Flight Hardware and System Integration Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental benefits

Tuition assistance

ECO Pass for local transit

CU Advantage program

Job summary

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) seeks a Flight Hardware and System Integration Engineer to design, fabricate, integrate, and maintain autonomous aerial vehicle hardware for robotics research.

You will develop mechanical platforms, PCB design, sensor integration, and flight systems; collaborate with perception, guidance, and control teams to enable reliable demonstrations of autonomous flight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in robotics, engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with CAD design using SolidWorks or similar software.
• Hands-on fabrication experience 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 the ability to rapidly prototype, integrate, and test new hardware.
• Master's degree in robotics, engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, assemble, and maintain custom drone platforms for laboratory research and flight testing.
• Build and maintain CAD models using SolidWorks.
• Design and integrate printed circuit boards (PCBs) for embedded sensing, power distribution and onboard electronics.
• Integrate novel sensing technologies including cameras, event cameras, radar, strain sensing systems, IMUs, GPS, and other hardware.
• Develop mounting solutions for sensors and embedded electronics with manufacturability and maintainability in mind.
• Maintain vehicle models, mass properties, and hardware configurations used in simulation and flight software.
• Fabricate prototype components using additive manufacturing, machining, soldering, and general laboratory fabrication techniques.
• Diagnose, repair, and rebuild damaged flight hardware following testing and demonstrations.
• Support laboratory flight operations by preparing aircraft, verifying hardware functionality, and assisting with system integration and testing.

Skills

SolidWorks

PCB design

3D printing

Soldering

Machining

Wiring & assembly

Embedded sensors

Python

ROS2

Education

Bachelor's degree in robotics or engineering

Tools

KiCad

Altium Designer

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Summary

The Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) isseeking a Flight Hardware and System Integration Engineer. Thecandidate will design, fabricate, integrate, and maintainautonomous aerial vehicle hardware for cutting-edge roboticsresearch. Responsibilities will include mechanical design of flightplatforms, printed circuit board (PCB) development, integration ofnovel sensing technologies, and assembly of complete flightsystems. The candidate will work closely with researchersdeveloping perception, guidance, and control algorithms to createreliable experimental platforms for autonomous flightdemonstrations.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and compliesto 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

The Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) is afacility in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and theRobotics Graduate Program at the University of Colorado, Boulderthat conducts research and development in the areas of fieldrobotics and biologically inspired robotics. We seek to distill thefundamental sensing, processing and feedback principles that governrobust behavior in organisms to enable new classes of roboticsystems with improved agility, locomotion and autonomy.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The successful candidate will design, fabricate, assemble, andmaintain custom drone platforms for laboratory research and flighttesting, build and maintain CAD models using SolidWorks, design andintegrate printed circuit boards (PCBs) for embedded sensing, powerdistribution and onboard electronics, integrate novel sensingtechnologies including cameras, event cameras, radar, strainsensing systems, IMUs, GPS, and other experimental hardware, anddevelop mechanical mounting solutions for sensors and embeddedelectronics while considering manufacturability, weight, stiffness,and maintainability. The candidate will also maintain accuratevehicle models, mass properties, and hardware configurations usedin simulation and flight software, fabricate prototype componentsusing additive manufacturing, machining, soldering, and generallaboratory fabrication techniques diagnose, repair, and rebuilddamaged flight hardware following testing and flightdemonstrations, and support laboratory flight operations bypreparing aircraft, verifying hardware functionality, and assistingwith system integration and testing.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range for this appointment will be $50,000 -$60,000.

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. Explore additional perks and programs throughthe CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be excited. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in robotics, engineering, or a relatedfield.

What You Will Need

The candidate will need experience with CAD design using SolidWorksor similar mechanical design software, hands-on fabricationexperience including 3D printing, soldering, machining, wiring, andmechanical assembly, experience designing printed circuit boardsusing KiCad, Altium Designer, or similar PCB design tools. Thecandidate will also need familiarity with embedded electronics,sensors, connectors, and electrical integration, python programmingexperience and basic familiarity with ROS2, strong troubleshootingskills, and the ability to rapidly prototype, integrate, and testnew hardware.

What We Would Like You to Have

Master's degree in robotics, engineering, or a related field.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: [e-mail]