Engineer IV - Manager for Design & Fabrication Services; DFS

Overview

Visa Sponsored Job: Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible: Yes

Job Location: Boulder, Colorado

Position Type: Full time, Regular

Compensation Range: Salary Range: $165,000-$180,000

Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role. UCAR is seeking an Engineer IV and Manager to lead the Design and Fabrication Services (DFS) group. This role blends advanced mechanical engineering expertise with organizational leadership to ensure technical excellence, operational effectiveness, and long-term strategic direction of DFS.

The Manager leads planning for DFS technical capabilities, staffing, and infrastructure in alignment with EOL, NSF NCAR, and UCAR priorities. Working closely with scientists, engineers, machinists, technical, and administrative staff, this position supports the design, development, and fabrication of advanced atmospheric instruments and supporting infrastructure. The role serves as the primary point of contact for mechanical engineering and fabrication support needs across NSF NCAR and the broader research community.

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

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the DFS group, including engineering and fabrication staff.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for mechanical engineering and fabrication support across NSF NCAR.
• Provide technical oversight and engineering guidance for complex mechanical design and fabrication efforts.
• Guide project planning, execution, risk management, and prioritization across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Support proposal development, budgeting, and long-range planning efforts for DFS resources and capabilities.
• Foster staff development through mentoring, feedback, and training while maintaining realistic schedules and costs.

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

Education and Experience (Required):

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with at least nine (9) years of relevant engineering experience; or
• Master’s degree in Engineering with at least seven (7) years of experience; or
• PhD degree in Engineering with at least five (5) years of experience; or
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience should include leading complex engineering projects from concept through fabrication, and providing technical direction or supervision for engineering teams.

Desired but not required
:

• Experience securing funding through proposal development or grant writing.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Required):

Leadership, Decision Making and Problem Solving

• Demonstrated success leading mechanical engineering projects from concept through fabrication, either as a hands-on technical lead or as a responsible engineering manager.
• Applies engineering principles, expert judgment, creativity, and technical depth to solve complex and often novel mechanical engineering challenges.
• Evaluates risks and tradeoffs to balance scientific need, technical feasibility, cost, schedule, and long-term organizational benefit.
• Works effectively with broad objectives, helping define scope, priorities, and technical approaches while managing multiple concurrent efforts.
• Assumes responsibility for the integrity of design decisions, considering technical, economic, and organizational impacts.
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship that supports staff development while maintaining effective production schedules and cost control.
• Exercises strategic judgment to determine when to innovate, when to standardize, or adjust project scope or approach.
• Contributes to long-term capability planning by identifying emerging technologies, tools, and processes.

Leadership and Management

• Proven ability to provide steady, credible leadership through clear communication, active listening, and sound decision-making.
• Provides technical expertise and leadership for the full mechanical design lifecycle, from concept development through fabrication, working collaboratively with scientists, engineers, technicians, and manufacturing staff to maintain engineering standards, processes and documentation.
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