Professional Research Assistant

Job Summary

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

Swarm-Ex is a National Science Foundation-sponsored CubeSat mission distributed across six colleges and universities in the United States. The Swarm-Ex mission is to develop and launch three 3U CubeSats in order to advance formation flying and swarm technologies while addressing outstanding aeronomy and space weather questions. Swarm-Ex is an intercollegiate CubeSat mentoring program that strives to provide knowledge and experience to students looking to enter the space industry.

Responsibilities

Develop CubeSat flight software in MPLAB Integrated Development EnvironmentComplete software systems level analysisWork with other subsystem leads to ensure hardware and software integrationDebugging subsystem-specific flight software issuesCommunicate effectively through procedures/documentation and presentationsManage software-hardware integration and development scheduleManage team of 3-5 software developers

What You Should Know

This appointment is unable to support a J1 or H1B visa.

What We Can Offer

Salary: 45k - 50k.BenefitsAt 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.Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering or related field.Prior experience developing embedded software.

What You Will Need

C and C++ embedded programming experience.Ability to work independently.Ability to debug software and hardware.Knowledge of Microchip development environment.

How To Apply

To Apply, Please Submit The Following Materials:Resume/CVCover Letter (Optional)Transcripts/Proof of Degree: If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources Department using an approved online vendor. However, if your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit an English-translated version (if applicable) as an Optional document.You may be asked to provide one letter of recommendation later in the search process.For full consideration, please apply by April 9th, 2026.Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Key skills/competency

Professional Research Assistant, CubeSat, Flight Software, Embedded Software, Software Development, MPLAB, C++, C, Debugging, Team Management