tree methods.
• Create and maintain PFMEA, control plans, process-flow diagrams, hazard analyses, and build documentation.
• Align with contract manufacturers on equipment readiness, operator training, and capacity; provide up to 30 % on-site support in Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.
• Deliver concise build summaries and technical updates to engineering, operations, and executive teams.
• Execute continuous-improvement projects leveraging Lean and Six Sigma tools where beneficial.

Qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or related engineering discipline
• 5+ years NPI and DFx engineering for electronics or electromechanical hardware; SMT and FATP line ownership
• Successful mass-production launches of complex, ruggedized devices for public-safety or comparable use-cases
• Mastery of DFM/DFA/DFT, fixture design, GD&T, and SolidWorks or equivalent CAD
• Deep knowledge of SMT, flexible and rigid PCBAs, board-to-board connectors, and mixed-technology assembly
• Process expertise: laser welding (metal/plastic), PSA, liquid adhesives, crimping, mechanical fastening
• Automation and robotics integration, vision-guided systems, and factory layout design
• Test and inspection development: pressure-decay, AOI, ICT, functional and electrical tests
• Statistical toolkit: DOE, GR&R, SPC, Cp/Cpk analysis
• Proven CM/JDM engagement across Southeast Asia; on-site factory support up to 30 % travel
• Clear, concise technical communication and cross-functional coordination

Benefits that Benefit You

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance 
• Robust Paid Time Off policy 
• Bonuses 
• Lunch allowance 
• Cell phone stipend 
• Free Udemy account 
• Access to 24/7 online emotional and mental support 
• Gym membership 
• Free parking 
• Stocked fridges and pantries - free coffee, cold beverages, snacks 
• Annual Company Outing Trip 
• Monthly team social activities

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.