Embedded Firmware Control Engineer - Univeristy Of Colorado Boulder

Requisition Number:

74148

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

Research Faculty

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

15-Oct-2026

Date Posted:

12-Aug-2026

The Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Laboratory (BPRL) is seeking an Embedded Firmware and Flight Control Engineer. The successful candidate will design and implement novel bio-inspired flight control architectures (inner and outer loop) on aerial platforms and execute flight demonstrations for stakeholders. The engineer will help bridge the gap between theoretical controller design, development, and implementation of aerial platform on-board hardware and software.

They will also help to implement and troubleshoot custom control architectures, and act as the point person for demonstrations showcasing advanced UAS capabilities, including computer vision, sensor fusion, navigation, ensuring every demonstration is safe, reliable, and representative of the technologies being showcased.

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.

The successful candidate will design, write, and test low-level C++ code on microcontrollers/microprocessors, write custom control architecture code and tune control loops for desired flight performance, troubleshoot circuit boards and communication protocols (CAN, I2C, UART, etc.), and configure real-time operating systems (RTOS). The candidate will also be responsible for setting up, launching, and executing flight demonstrations for stakeholders.

The annual salary range for this appointment will be $70,000 - $80,000.

Be strategic. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

PhD in engineering, robotics, or computer science.

• Experience with embedded C++ (&RTOS), python, Ardupilot, PX4, ROS
  2.
• Hands-on experience with low-level interfaces including CAN, SPI, I2C, and UART.
• Solid grasp of control theory, PID/modern feedback loops, and state estimation filters (Kalman filters, Extended State/Error-State Kalman Filters).
• Hands-on experience implementing and deploying embedded custom controllers onboard flight platforms (e.g. quadrotors).
• Experience piloting drones and working with motion capture systems and data.