Lead Flight Instrument Systems Engineer

University of Colorado; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) seeks a Principal Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership for world-class scientific instruments supporting spaceflight missions. You will be the technical integrator across formulation, development, integration, testing, launch, and mission operations, balancing science objectives with engineering decisions.

You will mentor engineers, shape systems engineering practices, and lead instrument

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible aerospace systems engineering experience.
• BS or higher degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Strong technical background in another engineering discipline.
• Experience leading development of a flight instrument.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience with requirements development, interface control, and verification.
• Experience through environmental testing and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical conscience of an instrument, ensuring engineering decisions across disciplines align with science objectives.
• Mentor junior systems engineers and contribute to the growth of the systems engineering organization.
• Define and evolve the instrument technical architecture; own requirements, interfaces, verification planning, and baseline.
• Lead instrument reviews and instrument-level trade studies balancing science performance, risk, cost, and schedule.
• Coordinate spacecraft-to-instrument interface definitions and verify instrument resources (mass, power, thermal, pointing, data).
• Lead development of instrument assembly, integration, environmental testing, calibration, and characterization.
• Oversee specialty engineering activities such as contamination control, reliability, radiation, safety, and fault protection.

Job description

University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) seeks a Principal Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership for world-class scientific instruments supporting spaceflight missions. You will be the technical integrator across formulation, development, integration, testing, launch, and mission operations, balancing science objectives with engineering decisions.

You will mentor engineers, shape systems engineering practices, and lead instrument