The job, in the employer's words
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.
About Axon
Axon’s mission is bold and simple: Protect Life. We build technology that gives first responders, enterprises and communities the clarity to act in the moments that matter most.
Our Real-Time Operations (RTO) portfolio, powered by Fusus, is transforming how public safety and security organisations detect, assess and respond to incidents. By connecting live video, devices and operational systems, we help customers build a shared understanding of what is happening—and respond with greater confidence.
We’re looking for a Director of Software Engineering to help build and scale the mission-critical software behind these experiences.
The Role
As Director of Software Engineering within Real-Time Operations, you will lead multiple engineering teams delivering secure, reliable and scalable software for public safety and enterprise customers.
You will own the technical direction and engineering execution for your area, translating product priorities into clear plans and measurable outcomes. Working closely with Product, Design and other engineering leaders, you will guide architectural decisions, develop engineering talent and ensure teams deliver software that customers can depend on.
This role requires a leader who combines technical depth with strong people leadership. You will be comfortable moving between long-term strategy and delivery detail—challenging assumptions, making trade-offs and creating the conditions for teams to do their best work.
Your Impact
- Deliver technology that matters. Lead teams building software that supports real-time situational awareness and incident response.
- Shape technical direction. Establish a clear technical strategy that balances customer needs, platform reuse and long-term maintainability.
- Build strong teams. Develop engineering managers and technical leaders, strengthening ownership, collaboration and accountability.
- Raise engineering standards. Improve reliability, security and delivery quality across systems that span devices, cloud services and user-facing applications.
- Connect strategy to execution. Partner with Product and Design to turn customer problems into prioritised roadmaps and dependable delivery.
What You’ll Do
Reports to: VP, Software Engineering
Work Location: This role is based out of our London 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.
Role & Responsibilities:
- Lead and develop multiple software engineering teams, setting clear expectations for technical quality, delivery and team performance.
- Partner with Product and Design to define roadmaps, sequence investments and make informed trade-offs between new capabilities, platform improvements and technical debt.
- Guide architecture and system-design decisions across your area, engaging directly with engineers on complex technical challenges.
- Build engineering practices that strengthen testing, code review, CI/CD, observability and deployment confidence.
- Own the operational health of your services, using incidents and customer feedback to drive lasting improvements.
- Hire, coach and develop engineering managers, technical leads and engineers; address performance issues with clarity and candour.
- Collaborate across Axon to deliver integrated experiences and resolve dependencies between teams.
- Work with Security, Privacy and Compliance partners to embed customer and regulatory requirements into engineering decisions.
- Communicate progress, risks and trade-offs clearly, creating alignment without adding unnecessary processes.
What You Bring
- At least 15 years of total experience in software engineering, including at least 5 years in engineering leadership roles, with experience leading teams and developing engineering leaders.
- A track record of delivering complex software products through multiple teams, from planning and architecture through launch and operation.
- Strong technical fluency in distributed systems, cloud services and modern software architecture.
- Experience building secure, reliable systems where availability, performance and customer trust are critical.
- Proven ability to balance delivery commitments with the investment needed to improve platform quality and maintainability.
- Strong judgement in ambiguous environments, with the ability to make decisions, explain trade-offs and adapt as new information emerges.
- Experience partnering closely with Product, Design and other engineering organisations.
- A commitment to building inclusive, high-trust teams and developing talent.
Preferred Experience
- Real-time systems, video streaming, IoT or device-to-cloud architectures.
- Enterprise security, public safety technology or other mission-critical software environments.
- Platform modernisation, complex integrations or scaling products across international markets.
Who You Are
- Mission-driven: You connect engineering decisions to meaningful outcomes for customers and communities.
- Customer-obsessed: You work backwards from customer needs and stay close to how your software is used.
- Technically credible: You ask insightful questions, challenge assumptions and help teams make sound architectural decisions.
- A multiplier: You develop other leaders and create an environment where teams can take ownership and succeed.
- Candid and collaborative: You give clear feedback, welcome different perspectives and join forces across organisational boundaries.
- Accountable for outcomes: You bring focus to complex priorities and follow through on commitments.
Benefits that Benefit You
- Competitive base salary and RSUs.
- Comprehensive pension plan with matching contribution
- Private health insurance & cash plans
- 30 days paid holiday + UK public holidays
- Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
- GymPass subscription
- Life assurance & income protection
- Career growth support and wellness resources
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.
We collect personal information from applicants to evaluate candidates for employment. You may request access, deletion, or exercise other CCPA rights at axongreenhousesupport@axon.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 recruitingops@axon.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 https://www.axon.com/careers. 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 recruitingops@axon.com.
Benefits mentioned
- Competitive base salary and RSUs.
- Comprehensive pension plan with matching contribution
- Private health insurance & cash plans
- 30 days paid holiday + UK public holidays
- Enhanced maternity/paternity leave
- GymPass subscription
- Life assurance & income protection
- Career growth support and wellness resources
- 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.
Requirements mentioned
- At least 15 years of total experience in software engineering, including at least 5 years in engineering leadership roles, with experience leading teams and developing engineering leaders.
- A track record of delivering complex software products through multiple teams, from planning and architecture through launch and operation.
- Strong technical fluency in distributed systems, cloud services and modern software architecture.
- Experience building secure, reliable systems where availability, performance and customer trust are critical.
- Proven ability to balance delivery commitments with the investment needed to improve platform quality and maintainability.
- Strong judgement in ambiguous environments, with the ability to make decisions, explain trade-offs and adapt as new information emerges.
- Experience partnering closely with Product, Design and other engineering organisations.
- A commitment to building inclusive, high-trust teams and developing talent.
- Mission-driven: You connect engineering decisions to meaningful outcomes for customers and communities.
- Customer-obsessed: You work backwards from customer needs and stay close to how your software is used.
- Technically credible: You ask insightful questions, challenge assumptions and help teams make sound architectural decisions.
- A multiplier: You develop other leaders and create an environment where teams can take ownership and succeed.
- Candid and collaborative: You give clear feedback, welcome different perspectives and join forces across organisational boundaries.
- Accountable for outcomes: You bring focus to complex priorities and follow through on commitments.
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