Lead Airborne Systems - Software Engineer IV

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 138,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Short &  

Generous retirement plan - UCAR 10%

Minimum 20 days PTO

10 paid holidays

12 weeks parental leave

FAMLI Leave

Tuition Assistance Program

PSLF eligible employer

Job summary

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) seeks a Lead Airborne Systems - Software Engineer IV to guide architecture, data pipelines, and real-time airborne data systems at the RAF. You will shape software directions, mentor engineers, and ensure robust mission-critical operations during flight campaigns.

The role requires strong C++/Python under Linux, kernel/driver experience, and cybersecurity. Expect irregular hours, field deployments, and domestic travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer-related field and 12+ years of relevant experience or equivalent mix.
• Experience with cross-platform GUI development (Qt preferred).
• Experience handling airborne or atmospheric observations or GIS datasets.
• Hands-on familiarity with Python scientific stack and R.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction and architecture for RAF airborne software ecosystem.
• Lead real-time data acquisition, instrument control, and flight software modernization.
• Supervise software engineers, enforce CI/CD, tests, and version control.
• Oversee automated data quality tools, flag generation, and post-flight processing.
• Lead field deployment operations and on-call support during flight campaigns.
• Maintain cybersecurity posture and secure coding practices across systems.

Skills

C++

Python

Linux

Git

Unit testing

CI/CD

Docker

Shell scripting

Real-time systems

Embedded Linux

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer-related field

Tools

Linux kernel driver development

PCIe/USB/Serial DAQ interfaces

Embedded Linux platforms

Job description

About the Role

UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the Lead Airborne Systems - Software Engineer IV role at the Research Aviation Facility. This position is the primary technical authority and team lead, shaping the architecture, data quality pipelines, hardware-level driver integrations, cybersecurity posture, and for the real-time execution of all airborne data acquisition, processing, and cabin visualization systems.

The Research Aviation Facility (RAF), a facility within the Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL) at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), operates advanced research aircraft, including the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream V and C-130, in support of airborne field campaigns across the geosciences. RAF provides the scientific community with specialized airborne platforms, sensor suites, real-time telemetry, and in-flight computing infrastructure used to conduct research in the atmospheric geosciences in fields such as atmospheric chemistry, storm dynamics, and cloud physics.

Position Type:
Regular

Visa Sponsored Job:
No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:
Yes

Hiring Range:
140,970.00 USD - 176,210.00 USD

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Closes at 12:00am MST on:
2026-10-11

The salary range is $138,202-$172,752

Job Description

Application Deadline:

• This position will be posted for two weeks from the date of posting.

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire.
Work Location: Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

Here is a brief summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

• Technical Leadership & Architecture: Set the strategic direction and overall architecture for the RAF airborne software ecosystem: real-time data acquisition, instrument control, signal processing, network communications, remote operations, and integrated cabin display systems. Evaluate emerging technologies, direct Linux kernel driver and embedded systems work, and lead major modernizations of mission-critical systems.
• Team Leadership & Supervision: Supervise and mentor a team of software engineers and data managers. Assign work, set technical standards, review code quality, conduct performance evaluations, and drive team adoption of modern software engineering practices (CI/CD, automated testing, revision control).
• Data Quality Control & Final Product Delivery: Lead the design, evolution, and long-term maintenance of automated data quality control (QC) tools, automated flag generation pipelines, and post-flight processing frameworks. Oversee the generation, verification, and distribution of standardized data products.
• Field Campaign Operations & Mission Support: Lead field deployment operations for research aircraft. Oversee embedded system configuration, computer network integration, low-level system debugging, and on-board hardware/software troubleshooting during complex flight campaigns. Act as the primary software authority and escalation point during mission deployments. Deployment periods involve irregular and early-morning hours driven by the flight schedule, and on-call escalation during flight operations.
• Systems Security & Mission Integrity: Apply and maintain UCAR/NCAR cybersecurity requirements and secure software development practices across airborne data acquisition nodes, telemetry links, and ground processing systems, working with NCAR IT security to adapt institutional policy to the constraints of airborne and embedded platforms. Own the security posture of RAF-developed software and the network isolation design of in-flight systems.
• User Support, Documentation & Knowledge Capture: Interface directly with visiting scientists, university researchers, flight crews, and instrument engineers. Author system architecture specifications, flight software operational manuals, security compliance profiles, safety documentation, and technical project reports. During the first year, assume responsibility for working with the retiring incumbent during a structured overlap period to capture design rationale, failure history, hardware-specific behavior, and operational practice that is not currently documented, and convert it into maintained documentation, runbooks, and automated tests so that RAF's dependence on individual expertise is systematically reduced.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education and Experience (Required)

