diff --git a/smartsim/_core/launcher/dragon/dragonLauncher.py b/smartsim/_core/launcher/dragon/dragonLauncher.py
index 3eb900f31..1f4c5cc15 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/launcher/dragon/dragonLauncher.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/launcher/dragon/dragonLauncher.py
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 import smartsim._core.utils.helpers as _helpers
 from smartsim._core.schemas.dragonRequests import request_serializer
 from smartsim._core.schemas.dragonResponses import response_serializer
-from smartsim._core.schemas.types import NonEmptyStr
 
 from ....error import LauncherError
 from ....log import get_logger
@@ -371,7 +370,7 @@ def _get_managed_step_update(self, step_ids: t.List[str]) -> t.List[StepInfo]:
                     msg += response.error_message
                 raise LauncherError(msg)
 
-            status, ret_codes = response.statuses[NonEmptyStr(step_id)]
+            status, ret_codes = response.statuses[step_id]
             if ret_codes:
                 grp_ret_code = min(ret_codes)
                 if any(ret_codes):
diff --git a/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonRequests.py b/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonRequests.py
index 7ddfd28b5..01fa7285f 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonRequests.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonRequests.py
@@ -26,10 +26,9 @@
 
 import typing as t
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, PositiveInt
+from pydantic import BaseModel, PositiveInt, Field
 
 import smartsim._core.schemas.utils as _utils
-from smartsim._core.schemas.types import NonEmptyStr
 
 # Black and Pylint disagree about where to put the `...`
 # pylint: disable=multiple-statements
@@ -42,16 +41,16 @@ class DragonRequest(BaseModel): ...
 
 
 class DragonRunRequestView(DragonRequest):
-    exe: NonEmptyStr
-    exe_args: t.List[NonEmptyStr] = []
-    path: NonEmptyStr
+    exe: t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]
+    exe_args: t.List[t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]] = []
+    path: t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]
     nodes: PositiveInt = 1
     tasks: PositiveInt = 1
     tasks_per_node: PositiveInt = 1
-    output_file: t.Optional[NonEmptyStr] = None
-    error_file: t.Optional[NonEmptyStr] = None
+    output_file: t.Optional[t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]] = None
+    error_file: t.Optional[t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]] = None
     env: t.Dict[str, t.Optional[str]] = {}
-    name: t.Optional[NonEmptyStr]
+    name: t.Optional[t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]] = None
     pmi_enabled: bool = True
 
 
@@ -65,12 +64,12 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 
 @request_serializer.register("update_status")
 class DragonUpdateStatusRequest(DragonRequest):
-    step_ids: t.List[NonEmptyStr]
+    step_ids: t.List[t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]]
 
 
 @request_serializer.register("stop")
 class DragonStopRequest(DragonRequest):
-    step_id: NonEmptyStr
+    step_id: t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]
 
 
 @request_serializer.register("handshake")
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ class DragonHandshakeRequest(DragonRequest): ...
 
 @request_serializer.register("bootstrap")
 class DragonBootstrapRequest(DragonRequest):
-    address: NonEmptyStr
+    address: t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]
 
 
 @request_serializer.register("shutdown")
diff --git a/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonResponses.py b/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonResponses.py
index 09562c80a..3ef7532b1 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonResponses.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/schemas/dragonResponses.py
@@ -26,10 +26,9 @@
 
 import typing as t
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
 import smartsim._core.schemas.utils as _utils
-from smartsim._core.schemas.types import NonEmptyStr
 
 # Black and Pylint disagree about where to put the `...`
 # pylint: disable=multiple-statements
@@ -44,13 +43,16 @@ class DragonResponse(BaseModel):
 
 @response_serializer.register("run")
 class DragonRunResponse(DragonResponse):
-    step_id: NonEmptyStr
+    step_id: t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)]
 
 
 @response_serializer.register("status_update")
 class DragonUpdateStatusResponse(DragonResponse):
     # status is a dict: {step_id: (is_alive, returncode)}
-    statuses: t.Mapping[NonEmptyStr, t.Tuple[NonEmptyStr, t.Optional[t.List[int]]]] = {}
+    statuses: t.Mapping[
+        t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)],
+        t.Tuple[t.Annotated[str, Field(min_length=1)], t.Optional[t.List[int]]],
+    ] = {}
 
 
 @response_serializer.register("stop")
diff --git a/smartsim/_core/schemas/types.py b/smartsim/_core/schemas/types.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 7136230e8..000000000
--- a/smartsim/_core/schemas/types.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-# BSD 2-Clause License
-#
-# Copyright (c) 2021-2023, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
-# All rights reserved.
-#
-# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
-# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
-#
-# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
-#    list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
-#
-# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
-#    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
-#    and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
-#
-# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
-# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
-# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
-# DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
-# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
-# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
-# SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
-# CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
-# OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
-# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
-
-import pydantic
-
-
-class NonEmptyStr(pydantic.ConstrainedStr):
-    min_length = 1