Staff Wireless Software Engineer (San Francisco)

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 are developing the next generation of mission-critical communications systems to builds mission-critical devices used by public-safety professionals worldwide. As a Staff Wireless Software Engineer, you will be a technical leader driving architecture and implementation of wireless protocol stacks, transport abstraction layers, and real-time communication systems across our devices. You will operate at the intersection of RF, embedded systems, and cloud-connected software.This is a hands-on technical role with broad architectural influence.Work Location: This role is eligible to be based out of Axon's US hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Scottsdale (HQ), San Francisco, or Seattle, and follows a hybrid schedule. We rely on in-person collaboration and ask that team members work onsite 4 days per week, 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.Reports to: VP of Software EngineeringDirect Reports: 0What You'll Do:You will be tasked with solving the toughest wireless problems our products face: translating research into resilient, high-performance PHY/MAC systems; architecting firmware and toolchains that meet extreme latency, power, and reliability targets; and defining the wireless roadmap that balances innovation, manufacturability, and real-world performance. You will shape how our devices connect and perform at scale — from lab prototypes to deployed fleets — and your work will be judged by field performance under real conditions, not just simulations. This mission-critical wireless systems require both RF understanding and deep systems software expertise. This position sits at that boundary and defines the reliability and trust of the entire communications platform..Lead design and implementation of wireless communication stacks (LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi, sidelink, mesh, P2P, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC....)Architect low-latency, high-reliability PTT and real-time voice transport systemsDevelop transport abstraction layers across multiple radios and networksOptimize performance (latency, jitter, packet loss, handover behavior)Collaborate with RF, hardware, and firmware teams to ensure end-to-end system performanceDrive modem integration (e.g., Qualcomm, MediaTek) and carrier certification effortsImplement QoS, prioritization, and congestion control mechanismsContribute to secure communication layers (encryption, key management, secure boot integration)Define metrics and instrumentation for wireless performance at scaleMentor engineers and set technical direction across projectsWhat You Bring10+ years experience in wireless software developmentStrong C/C++ experience in embedded or systems environmentsDeep understanding of wireless protocols (LTE, 5G NR, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sidelink, or mesh)Experience working with modem vendors (e.g., Qualcomm SDKs)Experience with real-time systems and low-latency audio transportStrong networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, UDP, RTP, QUIC, QoS)Familiarity with RF performance constraints (RSSI, SINR, handovers, link budgets)Experience debugging packet-level and radio-layer issuesAdditional preferable skills:Experience with mission-critical communications (LMR, MCPTT, public safety)Experience with 3GPP standards (Rel 16+)Experience with 5G sidelink (PC5) or device-to-device protocolsExperience implementing mesh or MANET routingKnowledge of secure communications (AES, TLS, PKI, FIPS environments)Familiarity with Android/Linux device platformsExperience with satellite backhaul or hybrid transport systemsBenefits that Benefit YouCompetitive salary and 401k with employer matchDiscretionary paid time offPaid parental leave for allMedical, Dental, Vision plansFitness ProgramsEmotional & Mental Wellness supportLearning & Development programsEmployee Resource Groups (ERGs)And yes, we have snacks in our officesBenefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work.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 .Base Pay Range$168,750—$270,000 USDDon’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 NotesThe 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 View email address on apply.placed-app.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 View email address on apply.placed-app.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 . 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 View email address on apply.placed-app.com.