Flight Hardware and System Integration 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

Job Summary

The Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) is seeking a Flight Hardware and System Integration Engineer. The candidate will design, fabricate, integrate, and maintain autonomous aerial vehicle hardware for cutting-edge robotics research. Responsibilities will include mechanical design of flight platforms, printed circuit board (PCB) development, integration of novel sensing technologies, and assembly of complete flight systems. The candidate will work closely with researchers developing perception, guidance, and control algorithms to create reliable experimental platforms for autonomous flight demonstrations. 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 robotics systems with improved agility, locomotion and autonomy.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The successful candidate will 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 experimental hardware, and develop mechanical mounting solutions for sensors and embedded electronics while considering manufacturability, weight, stiffness, and maintainability. The candidate will also maintain accurate 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 flight demonstrations, and support laboratory flight operations by preparing aircraft, verifying hardware functionality, and assisting with 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 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. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be excited. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

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

What You Will Need

The candidate will need experience with CAD design using SolidWorks or similar mechanical design software, hands-on fabrication experience including 3D printing, soldering, machining, wiring, and mechanical assembly, experience designing printed circuit boards using KiCad, Altium Designer, or similar PCB design tools. The candidate will also need 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.

What We Would Like You to Have

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

Application Deadline

Please apply by October 15, 2026 for consideration.

Compliance Statement

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.