Visa Sponsored Job:

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type:

Full time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Compensation Range:

Salary Range $77,486 - $96,860

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

Job Description Summary UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the COSMIC Electrical Engineer II role. For nearly three decades, UCAR's COSMIC Program has been at the forefront of Global Navigation Satellite System-Based (GNSS) remote sensing - from leading the first GPS radio occultation (RO) mission in the mid-1990s to producing data that today ranks among the most impactful inputs to global weather forecasting and space weather specification. RO data characterize atmospheric conditions worldwide by tracking satellite navigation signals from orbit, and also serve as a calibration benchmark for microwave and infrared observing systems.

This position joins a small, high-impact team developing next-generation instrumentation for GNSS radio occultation and reflectometry (GNSS-RO/R). The incumbent will work at the intersection of cutting-edge hardware engineering and atmospheric science, designing systems whose data products are used operationally by weather agencies and research institutions around the world.

The UCAR COSMIC Program has been a leader in the retrieval and scientific application of GNSS, e.g. GPS, data since UCAR led the GPS/MET GPS radio occultation (RO) mission in the mid 1990s. It contributed to the design, management, and operation of both the FORMOSAT-3 / Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC-1) and the COSMIC-2/FORMOSAT-7 (COSMIC-2) missions. The COSMIC Program strives to provide innovative and cost-effective remote sensing observations, data products, and data utilization support to benefit scientific research, research to operations, operations, and education and training in the atmospheric and related sciences.

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and various UCAR Cooperative Programs (UCP) - all in service of advancing knowledge, providing community-based resources, and building human capacity in atmospheric and related sciences.

Job Description

Application Deadline: This position will be posted until 11:59:59 pm MT on Friday, May 8. Applications will not be accepted past this date.

Required application materials (preferably in PDF Format):

Resume

Cover Letter In lieu of a traditional cover letter, answer the prompt below that addresses the critical skills needed for this position. Your answers will be read and weighed equally to your Resume/CV and should provide specific, detailed, and informative responses based on your direct and previous work experiences. Please keep your cover letter to 1-2 pages.

Describe a hardware or instrumentation project where you led FPGA or SDR development from design through implementation. What were the key technical challenges, and how did you resolve them?

Describe an experience working across engineering and scientific disciplines (e.g. translating between hardware constraints and research requirements, or communicating complex technical results to a non-engineering audience).

Background checks are conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more. (https://www.ucar.edu/opportunities/careers/faqs)

Position Term: 1 year term position (with the possibility of extension, funding permitted).

Work Location Expectations: This position is open to candidates seeking in-person and hybrid (combination of 3 days in-person and 2 days of remote) opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

Here is a summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) & Software Defined Radio (SDR) Development

Work with scientists, engineers, and software engineers to develop digital signal processing algorithms to be implemented within a GNSS software defined radio (SDR). This includes development of System on a Chip (SoC) architecture as well as the design of digital filters, signal processing algorithms, and communication interfaces/protocols.

Design and implement complex FPGA SoC architectures using AMD (Xilinx) tools and IP, with emphasis on GNSS remote sensing applications.

Collaborate with scientists and engineers to develop and validate algorithms for integration into SDR platforms.

Contribute technical roadmaps and design input for next-generation instrumentation.

Data Systems & Scientific Communication

Support development of protocols for transmission, display, and analysis of environmental monitoring data.

Contribute to system design, software development, and analysis documentation.

Author and co-author project reports, system documentation, conference papers, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Present research results at project meetings and domestic and international scientific conferences.

Engineering Documentation

Create and maintain comprehensive engineering documentation for all projects, establishing best practices and formats appropriate to each project's requirements.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in engineering;

3 years of engineering experience - specifically developmental engineering.

Or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience (ex: Master's degree in Engineering and at least 1 year of engineering experience; or a Ph.D).

Desired, but not required:

Master's degree in aerospace or electrical engineering or a related science field (e.g., meteorology, environmental science, earth science, computer science, etc.);

Practical experience using, maintaining, or designing mechanical and electrical/electronic systems;

Observation field experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrated experience in FPGA programming, architectural design, and SoC development using AMD (Xilinx) tools and IP.

Strong foundation in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) hardware and software.

Experience with RF front-end hardware design and analysis.

Experience with software defined radio (SDR) platforms, including Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) hardware drivers.

Proficiency in ADC/DAC interfacing and digital hardware conversion.

Working knowledge of electronic components including analog/digital circuits, amplifiers, power supplies, and digital logic.

Skilled in testing and troubleshooting electronic circuits and systems using standard bench equipment: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and digital volt meters.

Experience with Linux/Unix (including embedded) and Windows operating environments.

Ability to manage concurrent projects and deliverables in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary research environment.

Demonstrated ability to produce clear, complete engineering documentation and instruction manuals.

Comfortable presenting technical material to mixed audiences of engineers and scientists.

Desired, but not required:

Experience in building and using Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) hardware drivers, and software defined radios (SDR).

Knowledge of GNSS signal processing including signal acquisition, phase lock loop (PLL) and delay lock loop (DLL) algorithms.

Knowledge of embedded computer systems to include architecture design and firmware development.

Knowledge of Electrical Engineering Communication theory.

Knowledge of spacecraft design including communications architecture for data downlink, command uplink, and safe mode operations.

Experience using GNU radio tools.

Experience using Simulink/MATLAB.

Benefits Overview

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits (https://www.ucar.edu/opportunities/careers/benefits) . In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance, UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities.

UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one.

Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions).

10 paid holidays.

12 weeks of paid parental leave.

Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary.

EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost.

Commitment to Job Application Fairness

Applicants are not required to provide age or age-related information and may redact information related to age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution from any submissions during the initial application process.

Some Final Considerations

At NSF NCAR| UCAR | UCP, you will work alongside a dedicated team of professionals conducting critical research and community outreach to solve complex Earth system science problems including climate change, air pollution, extreme weather, floods, drought, wildfires, and space weather, all with the goal of improving human life and reducing economic loss. Each of us, from scientists to the professionals who support their work, serves the public and a collaborative community of scientists in our mission to understand the complex processes that make up the Earth system, from the ocean floor to the Sun's core.

Flexible Work

At UCAR, we are committed to supporting our mission by giving staff the flexibility to find the schedule and location that works best to maintain their own work-life circumstances and reach their full potential as professionals. Many positions within our organization are eligible for fully on-site, hybrid (three days per week) and/or flexible work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCAR is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at UCAR.

Export Control

All positions are required to comply with U.S. export compliance regulations and work location requirements regarding access to facilities and research systems.

Work Location

UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

AI Software

ChatGPT and similar AI software are powerful tools that are changing the way society receives, processes, and leverages information promptly. While we acknowledge its benefits and do not restrict leveraging it with job applications, we highly encourage a majority of the applicant material to be original work.

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

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