Job Summary
The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) is seeking
an accomplished Principal System Engineer to provide technical
leadership for the development of world-class scientific
instruments supporting a broad range of spaceflight missions. These
instruments span Earth science, planetary science, heliophysics,
astrophysics, and emerging national and international space
initiatives.
As a Systems Engineer, you will serve as the technical integrator
for LASP instruments throughout formulation, development,
integration, environmental testing, launch, and mission operations.
Working closely with scientists, project managers, and
multidisciplinary engineering team, you will ensure that scientific
objectives remain aligned with engineering decisions throughout the
instrument lifecycle.
This is an opportunity to influence every aspect of flight
instruments while working alongside internationally recognized
scientists, engineers, and mission partners. Successful candidates
are team focused, thrive in technically ambiguous environments,
make sound engineering decisions with incomplete information, and
know how to balance scientific performance, technical risk, cost,
and schedule to deliver exceptional science.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all
applicable federal, state, and local laws governing
nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a
workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and
dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to
apply, including protected veterans and individuals with
disabilities.
Who We Are
LASP combines the agility of a university laboratory with the
technical capability of a premier space mission organization.
Engineers work directly alongside scientists, students, and mission
operators, allowing technical decisions to move quickly while
maintaining scientific excellence.
As part of the University of Colorado Boulder (CU), LASP began in
1948 and is a world-recognized space science research institute
that implements the full life cycle of science missions from the
definition of the science questions through the development of
space flight hardware and the subsequent mission operations. We are
the only research institute in the world to have sent science
instruments to all eight planets, Pluto, and beyond the solar
system.
LASP combines all aspects of space exploration through our
expertise in science, engineering, mission operations, and
scientific data analysis. As part of CU, LASP also works to educate
and train the next generation of space scientists, engineers and
mission operators by integrating undergraduate and graduate
students into working teams. Our students take their unique
experiences with them into government or industry or remain in
academia to continue the cycle of exploration.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
As a principal SE, you will become the technical conscience of an
instrument, ensuring that engineering decisions made across
disciplines remain aligned with the mission's scientific
objectives. You will serve as a technical leader within the Systems
Engineering organization by mentoring early-career engineers,
shaping systems engineering practices for the instruments, and
making instrument-level technical decisions related to the
successful verification and validation of the instrument
requirements to meet science objectives.
Technical Leadership
- Serve as a technical authority for the flight instrument
throughout formulation, development, integration, launch, and
commissioning.
Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams spanning mechanical,
electrical, optical, thermal, software, I&T, contamination
control, reliability, and science.
Foster a collaborative engineering culture emphasizing
technical excellence and sound engineering judgment.
Mentor junior systems engineers and contribute to the growth of
the project's systems engineering organization.
Instrument Architecture
- Define and evolve the instrument technical architecture.
- Own instrument requirements, interfaces, verification planning,
and technical baseline.
- Guide instrument-level trade studies balancing science
performance, technical risk, cost, and schedule.
- Participate in the development of the Systems Engineering
Management Plan and Concept of Operations.
- Lead instrument technical reviews.
Integration to the Spacecraft
- Participate in the development of spacecraft-to-instrument
interface definitions.
- Represent the instrument team in spacecraft technical
interactions.
- Ensure successful accommodation of instrument resources
including mass, power, thermal, pointing, data volume, EMC, and
fault management.
- Guide instrument and spacecraft-interface verifications
throughout integration and test.
- Other Duties Assigned.
Instrument Development
- Lead development of instrument assembly, integration,
environmental testing, calibration, and characterization.
- Coordinate specialty engineering activities including
contamination control, reliability, radiation, safety, and fault
protection.
- Manage instrument technical resources and performance
margins.
- Lead anomaly investigations throughout development and
operations.
What Success Looks Like
- Deliver a flight instrument that has verified and validated
instrument requirements to meet science objectives while balancing
technical performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
- Build a technically cohesive instrument team that collaborates
effectively across disciplines.
- Inspire confidence among scientists, engineers, project
management, and mission partners.
- Enable groundbreaking science through robust engineering
decisions.
- Establish an instrument architecture that successfully supports
mission operations throughout the life of the mission.
What You Should Know
- Due to ITAR requirements, only US citizens and permanent
residents may apply.
- International travel may be required.
- Relocation assistance may be available for this position.
What We Can Offer
Annual Salary $145,000 - $230,000.
Benefits
At the
University of Colorado Boulder , we are
committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our
employees. Our comprehensive
benefits package includes medical,
dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition
assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local
transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder
offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class
outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through
the
CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible aerospace
systems engineering experience.
- BS or higher degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a
related technical field from an accredited institution.
- Strong technical background in another engineering
discipline.
- Experience leading development of a flight instrument.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Experience with requirements development, interface control,
and verification.
- Experience through environmental testing and delivery.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Experience with NASA Class C/D missions.
- Experience developing remote sensing instruments.
- Knowledge of IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS
Next.
- An understanding of the difference between academic and
commercial aerospace environments.
- An awareness of the methods of scientific data analysis.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Resume or CV.
- Cover Letter.
(Optional) Transcripts/Proof of Degree: If you are selected as the
finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus
Human Resources Department using an approved online vendor.
However, if your degree was obtained outside of the United States,
please submit an English-translated version as an Optional
document.
Please apply by 9/11/2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For
consideration, applications must be submitted through
CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in
any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying
information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school
attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting
or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu
