Sr. Product Safety & Compliance Engineer I

Axon Axon · Enterprise · Sterling, VA · 2024 Dedrone R&D

This role focuses on ensuring the safety and regulatory compliance of defense and commercial products, involving system safety analyses, standards interpretation, and lab safety oversight. It requires expertise in MIL-SPEC and commercial certification frameworks, with a strong emphasis on early design-phase guidance.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as the authoritative voice on which safety & performance standards govern each product, distinguishing between MIL-SPEC, UL, and other applicable frameworks, and guide engineering teams accordingly from day one of the design process.
  2. Lead system safety analyses including hazard identification, FMEA/FMECA, and risk mitigation planning in accordance with MIL-STD-882 and applicable commercial standards.
  3. Proactively engage with design and development teams during conceptualization and prototyping to ensure safety and compliance requirements are designed in, not retrofitted.
  4. Own the regulatory compliance roadmap for new and existing products, including UL certification processes where applicable and OSHA-compliant engineering documentation where UL listings do not apply.
  5. Oversee safety in the development lab and advise on manufacturing environment requirements, including high voltage work procedures, PPE programs, and lockout/tagout compliance per NFPA 70E and OSHA 1910, etc.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Demonstrated experience in product safety compliance for high voltage electromechanical systems, preferably spanning both commercial and defense product lines.
  • Deep familiarity with MIL-STD-882 system safety and hazard analysis methodology.
  • Working knowledge of applicable UL standards for high voltage and industrial products (e.g., UL 508A, UL 840) and the ability to determine when and whether they apply.
  • Understanding of OSHA 29 CFR 1910 general industry standards and the relationship between OSHA, NFPA 70E, and product certification requirements.
  • Experience managing lab and manufacturing floor safety programs, including LOTO, PPE selection, and high voltage work procedures.
  • Familiarity with MIL-STDs governing harsh environment design (MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461) and component derating practices (MIL-HDBK-217).
  • Strong analytical and communication skills, specifically able to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for engineering teams and non-technical stakeholders alike.
  • Ability to work autonomously and cross-functionally in a fast-paced, high-ambiguity environment.

Nice to have

  • Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and/or Certified Functional Safety Expert (CFSE) designation

What the JD emphasized

  • safety & performance standards
  • MIL-SPEC
  • commercial certification
  • system safety analyses
  • hazard identification
  • risk mitigation planning
  • MIL-STD-882
  • regulatory compliance roadmap
  • UL certification
  • OSHA
  • lab safety
  • high voltage work procedures
  • PPE programs
  • lockout/tagout compliance
  • NFPA 70E
  • OSHA 1910