Lead Airborne Systems - Software Engineer IV

UCAR - The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; Broomfield (CO); Hybrid; USD 141,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental plan

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

UCAR - The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research seeks a Lead Airborne Systems - Software Engineer IV to shape architecture for real-time data acquisition, instrument control, and cabin display systems aboard NSF aircraft. You will lead a cross-disciplinary team and drive cybersecurity and embedded Linux initiatives.

The role requires US citizenship or eligible status, willingness to travel, and the ability to work extended hours during flight campaigns; hybrid onsite with significant

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a computer-related field and 12+ years of experience
• Experience leading software architecture and teams
• Strong C++ and Python under Linux
• Familiar with Linux embedded platforms and CI/CD

Responsibilities

• Lead RAF airborne software architecture and real-time data systems.
• Mentor software engineers and enforce coding standards.
• Oversee data quality pipelines and automated data products.
• Coordinate field deployment and on-call support during flights.

Skills

Technical leadership

Real-time data

C++ & Python

Linux

CI/CD

Embedded systems

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer-related field

12+ years experience

Tools

Git

Docker

Qt

NetCDF/CF/HDF

Job description

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

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:

2026-10-30

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.

US Person Required - Must be (a) a U.S. citizen; (b) lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; or (c) a protected individual as defined by 8 USC1324b(a)(3).

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

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.

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).

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

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).

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.

Application Requirements

Questionnaire, Resume/CV

For full consideration, all application materials must be submitted by 12am (MST) at the start of the application deadline.

These should highlight how your skills and experiences align with the responsibilities of this position. We recognize that no candidate will meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If you believe your background has prepared you for success in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Supplemental questionnaires are often requested in lieu of a cover letter, where you address critical skills needed for the position. Your answers will be read and weighed equally to your resume and should provide specific, detailed, and informative responses based on your direct and previous work experiences.

Background checks and/or federal screenings are conducted for candidates selected for hire.

Benefits Overview

UCAR offers a comprehensive benefits package: health insurance, dental, retirement plan, leave plans, tuition assistance, and employee assistance programs:

• 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.