Mechanical Engineer III

Requisition Number:

73596

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

Research Faculty

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

06-Aug-2026

Date Posted:

23-Jul-2026

Close All

Job Summary

This position will play a key role in the development of CubeSats and small satellites. Responsibilities include designing and developing solar array deployment mechanisms, spacecraft structures, and integrating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components into flight-ready spacecraft. The role offers the opportunity to contribute across the full spacecraft development lifecycle, from design through integration and testing.

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

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) is one of the largest research institutes of CU Boulder, the #1 public university recipient of NASA research grants, and one of America's leading aerospace universities. With a focus on solar, stellar, space plasma, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, LASP employs both experimental and theoretical approaches to answer key science questions. Since its inception in 1948, LASP has developed, operated, and analyzed the data from scientific instrumentation for solar science, earth atmospheric, planetary, deep-space, and Earth-orbiting spacecraft missions investigating the Sun, all eight planets, Pluto and beyond. The progressive development of research capabilities and use of innovative technologies in pursuit of emerging research initiatives ensures a continued leadership role for LASP in today's growing "new space" era. Since 2013, LASP has secured over $1.75B in grants and contracts.

Thanks to its distinctive combination of scientific and engineering expertise and its ability both to manage long-term collaborations with agencies such as NASA and to respond to faster-moving opportunities with private sponsors, LASP has grown rapidly in the last decade, with expenditures that exceed well over $150M annually, secured through grants, contracts, and other funding vehicles. Some 400 of LASP's 600-person staff are technical staff and research scientists. The LASP community includes tenure/tenure-track faculty, approximately 110 student employees, 69 graduate students, and 10 postdocs.

An important element of LASP's mission is to train the next generation of space scientists and engineers: through wide-ranging research and flight projects, LASP participates actively in the development of the future leaders of space research and is a leader in educating students with highly valued technical and scientific skills. Undergraduate and graduate student participation is integral to LASP's R&D and operational success. In this regard, LASP has been both a contributor to and beneficiary of the remarkable growth of the state of Colorado's space sector.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Designing small spacecraft
• Experience with mechanism designs and components
• Generating design requirements
• Designing components and assemblies taking machinability and assembly into consideration.
• Interfacing with a multi-disciplinary team.
• Purchasing specialty mechanical hardware.
• Performing stress calculations on structural members.
• Presenting your design to internal and external reviewers.
• Other duties as assigned.

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.
• CAD design experience using SolidWorks.
• Experience creating mechanical drawings.
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, GD&T.

What We Can Offer

$109,503 - $142,434

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

• BS or higher degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 4 years' experience in mechanical engineering and design.
• This position requires onsite presence.

What You Will Need

• Ability to function well in a team-based environment.
• Attention to detail.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Working knowledge of mechanism design and/or opto-mechanical design.
• Ansys and or Nastran knowledge.
• Working knowledge of structural analysis (static and dynamic) and finite element software.
• Recent experience aerospace experience a plus.
• Cleanroom experience.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV.
2. Cover 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 as an Optional document.

Please apply by 8/6/2026 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.