Project Systems Engineer

University of Colorado; Colorado; On-site; USD 176,000 - 229,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/retirement

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

ECO Pass

CU Advantage program

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) seeks a Project Systems Engineer to lead the mission’s systems engineering across the full lifecycle, from formulation through launch and operations. You will shape technical direction, mentor engineers, and coordinate with the spacecraft provider to meet science objectives.

In this role, you will balance performance, cost, and schedule while guiding risk management, verification, and mission integration within

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership in systems engineering for large space missions.
• Strong ability to tailor SE processes with technical rigor.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Onsite presence required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical authority for the mission and influence architecture and risk posture.
• Establish and lead the project's Systems Engineering organization.
• Provide technical leadership across payloads, spacecraft, ground systems, and operations.
• Direct development of the Systems Engineering Management Plan and verification strategy.
• Lead major technical reviews and ensure interfaces with external providers are satisfied.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Systems engineering

NASA experience

Onsite presence

Education

BS or higher in engineering/physics/math

Job description

An upcoming NASA heliophysics mission answers outstanding questions regarding the origins of ionosphere‑thermosphere variability. Specifically, it pursues understanding of how Earth weather influences Space weather through the propagation of dynamics on multiple temporal and spatial scales under quiet and active solar conditions. The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) is seeking an accomplished Project System Engineer (PSE) to provide technical leadership for this mission as well as future programs. As the lead systems engineer for the entire mission, you will work with project leadership to shape the technical direction of the program from early formulation through launch and mission operations. This is a rare opportunity to influence every aspect of a flight mission while working alongside internationally recognized scientists, engineers, and mission partners. You will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, establish the project's systems engineering organization, guide mission architecture, and ensure technical coherence across all aspects of the mission including payloads, spacecraft, ground systems, mission operations, to meet science objectives. This mission is being implemented through a partnership in which the spacecraft bus is provided by an external institution. As Project Systems Engineer, you will provide technical leadership for the spacecraft acquisition effort, ensuring contractor deliverables, interfaces, technical performance, and mission integration satisfy project objectives while maintaining a collaborative relationship with our mission partner. Successful candidates thrive in technically challenging environments, make sound engineering decisions with incomplete information, and know how to balance mission performance, cost, schedule, and risk to enable exceptional science.

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

LASP combines the agility of a university laboratory with the technical capability of a premier space mission organization. Engineers work directly alongside scientists, students, and mission operators, allowing technical decisions to move quickly while maintaining scientific excellence. As part of the University of Colorado Boulder (CU), LASP began in 1948 and is a world‑recognized space science research institute that implements the full life cycle of science missions from the definition of the science questions through the development of space flight hardware and the subsequent mission operations. We are the only research institute in the world to have sent science instruments to all eight planets, Pluto, and beyond the solar system. LASP combines all aspects of space exploration through our expertise in science, engineering, mission operations, and scientific data analysis. As part of CU, LASP also works to educate and train the next generation of space scientists, engineers and mission operators by integrating undergraduate and graduate students into working teams. Our students take their unique experiences with them into government or industry or remain in academia to continue the cycle of exploration.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• As the lead SE for the mission, you will work with the project leadership and become the technical conscience of the project, ensuring that engineering decisions made across dozens of disciplines remain aligned with the mission's scientific objectives.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for the mission, influencing mission architecture, technical strategy, risk posture, and engineering decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Establish and lead the project's Systems Engineering organization, including mentoring, recruiting, and developing systems engineers across the mission.
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary engineering teams spanning payloads, spacecraft, ground systems, mission operations, science, software, and specialty engineering disciplines.
• Foster a collaborative engineering culture emphasizing technical excellence, sound engineering judgment, and efficient systems engineering practices.
• Define and evolve the mission architecture while establishing the project’s long‑term technical vision.
• Own development and maintenance of mission requirements.
• Guide mission‑level trade studies balancing science return, technical risk, schedule, and cost.
• Direct development of the Systems Engineering Management Plan, verification strategy, and Concept of Operations.
• Lead major technical reviews throughout the project lifecycle.
• Establish the project’s technical governance and decision‑making framework.
• Provide technical oversight of the externally procured spacecraft throughout design, development, integration, and acceptance.
• Lead technical interactions with the spacecraft provider to ensure contractual technical requirements are satisfied.
• Resolve cross‑organizational technical issues while maintaining productive relationships with mission partners.
• Direct interface definition and verification between spacecraft, payloads, and ground systems.
• Lead technical engagement with the spacecraft provider, ensuring mission objectives, interface definitions, verification activities, and technical performance remain aligned throughout development.
• Ensure technical consistency across payload, spacecraft, launch vehicle, ground system, and mission operations.
• Manage technical resources, margins, and performance throughout development.
• Lead integrated risk management and anomaly resolution activities.
• Oversee mission verification planning and end‑to‑end validation.
• Oversee successful delivery of mission data from on‑orbit acquisition through science data processing.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of mission objectives and project success.

What Success Looks Like

Deliver a mission architecture that enables world‑class science while balancing performance, cost, schedule, and risk. Enable outstanding technical collaboration across LASP and partner organizations. Make informed engineering decisions that appropriately balance performance, risk, cost, and schedule.

What You Should Know

Due to requirements to access export‑controlled data and information, only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), or other protected individuals (i.e., persons designated as an asylee, refugee, or temporary resident under amnesty provisions) may apply. International travel will be required. Relocation assistance may be available for this position.

What We Can Offer

$176,359.91-$229,394.91 per year.

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.

• medical, dental, and retirement plans
• generous paid time off
• tuition assistance for you and your dependents
• an ECO Pass for local transit
• inspiring academic community and access to world‑class outdoor recreation
• additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Demonstrated engineering leadership in systems engineering processes for significant space mission developments.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible aerospace systems engineering experience.
• BS or higher degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field from an accredited institution.
• Strong technical background in another engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated experience serving as Mission Systems Engineer, Project Systems Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, Chief Engineer, or equivalent technical leadership role.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex aerospace development programs.
• Demonstrated engineering judgment to tailor systems engineering processes while maintaining technical rigor.
• Onsite presence is required.

What You Will Need

• Knowledge of the complete space mission lifecycle and hands‑on experience at every point in that lifecycle (not necessarily on the same mission).
• Demonstrated success delivering spacecraft, instruments, or complete missions from formulation through operations.
• Experience leading NASA Class C or Class D flight projects.
• Experience managing technical interfaces with external spacecraft providers.
• Experience leading Phase A/B mission formulation.
• Experience leading major technical reviews (SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, SIR, ORR).
• Familiarity with NASA requirements and mission assurance practices.
• Understanding of scientific data systems and space science missions.