Position Type:

Casual

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Hiring Range:

21.00 USD - 130.00 USD

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Closes at 12:00am MST on:

2026-09-25

About the Role

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.

The Casual Software Engineer IV role serves as an Airborne Data Systems Knowledge Transfer & Technical Advisor. This Casual appointment exists for one purpose: to transfer that undocumented knowledge to the incoming Lead and the continuing software engineering staff, and to convert it into maintained documentation, before it is lost. The appointment is designed to make itself unnecessary. A substantial share of the design rationale, failure history, hardware-specific behavior, and operational practice for these systems has never been written down. It exists as practitioner knowledge held by one individual.

Job Description

Application Deadline:

• This position will be posted until 12 am MDT (at the beginning of) Friday, September 25, 2026.

Required application materials: (preferably uploaded as a PDF)

• Resume
• Questonnaire (embedded in the application

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.
Work Location: Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

Research Aviation Facility, Broomfield, CO

What You Will Do

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

Key Responsibilities

• Knowledge Transfer & Mentoring of the Incoming Lead

• Documentation of Undocumented Systems

• On-Call Technical Consultation

• Transition Support to Continuing Engineering Staff

• Provides expert guidance and mentoring to the development team to ensure optimal and robust software solutions are determined.

• Solves complex engineering challenges related to real-time data acquisition, embedded Linux systems, hardware drivers, signal processing, and securing edge DAQ hardware in high-vibration airborne environments.

• Acts as an advisor to management and customers on advanced technical applications.

• Works on complex technical problems. Uses a high level of initiative, reasoning, and analytical abilities to design and implement the most appropriate and practical technical solution for the problem at hand.

• Supervision and guidance is given in terms of broad, general objectives and tasks.

• Consults with peers or appropriate experts concerning unusual problems and developments.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

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

Education & Experience

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.  May include formal supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expert skills in software engineering methodologies.

• Broad knowledge of computer science, technology, and trends.

• In-depth knowledge of more than one application domain.

• Proficient with architecture of large-scale, complex systems including interacting components. 

• Advanced ability to enhance existing software processes and define standards and guidelines

• Applies advanced technical principles, theories and concepts.  Contributes to the development of new principles and concepts.

• Able to provide leadership in determining strategic choice and configuration of development tools

Preferred Qualifications

Hiring Hourly Rate Range: $66.44 - $83.05/hour

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role.*

Application Requirements

Questionnaire, Resume/CV

For full consideration, all application materials must be submitted by 12am (MST) at the start of the application deadline. These should highlight how your skills and experiences align with the responsibilities of this position. We recognize that no candidate will meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If you believe your background has prepared you for success in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Supplemental questionnaires are often requested in lieu of a cover letter, where you address critical skills needed for the position. Your answers will be read and weighed equally to your resume and should provide specific, detailed, and informative responses based on your direct and previous work experiences.

Background checks and/or federal screenings are conducted for candidates selected for hire.

UCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants are not required to provide age-related information (like date of birth or graduation dates) in initial submissions.

For sponsored positions: UCAR can sponsor individuals for H-1B status only if they are already in the U.S. in H-1B status or another visa status that allows them to change to H-1B status within the U.S. UCAR is unable to sponsor new H-1B visas for individuals who are outside the U.S. and need to obtain H-1B status through Consular Processing.

While UCAR does not prohibit the use of AI tools in job applications, we strongly recommend that applicants submit primarily original work.

All roles require compliance with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements. All hybrid staff are expected to work on-site approximately 3 days per week.