Embedded Firmware & Flight Control Engineer

CU Boulder; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental plans

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Tuition assistance for you and depend-

ECO Pass for local transit

CU Boulder community and outdoor rec

Job summary

CU Boulder’s Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) seeks an Embedded Firmware and Flight Control Engineer to design and implement bio-inspired flight control architectures on aerial platforms and perform flight demonstrations for stakeholders.

The role bridges theory and practical implementation, requiring low-level C++ on microcontrollers, RTOS configuration, and hands-on work with PX4, ArduPilot, ROS2, and sensor interfaces.

Qualifications

• PhD in engineering, robotics, or computer science.
• Experience with embedded C++ (RTOS), Python, ArduPilot, PX4, ROS2.
• Hands-on experience with CAN, SPI, I2C, and UART.
• Solid grasp of control theory, PID/modern feedback loops, and state estimation filters (Kalman filters).
• Hands-on experience deploying embedded custom controllers onboard flight platforms (e.g. quadrotors).

Responsibilities

• Design, write, and test low-level C++ code on microcontrollers/microprocessors.
• Write custom control architecture code and tune control loops for flight performance.
• Troubleshoot circuit boards and communication protocols (CAN, I2C, UART, etc.).
• Configure real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Set up, launch, and execute flight demonstrations for stakeholders.

Skills

embedded C++

RTOS

Python

ArduPilot

PX4

ROS2

CAN bus

SPI

I2C

UART

control theory

Kalman filters

Education

PhD required

Tools

CAN

SPI

I2C

UART

Job description

Requisition Number: 74148

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City: Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: Research Faculty

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 15-Oct-2026

Date Posted: 12-Aug-2026

Job Summary

The Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) is seeking an Embedded Firmware and Flight Control Engineer. The successful candidate will design and implement novel bio-inspired flight control architectures (inner and outer loop) on aerial platforms and execute flight demonstrations for stakeholders. The engineer will help bridge the gap between theoretical controller design, development, and implementation of aerial platform on-board hardware and software. They will also help to implement and troubleshoot custom control architectures, and act as the point person for demonstrations showcasing advanced UAS capabilities, including computer vision, sensor fusion, navigation, ensuring every demonstration is safe, reliable, and representative of the technologies being showcased.

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

The Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) is a facility in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Robotics Graduate Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder that conducts research and development in the areas of field robotics and biologically inspired robotics. We seek to distill the fundamental sensing, processing and feedback principles that govern robust behavior in organisms to enable new classes of robotic systems with improved agility, locomotion and autonomy.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The successful candidate will design, write, and test low-level C++ code on microcontrollers/microprocessors, write custom control architecture code and tune control loops for desired flight performance, troubleshoot circuit boards and communication protocols (CAN, I2C, UART, etc.), and configure real-time operating systems (RTOS). The candidate will also be responsible for setting up, launching, and executing flight demonstrations for stakeholders.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range for this appointment will be $70,000 - $80,000.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and retirement plans
• generous paid time off
• tuition assistance for you and your dependents
• 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 strategic. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

PhD in engineering, robotics, or computer science.

What You Will Need

• Experience with embedded C++ (&RTOS), python, Ardupilot, PX4, ROS2.
• Hands-on experience with low-level interfaces including CAN, SPI, I2C, and UART.
• Solid grasp of control theory, PID/modern feedback loops, and state estimation filters (Kalman filters, Extended State/Error-State Kalman Filters).
• Hands-on experience implementing and deploying embedded custom controllers onboard flight platforms (e.g. quadrotors).
• Experience piloting drones and working with motion capture systems and data.
• Understanding of internet protocols, with networking experience working with multi-device systems.

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.