CIRES​/NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory, Research Engineer in Support of Atmospheric Trace Gas Measurements

Research Engineer Position

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) is seeking a research engineer to support the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory's (GML) Technology Transitions, Engineering, and Applications (TTEA) division. The position will support four specific efforts: the High-Altitude Operational Returning Uncrewed System (HORUS), a balloon-borne scientific package that includes a glider to return science payloads to a predetermined location;
TraceAIR, the installation of the Measurements of Atmospheric Carbon and H2O (MACH) package aboard United Airlines commercial aircraft to measure trace gas atmospheric composition; NOAA's GHG Aircraft System for Light Aircraft (NGAS-LA), a flexible yet robust instrument package for measuring greenhouse gases in targeted field studies across the globe; and NOAA's shipborne instruments that measure the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO₂) in surface seawater and atmospheric greenhouse gas composition from research vessels and other ships of opportunity.

These projects have recently moved from conception to active deployment phase, and the position will help shape the trajectory of these ongoing programs.

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.

CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more.

Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The mission of the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) is conducting research that addresses three major challenges: greenhouse gas and carbon cycle feedbacks, changes in clouds, aerosols and surface radiation, and stratospheric ozone recovery. The TTEA division aims to advance observing capabilities for direct measurements of atmospheric trace gases to enhance (a) global and regional scale carbon emissions and/or uptake detection, (b) model and satellite evaluation used to understand trends and variability of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances, and (c) the understanding of tropospheric and stratospheric composition feedbacks on earth's radiation budget in a changing climate.

The TTEA division develops, implements and/or transitions to operations new and innovative atmospheric observing platforms, instruments, and sampling techniques to fulfill this mission.

• Calibrate, test, document, maintain and repair atmospheric sensors, trace gas measurement systems, or sampling equipment for ground, aircraft, ship, balloon and/or autonomous system applications (60%).
• Provide input to collaborating scientists and partner organizations on engineering solutions for measurement needs (15%).
• Deploy measurement systems to the field and provide ongoing technical support for field projects (15%).
• Guide transition of new atmospheric observing technologies and/or platforms toward operational research applications (5%).
• Perform other relevant duties as necessary (5%).

• The anticipated start date for this position is October 1, 2026.
• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position. Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the U.S on a full-time basis and pass a federal clearance background check by the start date.
• This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the David Skaggs…