Bachelor's degree in computer-related field and extensive and progressive relevant experience and/or education, which is typically gained by twelve or more years of experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. May include formal supervisory experience.

Additional Desirable Experience

• Experience with cross-platform GUI development (Qt framework preferred).
• Experience handling airborne or atmospheric geophysical observations or spatial/GIS datasets.
• Hands-on familiarity with scientific data processing pipelines (Python scientific stack, R).

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Technical Vision & Leadership: Expert skill in establishing technical roadmaps, driving architectural decisions, leading software modernization initiatives, and mentoring engineering staff.
• Real-Time Data Systems: In-depth knowledge of real-time data acquisition architectures, concurrent programming, low-latency network protocols, and multi-threaded system design.
• Software Engineering & Automation: Expert proficiency in C++ and Python under Linux. Strong familiarity with modern software engineering practice: Git, unit testing, continuous integration, Docker/containerization, and shell scripting (bash/csh).
• Working at the Hardware Boundary: Expert skill integrating instruments over PCIe, USB, serial, and custom DAQ interfaces on embedded Linux platforms, and debugging at the system level.
• Communication: Exceptional oral and written communication skills for interfacing across multi-disciplinary teams (engineers, scientists, flight crews).

Preferred Qualifications

• Kernel, Embedded & Low-Level Development: Practical experience with Linux kernel driver and kernel module development. RAF currently operates PC-104 form-factor DAQ nodes running Ubuntu Linux; direct experience with comparable embedded Linux platforms transfers.
• Data Quality Control & Scientific Datasets: Background in designing automated data quality control frameworks, error detection, automated flagging algorithms, and sensor data validation pipelines that produce standardized, high-integrity scientific data products (netCDF/CF, HDF) that follow rigorous metadata standards (CF, ACDD, WMO, NCAR-RAF/nimbus).
• Systems & Cybersecurity: Applied knowledge of secure coding standards (OWASP/CWE), network isolation, system hardening, and data integrity protocols for embedded/edge operating systems and flight telemetry networks.
• Signal Processing: Practical application of digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to scientific instrument data streams.

Other Requirements

• Willingness and ability to fly on NCAR research aircraft during scientific testing and field campaigns.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for durations of 2–3 weeks in support of field projects.
• Deployment periods involve irregular hours, early show times, and on-call availability during flight operations .

Preferred Qualifications

Salary Range $138,202-$172,752

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role.*

Benefits Overview

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• Generous retirement plan - UCAR contributes of 10% of base salary
• Time Off Plans Minimum 20 days of annual PTO
• 10 paid holidays
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• FAMLI Leave
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

UCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants are not required to provide age-related information (like date of birth or graduation dates) in initial submissions.

For sponsored positions : UCAR can sponsor individuals for H-1B status only if they are already in the U.S. in H-1B status or another visa status that allows them to change to H-1B status within the U.S. UCAR is unable to sponsor new H-1B visas for individuals who are outside the U.S. and need to obtain H-1B status through Consular Processing.

While UCAR does not prohibit the use of AI tools in job applications, we strongly recommend that applicants submit primarily original work.

All roles require compliance with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements. All hybrid staff are expected to work on-site approximately 3 days per week.