Electrical Engineer – Early Career

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Transit pass (ECO Pass)

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) seeks an early‑career Electrical Engineer to join our Electrical Engineering Department in developing advanced electronics for spacecraft and scientific instruments.

You will design, build, test, and operate electronics enabling exploration of Earth, the Sun, and beyond, with hands‑on problem solving and growing expertise in high‑reliability spaceflight electronics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
• Recent graduates or early-career engineers encouraged to apply.
• Foundational understanding of electrical circuit theory.

Responsibilities

• As an early-career Electrical Engineer, contribute to design, analysis, fabrication support, integration and verification of spaceflight and ground-support electronics.
• Work under guidance of senior engineers while learning practices, rigor, and documentation for reliable space electronics.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Electrical design

Schematic reading

Lab testing

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

OrCAD

KiCad

LTspice

MATLAB

Job description

Job Summary

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

Our engineers design, build, test, and operate the electronics thatenable 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 expertisein the design and testing of high-reliability electronics forspaceflight applications.

As a member of the Electrical Engineering Department, you will workalongside experienced engineers on challenging projects that spananalog and digital circuit design, embedded systems, FPGAdevelopment, electrical ground support equipment (EGSE), andspacecraft instrumentation. You will contribute to projectsthroughout the engineering lifecycle, from early concept andschematic design through hardware fabrication, laboratory testing,spacecraft integration, and mission operations.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or juniorengineer seeking to develop strong technical foundations whilecontributing directly to real space missions. You will receiveguidance and mentorship from experienced engineers whileprogressively taking ownership of engineering assignments anddeveloping greater technical independence.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

Founded a decade before NASA, the Laboratory for Atmospheric andSpace Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder isrevolutionizing human understanding of the cosmos. LASP is deeplycommitted to inspiring and educating the next generation of spaceexplorers. From enabling the first exploratory rocket measurementsof Earth’s upper atmosphere to trailblazing observations of everyplanet in the solar system, LASP is at the forefront of solar,planetary and space physics research, space-weather monitoring, andthe search for evidence of habitable worlds.

LASP advances scientific discovery and inspires the next generationthrough research, innovation, and education in space sciences. Weemploy over 700 scientists, engineers, support personnel, andstudents that work closely to cultivate creative ideas and explorenovel solutions to make the impossible possible.

LASP is dedicated to building and maintaining a unique synergism ofexpertise in space science, engineering, and spacecraft operations.Through research projects, LASP participates actively in thetraining of the future leaders of space research and helps theUniversity of Colorado to educate students with valued technicaland scientific skills. Development and use of innovativetechnologies and continuing participation in new researchinitiatives ensures a strong leadership role for LASP into thefuture. LASP is proud of our work environment that supportsemployee creativity and productivity and offers opportunities for abroad range of experiences. Further information about LASP can befound here: https://lasp.colorado.edu/home/.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• As an early-career Electrical Engineer, you will contribute tothe design, analysis, fabrication support, integration, andverification of spaceflight and ground-support electronics.Assignments will be aligned with your technical interests,demonstrated capabilities, and project needs, with increasingindependence as you gain experience.
• You will work under the guidance of senior engineers whilelearning the engineering practices, technical rigor, anddocumentation processes required to develop reliable electronicsfor scientific spacecraft.
• Other Duties Assigned

What You Should Know

• This position is based in Boulder, Colorado, and requiresregular onsite work supporting laboratory hardware development,testing, and collaboration with engineering teams.
• Assignments may support multiple spacecraft and scientificinstrument programs at various stages of development.
• The Electrical Engineering Department includes both Analog andDigital engineering disciplines. Engineers may specialize in a particular technical area while contributing to multidisciplinaryproject teams.
• Occasional travel or work outside normal business hours may berequired to support major integration, environmental testing, ormission activities.
• Due to requirements to access export-controlled data andinformation, only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (greencard holders), or other protected individuals (i.e., personsdesignated as an asylee, refugee, or temporary resident underamnesty provisions) may apply.
• LASP encourages continued technical development throughmentorship, 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 arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America"s BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, ComputerEngineering, or a closely related engineering discipline. Recentgraduates and applicants with up to approximately two years ofrelevant engineering experience are encouraged to apply.
• Foundational understanding of electrical circuit theory, analogand digital electronics, circuit analysis, and electroniccomponents.
• Experience with electrical design, analysis, or testing gainedthrough academic projects, laboratory coursework, research,internships, or professional employment.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, componentdatasheets, technical specifications, and engineeringrequirements.
• Familiarity with common electrical laboratory equipment,including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, programmable powersupplies, and signal generators.
• Experience with or exposure to several electrical engineeringdesign tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, KiCad, LTspice,MATLAB, or an equivalent application.
• Ability to document technical work clearly and communicateengineering results in written and verbal formats.
• Demonstrated ability to work constructively with others,incorporate technical feedback, and learn new engineering tools andmethods.

What You Will Need

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an organizedapproach to engineering design, testing, and troubleshooting.
• An interest in hands-on electronics development and the abilityto translate theoretical engineering concepts into practicalhardware and test activities.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate,well-documented engineering work.
• The ability to manage assigned tasks, communicate technicalprogress, and seek clarification or assistance whenappropriate.
• Willingness to follow established engineering processes, safetyrequirements, and configuration-management practices.
• A collaborative mindset and an interest in learning fromexperienced engineers while developing independent technicaljudgment.
• Adaptability and enthusiasm for working across multipleengineering disciplines and projects.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience or exposure to one or more of the following areas ishighly desirable. Candidates are not expected to have experience inevery discipline.
• Circuit and PCB Design: Schematic capture, component selection,PCB layout, mixed-signal electronics, or electronics assembly andtest.
• Digital Electronics and FPGAs: Digital logic, VHDL, Verilog,SystemVerilog, FPGA simulation, verification, or development usingAMD Vivado, Microchip Libero, or similar environments.
• Analog and Sensor Electronics: Operational amplifiers, analogsignal conditioning, ADC/DAC interfaces, precision measurementcircuits, or low-noise analog design.
• Power Electronics: DC/DC converters, voltage regulators, powerdistribution, battery interfaces, or power-conversioncircuits.
• Embedded Systems: Microcontrollers, digital interfaces, SPI,I²C, UART, or embedded hardware/software integration.
• Test and Automation: Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, automated testequipment, data acquisition, test scripting, orhardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Electrical Integration: Harness design, electrical groundsupport equipment, electrical interfaces, cable fabrication, orelectronics troubleshooting.
• Engineering Tools and Processes: Altium Designer, OrCAD, KiCad,LTspice, SolidWorks Electrical, Git, Jira, requirementsverification, or technical configuration management.
• High-Reliability Electronics: Spacecraft or aerospace projects,CubeSats, student satellite programs, component derating,environmental testing, or high-reliability electronic assemblypractices.
• Relevant experience may come from academic research,internships, personal engineering.