What are the responsibilities and job description for the Flight Software Simulation Engineer position at University of Colorado Boulder?
Summary
Job Summary
LASP is looking for a Flight Software Simulation Engineer to join the spacecraft simulator team for a deep space mission that will tour the inner solar system and explore the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Launch is expected in early 2028.
You will develop behavioral hardware models and build the software-only and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments that the flight software, command and data handling, fault protection, assembly/integration and test (AIT), and mission operations teams rely on to validate spacecraft behavior.
This is a hands-on role that spans the full simulator stack: embedded and Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) driver work, the behavioral models themselves, and the infrastructure and pipelines that deliver them. You will write C models and Python orchestration at your desk, then deploy and test against EGSE hardware in the lab. You will also help grow the institution’s simulation capability over time.
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.
Responsibilities
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
$74,000-$98,000.
Benefits
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.
Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.
What We Require
To Apply, Please Submit The Following Materials
Please apply by 8/26/2026 for consideration.
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.
Job Summary
LASP is looking for a Flight Software Simulation Engineer to join the spacecraft simulator team for a deep space mission that will tour the inner solar system and explore the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Launch is expected in early 2028.
You will develop behavioral hardware models and build the software-only and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments that the flight software, command and data handling, fault protection, assembly/integration and test (AIT), and mission operations teams rely on to validate spacecraft behavior.
This is a hands-on role that spans the full simulator stack: embedded and Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) driver work, the behavioral models themselves, and the infrastructure and pipelines that deliver them. You will write C models and Python orchestration at your desk, then deploy and test against EGSE hardware in the lab. You will also help grow the institution’s simulation capability over time.
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.
Responsibilities
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Work with subsystem leads and system engineers to develop simulation requirements and architecture
- Develop and maintain behavioral hardware models for spacecraft subsystem simulators
- Build and support software-only and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulator environments
- Implement, verify, and validate simulation products, including test procedures for requirement V&V and unit/integration tests
- Integrate simulation environments with command-and-telemetry and test data systems
- Deploy, configure, and test embedded/EGSE systems
- Build and maintain containerized simulator environments, delivering artifacts through CI/CD pipelines
- Support functional, performance, and mission-scenario testing for partner teams
- Coordinate a small team of engineers and take part in peer and programmatic reviews
- Other duties as assigned
- Programs will require compliance with export control restrictions, including EAR and ITAR.
- Onsite presence is required because of the hands-on laboratory work necessary.
- Due to requirements governing access to export-controlled data and information, only U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) may apply.
$74,000-$98,000.
Benefits
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.
Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Bachelor's degree in a physical science, engineering, a related field.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and handle competing priorities
- Mastery of software architecture and organization
- C and C development proficiency
- Scripting in Python and bash
- Fluent in Linux as a primary working environment
- Comfortable taking responsibility for the systems you deploy (standing them up and configuring them sensibly to get work done)
- Developing multi-threaded applications
- Solid grasp of inter-process communication and message-passing frameworks (e.g., ZMQ, RabbitMQ)
- Engineering fundamentals sufficient to reason about and model spacecraft subsystem behavior
- Proficient understanding of digital electronics
- Comfort working in a hands-on laboratory environment around electrostatic sensitive devices
- Demonstrated proficiency in electronics laboratory practices, including setup, operation, and troubleshooting using oscilloscopes, power supplies, digital multimeters, data acquisition systems, and electronic assembly and rework equipment.
- Containerization tooling (Docker, Podman)
- CI/CD pipelines for delivering simulator artifacts
- Spacecraft subsystem knowledge, with familiarity across systems, electrical, software, I&T, and operations
- Experience with environmental testing for space-flight systems
- Experience across Flight Software and Integration & Test program phases
- Simulation knowledge
To Apply, Please Submit The Following Materials
- Resume or CV.
- Cover Letter.
Please apply by 8/26/2026 for consideration.
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.