Lead Airborne Systems - Software Engineer IV

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)•Broomfield, CO

8d•$140,970 - $176,210•Onsite

About The Position

UCAR is excited to announce the job opening for the Lead Airborne Systems - Software Engineer IV role at the Research Aviation Facility. This position is the primary technical authority and team lead, shaping the architecture, data quality pipelines, hardware-level driver integrations, cybersecurity posture, and for the real-time execution of all airborne data acquisition, processing, and cabin visualization systems. The Research Aviation Facility (RAF), a facility within the Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL) at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), operates advanced research aircraft, including the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream V and C-130, in support of airborne field campaigns across the geosciences. RAF provides the scientific community with specialized airborne platforms, sensor suites, real-time telemetry, and in-flight computing infrastructure used to conduct research in the atmospheric geosciences in fields such as atmospheric chemistry, storm dynamics, and cloud physics.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in computer-related field and extensive and progressive relevant experience and/or education, which is typically gained by twelve or more years of experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Expert skill in establishing technical roadmaps, driving architectural decisions, leading software modernization initiatives, and mentoring engineering staff.
In-depth knowledge of real-time data acquisition architectures, concurrent programming, low-latency network protocols, and multi-threaded system design.
Expert proficiency in C++ and Python under Linux.
Strong familiarity with modern software engineering practice: Git, unit testing, continuous integration, Docker/containerization, and shell scripting (bash/csh).
Expert skill integrating instruments over PCIe, USB, serial, and custom DAQ interfaces on embedded Linux platforms, and debugging at the system level.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills for interfacing across multi-disciplinary teams (engineers, scientists, flight crews).
Willingness and ability to fly on NCAR research aircraft during scientific testing and field campaigns.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for durations of 2–3 weeks in support of field projects.
Deployment periods involve irregular hours, early show times, and on-call availability during flight operations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with cross-platform GUI development (Qt framework preferred).
Experience handling airborne or atmospheric geophysical observations or spatial/GIS datasets.
Hands-on familiarity with scientific data processing pipelines (Python scientific stack, R).
Practical experience with Linux kernel driver and kernel module development.
Background in designing automated data quality control frameworks, error detection, automated flagging algorithms, and sensor data validation pipelines that produce standardized, high-integrity scientific data products (netCDF/CF, HDF) that follow rigorous metadata standards (CF, ACDD, WMO, NCAR-RAF/nimbus).
Applied knowledge of secure coding standards (OWASP/CWE), network isolation, system hardening, and data integrity protocols for embedded/edge operating systems and flight telemetry networks.
Practical application of digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to scientific instrument data streams.

Responsibilities

Set the strategic direction and overall architecture for the RAF airborne software ecosystem: real-time data acquisition, instrument control, signal processing, network communications, remote operations, and integrated cabin display systems.
Evaluate emerging technologies, direct Linux kernel driver and embedded systems work, and lead major modernizations of mission-critical systems.
Supervise and mentor a team of software engineers and data managers.
Assign work, set technical standards, review code quality, conduct performance evaluations, and drive team adoption of modern software engineering practices (CI/CD, automated testing, revision control).
Lead the design, evolution, and long-term maintenance of automated data quality control (QC) tools, automated flag generation pipelines, and post-flight processing frameworks.
Oversee the generation, verification, and distribution of standardized data products.
Lead field deployment operations for research aircraft.
Oversee embedded system configuration, computer network integration, low-level system debugging, and on-board hardware/software troubleshooting during complex flight campaigns.
Act as the primary software authority and escalation point during mission deployments.
Apply and maintain UCAR/NCAR cybersecurity requirements and secure software development practices across airborne data acquisition nodes, telemetry links, and ground processing systems, working with NCAR IT security to adapt institutional policy to the constraints of airborne and embedded platforms.
Own the security posture of RAF-developed software and the network isolation design of in-flight systems.
Interface directly with visiting scientists, university researchers, flight crews, and instrument engineers.
Author system architecture specifications, flight software operational manuals, security compliance profiles, safety documentation, and technical project reports.
During the first year, assume responsibility for working with the retiring incumbent during a structured overlap period to capture design rationale, failure history, hardware-specific behavior, and operational practice that is not currently documented, and convert it into maintained documentation, runbooks, and automated tests so that RAF's dependence on individual expertise is systematically reduced.