Electrical Engineer – Early Career

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); On-site; USD 82,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Transit ECO Pass

Job summary

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder is seeking an early-career Electrical Engineer to join our Electrical Engineering Department in the development of advanced electronics for spacecraft and scientific instruments.

Our engineers design, build, test, and operate the electronics that enable scientific exploration of Earth, the Sun, the Moon, planets, and beyond.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Experience with electrical design, analysis, or testing from academic, internship, or professional roles.
• Ability to read schematics, datasheets, and engineering requirements.
• Familiarity with electrical lab equipment (oscilloscopes, DMMs, power supplies).
• Willingness to learn and collaborate in a multidisciplinary aerospace team.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to design, analysis, fabrication support, integration, and verification of spaceflight and ground-support electronics.
• Work under guidance of senior engineers while developing engineering practices and documentation.
• Collaborate with engineers across analog/digital domains and deliver reliable electronics for science missions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Hands-on electronics

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

Altium Designer

OrCAD

KiCad

LTspice

MATLAB

AMD Vivado

Microchip Libero

Job description

Job Summary

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at theUniversityof Colorado Boulder is seeking an early-careerElectrical Engineer to join our Electrical Engineering Department in the development of advanced electronics for spacecraft and scientific instruments.

Our engineers design, build, test, and operate the electronics that enable scientific exploration of Earth, the Sun, the Moon, planets, and beyond. We are looking for a motivated engineer who enjoyshands-on technical problem-solving and wants to develop expertise in the design and testing of high-reliability electronics for spaceflight applications.

As a member of the Electrical Engineering Department, you will work alongside experienced engineers on challenging projects that span analog and digital circuit design, embedded systems, FPGA development, electrical ground support equipment (EGSE), and spacecraft instrumentation. You will contribute to projects throughout the engineering lifecycle, from early concept and schematic design through hardware fabrication, laboratory testing, spacecraft integration, and mission operations.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or junior engineer seeking to develop strong technical foundations while contributing directly to real space missions. You will receive guidance and mentorship from experienced engineers while progressively taking ownership of engineering assignments and developing greater technical independence.

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

Founded a decade before NASA, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder is revolutionizing human understanding of the cosmos. LASP is deeply committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of space explorers. From enabling the first exploratory rocket measurements of Earth’s upper atmosphere to trailblazing observations of every planet in the solar system, LASP is at the forefront of solar, planetary and space physics research, space-weather monitoring, and the search for evidence of habitable worlds.

LASP advances scientific discovery and inspires the next generation through research, innovation, and education in space sciences. We employ over 700 scientists, engineers, support personnel, and students that work closely to cultivate creative ideas and explore novel solutions to make the impossible possible.

LASP is dedicated to building and maintaining a unique synergism of expertise in space science, engineering, and spacecraft operations. Through research projects, LASP participates actively in the training of the future leaders of space research and helps the University of Colorado to educate students with valued technical and scientific skills. Development and use of innovative technologies and continuing participation in new research initiatives ensures a strong leadership role for LASP into the future. LASP is proud of our work environment that supports employee creativity and productivity and offers opportunities for abroad range of experiences. Further information about LASP can be found here: https://lasp.colorado.edu/home/.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• As an early-career Electrical Engineer, you will contribute to the design, analysis, fabrication support, integration, and verification of spaceflight and ground-support electronics. Assignments will be aligned with your technical interests, demonstrated capabilities, and project needs, with increasing independence as you gain experience.


• You will work under the guidance of senior engineers while learning the engineering practices, technical rigor, and documentation processes required to develop reliable electronics for scientific spacecraft.


• Other Duties Assigned

What You Should Know

• This position is based in Boulder, Colorado, and requires regular onsite work supporting laboratory hardware development, testing, and collaboration with engineering teams.


• Assignments may support multiple spacecraft and scientific instrument programs at various stages of development.


• The Electrical Engineering Department includes both Analog and Digital engineering disciplines. Engineers may specialize in a particular technical area while contributing to multidisciplinary project teams.


• Occasional travel or work outside normal business hours may be required to support major integration, environmental testing, or mission activities.


• Due to requirements to access export-controlled data and information, only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), or other protected individuals (i.e., persons designated as an asylee, refugee, or temporary resident under amnesty provisions) may apply.


• LASP encourages continued technical development through mentorship, collaborative design reviews, hands-on laboratory work, and increasing engineering responsibility.

What We Can Offer

Annual Salary: $82,000 - $130,000.

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. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline. Recent graduates and applicants with up to approximately two years of relevant engineering experience are encouraged to apply.


• Foundational understanding of electrical circuit theory, analog and digital electronics, circuit analysis, and electronic components.


• Experience with electrical design, analysis, or testing gained through academic projects, laboratory coursework, research, internships, or professional employment.


• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, component datasheets, technical specifications, and engineering requirements.


• Familiarity with common electrical laboratory equipment, including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, programmable power supplies, and signal generators.


• Experience with or exposure to several electrical engineering design tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, KiCad, LTspice, MATLAB, or an equivalent application.


• Ability to document technical work clearly and communicate engineering results in written and verbal formats.


• Demonstrated ability to work constructively with others, incorporate technical feedback, and learn new engineering tools and methods.

What You Will Need

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an organized approach to engineering design, testing, and troubleshooting.


• An interest in hands-on electronics development and the ability to translate theoretical engineering concepts into practical hardware and test activities.


• Attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, well-documented engineering work.


• The ability to manage assigned tasks, communicate technical progress, and seek clarification or assistance when appropriate.


• Willingness to follow established engineering processes, safety requirements, and configuration-management practices.


• A collaborative mindset and an interest in learning from experienced engineers while developing independent technical judgment.


• Adaptability and enthusiasm for working across multiple engineering disciplines and projects.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience or exposure to one or more of the following areas is highly desirable. Candidates are not expected to have experience in every discipline.


• Circuit and PCB Design: Schematic capture, component selection, PCB layout, mixed-signal electronics, or electronics assembly and test.


• Digital Electronics and FPGAs: Digital logic, VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, FPGA simulation, verification, or development using AMD Vivado, Microchip Libero, or similar environments.


• Analog and Sensor Electronics: Operational amplifiers, analog signal conditioning, ADC/DAC interfaces, precision measurement circuits, or low-noise analog design.


• Power Electronics: DC/DC converters, voltage regulators, power distribution, battery interfaces, or power-conversion circuits.


• Embedded Systems: Microcontrollers, digital interfaces, SPI, I²C, UART, or embedded hardware/software integration.


• Test and Automation: Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, automated test equipment, data acquisition, test scripting, or hardware-in-the-loop testing.


• Electrical Integration: Harness design, electrical ground support equipment, electrical interfaces, cable fabrication, or electronics troubleshooting.


• Engineering Tools and Processes: Altium Designer, OrCAD, KiCad, LTspice, SolidWorks Electrical, Git, Jira, requirements verification, or technical configuration management.


• High-Reliability Electronics: Spacecraft or aerospace projects, CubeSats, student satellite programs, component derating, environmental testing, or high-reliability electronic assembly practices.


• Relevant experience may come from academic research, internships, personal engineering.