COMET Engineer

Visa Sponsored Job: Yes

Relocation Assistance Eligible: Yes

Job Location: Boulder, Colorado

Position Type: Full time, Regular

Compensation Range: $67,053 - $83,817

The UCAR Community Program (UCP) is excited to announce the job opening for an Engineer I within our COMET program. This position will join our Innovative Capacity Development Program (ICDP) team, working to reduce the human toll of weather, water, and climate hazards in developing countries by putting cutting‑edge, low‑cost environmental monitoring technology in the hands of local partners worldwide.

In this role, you will design, assemble, test, and improve innovative environmental monitoring systems, including 3D‑printed automatic weather stations, stream gauges, and air quality sensors, built using low‑cost sensors, microcontrollers, and rapid prototyping techniques optimized for resource‑limited environments. You will evaluate system performance and recommend improvements across electronics, software, sensor integration, communications, and data quality.

A meaningful part of this role is people‑facing: you will develop and deliver hands‑on training workshops for international partner institutions on the fabrication, installation, and operation of these systems, and provide ongoing technical support as those partners put the technology to work in their communities. You will collaborate closely with COMET scientists, engineers, educational designers, and administrative staff, and will travel domestically and internationally.

A background in environmental instrumentation and/or boundary layer meteorology is preferred, though candidates with strong relevant technical skills are encouraged to apply regardless of their specific discipline.

• Instrument Maintenance, Evaluation, and System Support:
  Support sensor calibration, verification, and performance testing; assist with evaluating results and identifying factors affecting data quality.
• Assist with integration, configuration, and testing of instrumentation prior to deployment, ensuring systems meet performance requirements.
• Support documentation of system performance, testing approaches, and technical findings, including manuals, procedures, and field guides.
• Field Deployments and System Evaluation:
  Assist with installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of instrumentation during domestic and international field deployments.
• Support evaluation of system performance under real‑world operational and environmental conditions; help identify limitations and recommend improvements based on field observations.
• Assist partner organizations during deployments, supporting their understanding of system operation and performance evaluation.
• Training and Capacity Development:
  Assist in the development, delivery, and refinement of hands‑on training workshops for international partner institutions on system fabrication, installation, configuration, and operation.
• Support explanation of system behavior, troubleshooting approaches, and performance considerations to audiences with varying technical backgrounds.
• Assist in building partner capacity through direct technical support, follow‑up assistance, and ongoing communication with collaborating institutions.
• Fabrication, Prototyping, and System Development Support:
  Support fabrication and prototyping of instrumentation components using 3D printing and rapid prototyping tools; assist in refining mechanical designs for durability and performance in field conditions.
• Assist with testing and evaluation of new sensors, hardware components, and fabricated parts; help identify performance issues and recommend improvements.
• Support development of technical documentation including design notes, evaluation summaries, and development records.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related science field (e.g., meteorology, environmental science, earth science, computer science).
• 1 year of engineering experience, or a combination of education and relevant experience. Relevant experience includes application of engineering principles to instrumentation, environmental monitoring systems, electronics, sensor systems, or…