Senior Software Engineering Department Manager

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); Presencial; USD 214.000 - 265.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Relocation assistance

Descripción de la vacante

University of Colorado Boulder’s LASP is seeking a Senior Software Engineering Department Manager to lead a 63-person department delivering flight and ground software for space missions. The role reports to the Deputy Director for Technology and shapes the department's direction, practices, and culture.

You will oversee hiring, development, and evaluation of engineers and student staff, establish performance expectations, and set technical direction for flight and ground software.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years of software engineering experience, including 6+ years on space mission embedded flight software or ground software (supporting mission operations and/or science data processing).
• 5+ years supervising software engineers, including hiring, evaluating, and developing staff.

Responsabilidades

• Lead the LASP Software Engineering Department through its functional leads; develop them as technical and people managers.
• Establish department-wide performance expectations and manage outcomes; build a positive, productive, and healthy department culture.
• Set technical direction for flight software on instruments and spacecraft and for mission ground software: command and control, planning and scheduling, science data processing, telemetry analysis and display, web applications, ground support equipment, and simulation.
• Own LASP's software development processes, tailored to each mission's classification, sponsor, and scope.
• Modernize how LASP designs, builds, and verifies software, including responsible AI-assisted development.
• Set software development strategy, roadmaps, and reuse plans across LASP.
• Shape proposals and new missions with software approaches, staffing, and cost inputs.
• Partner with project managers, mission assurance, and scientists in a matrix organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

Conocimientos

Software engineering

Leadership

Flight software

Educación

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field

Descripción del empleo

Job Summary

LASP is looking for a Senior Software Engineering DepartmentManager to lead the 63-person department that delivers flight andground software for LASP's space missions and science instruments. The department was recently formed from previously separatesoftware groups (flight software, operations software, datasystems, and web applications) to create a cohesive organizationthat spans the mission lifecycle, uses common practices and tools,unifies technical authority, and fosters technical interchangeacross software disciplines. You will lead the department through its functional leads, set itstechnical direction, and own how LASP develops and verifies software, bringing a mission-level perspective to LASP's softwarestrategy. You will report to the Deputy Director for Technology andserve on the Technology Division leadership team. This is a unique opportunity to shape a new part of the organization, including its practices, its tools, and its culture,while supporting missions that LASP builds and operates. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination 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 toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

Founded a decade before NASA, the Laboratory for Atmospheric andSpace Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder isrevolutionizing human understanding of the cosmos. LASP is deeplycommitted to inspiring and educating the next generation of spaceexplorers. From enabling the first exploratory rocket measurementsof Earth’s upper atmosphere to trailblazing observations of everyplanet in the solar system, LASP is at the forefront of solar,planetary and space physics research, space-weather monitoring, andthe search for evidence of habitable worlds. LASP advances scientific discovery and inspires the next generationthrough research, innovation, and education in space sciences. Weemploy over 600 scientists, engineers, support personnel, andstudents that work closely to cultivate creative ideas and explorenovel solutions to make the impossible possible. LASP is dedicated to building and maintaining a unique synergismofexpertise in space science, engineering, and mission operations.Through research projects, LASP participates actively in thetraining of the future leaders of space research and helps theUniversity of Colorado to educate students with valued technicaland scientific skills. Development and use of innovativetechnologies and continuing participation in new researchinitiatives ensure a strong leadership role for LASP into thefuture. LASP is proud of our work environment that supportsemployee creativity and productivity and offers opportunities for abroad range of experiences. Further information about LASP can befound here: https://lasp.colorado.edu

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Lead the LASP Software Engineering Department through itsfunctional leads; develop them as technical and people managers.Through them, oversee hiring, development, and evaluation ofengineers and student employees


• Establish department-wide performance expectations and manageoutcomes; build a positive, productive, and healthy departmentculture.


• Set technical direction for flight software on instruments andspacecraft and for mission ground software: command and control,planning and scheduling, science data processing, telemetryanalysis and display, web applications, ground support equipment,and simulation.


• Own LASP's software development processes, tailored to eachmission's classification, sponsor, and scope.


• Modernize how LASP designs, builds, and verifies software,including responsible AI-assisted development.


• Set software development strategy, roadmaps, and reuse plansacross LASP


• Shape proposals and new missions with software approaches,staffing, and cost inputs.


• Partner with project managers, mission assurance, andscientists in a matrix organization.


• Other duties as assigned.

What You Should Know

• Many excellent candidates won't match every item in thisposting. If you meet many of the requirements can see yourselfsucceeding in this role, we encourage you to apply.


• Due to requirements to access export-controlled data andinformation, only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (greencard holders), or other protected individuals (i.e., personsdesignated as an asylee, refugee, or temporary resident underamnesty provisions) may apply.


• This role requires an onsite presence in Boulder, Colorado 3 to5 days per week.

What We Can Offer

• Annual Salary: $213,500 - $265,000


• Relocation assistance may be available for this position.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or arelated field.


• 12+ years of software engineering experience, including 6+ onspace mission embedded flight software or ground software (softwaresupporting mission operations and/or science data processing)


• 5+ years supervising software engineers, including hiring,evaluating, and developing staff.

What You Will Need

• Experience as a software lead or software systems engineer onspace missions or instruments.


• Hands-on expertise in flight software or mission groundsoftware, and working knowledge of the other.


• Understanding of the space mission lifecycle, its milestonereviews, and sponsor software standards such as NASA NPR7150.2.


• Experience applying modern software practices, such ascontinuous integration, automated testing, static analysis, andincremental delivery within a milestone-driven lifecycle.


• Excellent communication skills with engineers, scientists,project managers, and sponsors.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience managing managers or technical leads.


• Experience developing and delivering software through a fullmission cycle, from requirements through launch andoperations.


• A record of maturing engineering practices and standardizingtoolchains across teams.


• Experience in a science-driven organization.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume/CV


2. Cover Letter

We may request references at a later time.

For consideration, please apply by 11/3/2026.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. Forconsideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, inany materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifyinginformation such as age, date of birth, or dates of schoolattendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redactingor removing this information.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: [e-mail]