Sr. Product Manager, C2 Sterling, Virginia, United States Sterling, Virginia

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. Dedrone, now part of Axon, is the global leader in smart airspace security, protecting critical infrastructure, military installations, and public spaces worldwide. Our comprehensive command and control (C2) solution safeguards hundreds of commercial, government, and military customers from unauthorized drone threats while enabling secure drone operations. Through AI-powered technology, we deliver continuous, autonomous drone detection, tracking, and mitigation capabilities, all unified on a single integrated platform. Our battle-tested solutions combine multi-sensor detection and mitigation options to defend against emerging airspace threats, while supporting authorized drone operations including public safety and first responder missions. As part of Axon’s ecosystem, we’re advancing both defense and public safety capabilities through innovative airspace security solutions. Whether deployed on-premise, air-gapped, or in the cloud, Dedrone provides unmatched protection for sensitive sites, facilities, and communities worldwide. Your Impact As Senior Product Manager for Software & Machine Learning at Dedrone, you will drive the product strategy and execution for a designated software product or capability area within Dedrone's counter-drone platform. Dedrone's software spans AI/ML-powered detection and classification, sensor fusion, tracking, and the command and control (C2) application — and you will own a defined piece of that stack, making it smarter, faster, and more reliable. You will work at the intersection of machine learning, computer vision, sensor fusion, and operational software to deliver capabilities that keep pace with rapidly evolving drone threats. This role offers the chance to shape cutting‑edge AI/ML products in a mission‑critical domain, collaborating directly with data scientists, software engineers, UX designers, and customers who depend on our technology every day. What You’ll Do Location: This role is based out of 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. Reports to: VP of Product Direct Reports: N/A Software & ML Product Strategy: Own and drive the product vision, strategy, and roadmap for a designated area of Dedrone's software platform or ML/AI capabilities — which may include detection algorithms, classification models, tracking systems, sensor fusion, or the user‑facing command and control (C2) application. Ensure alignment with company goals, customer needs, and market trends. AI/ML Product Development: Partner with data science and ML engineering teams to define model requirements, training data strategies, performance benchmarks, and deployment pipelines. Translate operational needs into ML product specifications. Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with software engineering, data science, UX/design, QA, and DevOps teams to prioritize features, manage sprints, and deliver high‑quality software releases on time. Customer Engagement: Engage directly with customers to understand their operational workflows, pain points, and feature needs. Gather and synthesize feedback to drive product improvements that increase adoption and customer satisfaction. Data‑Driven Decision Making: Define and track product metrics and KPIs including model accuracy, detection rates, false alarm rates, system uptime, and user engagement. Use data to inform roadmap prioritization and validate product impact. Market and Competitive Analysis: Stay current on advancements in AI/ML, computer vision, drone technology, and competing counter‑UAS software solutions. Identify opportunities to differentiate through technology and user experience. Platform and Architecture Input: Collaborate with engineering leadership on platform architecture decisions, API design, and integration strategies to ensure scalability, security, and interoperability across deployment environments (cloud, on‑premise, air‑gapped). Release and Deployment: Coordinate software release planning, feature rollouts, and customer deployments. Ensure smooth transitions from development through testing, staging, and production environments. Stakeholder Communication: Communicate product vision, roadmap, and progress to senior leadership, sales, customer success, and cross‑functional partners. Build alignment around product priorities and tradeoffs. What You Bring Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience. 5+ years of product management experience with a proven track record of shipping software products, including experience with AI/ML or data‑intensive applications. Strong understanding of machine learning concepts, model development lifecycles, and how ML systems are built, evaluated, and deployed in production. Experience working with agile software development teams and managing complex backlogs across multiple workstreams. Ability to translate ambiguous customer problems into well‑defined product requirements and technical specifications. Strong analytical skills with experience defining and tracking product metrics to drive decisions. Excellent communication skills with the ability to bridge technical and non‑technical audiences. Nice to Have Experience with computer vision, object detection/tracking, or sensor fusion technologies. Familiarity with deploying ML models in edge, on‑premise, or air‑gapped environments. Defense, aerospace, or public safety industry experience, particularly with C2 or situational awareness systems. Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerized deployment architectures. Existing, prior, or ability to obtain US Secret Security Clearance. Benefits that Benefit You Competitive salary and 401k with employer match Discretionary paid time off Paid parental leave for all Fitness Programs Emotional & Mental Wellness support 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. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note that this email address is for accommodation purposes only. Axon will not respond to inquiries for other purposes. #J-18808-Ljbffr