Autonomous Flight Systems Engineer

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ECO Pass for local transit

Tuition assistance for you and your de

Job summary

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) is seeking a Flight Hardware and System Integration Engineer to design, fabricate, and maintain autonomous aerial vehicle hardware for robotics research. You will design flight platforms, develop PCBs, integrate sensors, and assemble complete flight systems for lab testing and demonstrations.

You will work with researchers on perception, guidance, and control algorithms, maintain vehicle models and mass

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in robotics, engineering, or related field.
• Experience with CAD design using SolidWorks or similar software.
• Hands-on fabrication including 3D printing, soldering, machining, wiring, and mechanical assembly.
• Experience designing PCBs using KiCad, Altium Designer, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with embedded electronics, sensors, connectors, and electrical integration.
• Python programming experience and basic familiarity with ROS2.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and rapid prototyping, integration, and testing of new hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, assemble, and maintain custom drone platforms for lab research and flight testing.
• Build and maintain CAD models using SolidWorks; design and integrate PCBs for embedded sensing.
• Integrate sensors (cameras, radar, IMUs, GPS, etc.) and develop mounting solutions while considering manufacturability.
• Maintain vehicle models, mass properties, and hardware configurations for simulation and flight software.
• Prototype components using additive manufacturing, machining, soldering, and general lab fabrication; diagnose and repair hardware.
• Support flight operations by preparing aircraft and verifying hardware functionality.

Skills

CAD design

3D printing

Soldering

Machining

Wiring

Mechanical assembly

Embedded electronics

Sensors

Electrical integration

Python

ROS2

Troubleshooting

Rapid prototyping

Education

Bachelor's degree in robotics or engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

SolidWorks

KiCad

Altium Designer

ROS2

Job description

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) is seeking a Flight Hardware and System Integration Engineer to design, fabricate, and maintain autonomous aerial vehicle hardware for robotics research. You will design flight platforms, develop PCBs, integrate sensors, and assemble complete flight systems for lab testing and demonstrations.

You will work with researchers on perception, guidance, and control algorithms, maintain vehicle models and mass