Job Details

Temporary Researcher

Position Number: 6967643
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

Temporary Researcher

Requisition Number: 70343
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Part Time
Posting Close Date: 04-Mar-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

BioServe is seeking a motivated individual to join their engineering team in the role of a temporary mechanical/design/electrical engineer. The successful candidate will design parts (mechanical and electrical), build assemblies, and test hardware that make up life science payloads destined for the International Space Station (ISS) and other space flight platforms.
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 BioServe engineering team consists of 6 engineers, 2 technicians, and 2-3 graduate students, representing mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines. With several decades of combined experience building life science payloads destined for Shuttle, the International Space Station, and Artemis, the engineering team is highly collaborative and takes a multidisciplinary approach to solving complex problems.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Assembly - Creating, editing, and executing assembly procedures and design drawings.
Assembly of flight hardware, electro-mechanical systems, fluidics systems, and pressurized gas systems. Sterile assembly of biology sample containers, pumps, fittings, tubing, and bags. Heat-sealing and UV-curing various plastic films and bags.
Test - Creating, editing, and executing test procedures.
Procurement, validation, and calibration of temperature, humidity, pressure, flow, and gas composition sensors. Qualification and stress-testing of first-article hardware designs. Acceptance testing of flight hardware.
Process - Troubleshooting hardware issues and diagnosing them as design errors, manufacturing errors, and/or assembly errors. Shipping parts to external vendors, receiving, and inspecting outsourced parts. Suggesting improvements in the work processes in order to improve quality and/or efficiency. Assist senior engineers with new designs or improvements to current designs. General lab maintenance, inventory, and organization tasks related to the supplies and tools required for the above work.
Flight safety - supporting payload flight safety processes within the Cener as needed.

What You Should Know

This position will work fully on-site; no remote work.

What We Can Offer

The hire rate for this part-time position will be $35.00-$50.00 per hour.

Benefits

Temporary positions at the University of Colorado are not benefits-eligible, however, all positions are eligible for paid sick leave.

Be Statements

Be driven. Be resourceful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
Strong understanding of the engineering design process (from requirements to final product).
Demonstrated experience building and taking apart complex and miniature assemblies involving mechanical and electrical components.
Demonstrated experience building and testing pressurized systems.
Design experience with Computer-Aided Design (CAD), especially SolidWorks, and creating drawings for fabrication parts.
Hands-on experience with post-processing machined parts, including deburring, inspecting, cleaning, packaging, and shipping.
Hands-on experience with assembly tools, including wrenches, screwdrivers, torque wrenches, and torque drivers.
Practical experience working in a clean room or sterile environment.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials as individual files:

Cover Letter
Resume/CV

A minimum of one letter of recommendation is required. Please note that this is not to be uploaded during the application process. Your letter of recommendation should be emailed to Senior HR Coordinator Melissa Flores at aerohrhelp@colorado.edu. Any questions about this process can be sent directly to Melissa Flores at aerohrhelp@colorado.edu.

For full consideration, please apply by March 4, 2026.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Temporary-Researcher/70343