Planetary Science Researcher

University of Colorado Boulder
  • Boulder, CO
  • $86,800–$94,300 Per Year
2 days ago

Job Description

Planetary Science Researcher

Jobs UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

Jobs UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

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Planetary Science Researcher

Requisition Number:

74434

Location:

Boulder, Colorado

City

Boulder

State

Colorado

Employment Type:

Research Faculty

Schedule:

Full-Time

Posting Close Date:

27-Aug-2026

Date Posted:

25-Aug-2026

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Job Summary

Job Summary

Perform planetary science research and project science management in support of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid belt and develop an externally funded independent research program.

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.

Who We Are

Who We Are

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) is one of the largest research institutes of CU Boulder, the #1 public university recipient of NASA research grants, and one of America's leading aerospace universities. With a focus on solar, stellar, space plasma, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, LASP employs both experimental and theoretical approaches to answer key science questions. Since its inception in 1948, LASP has developed, operated, and analyzed the data from scientific instrumentation for solar science, earth atmospheric, planetary, deep-space, and Earth-orbiting spacecraft missions investigating the Sun, all eight planets, Pluto and beyond. The progressive development of research capabilities and use of innovative technologies in pursuit of emerging research initiatives ensures a continued leadership role for LASP in today's growing "new space" era. Since 2013, LASP has secured over $1.75B in grants and contracts.

Thanks to its distinctive combination of scientific and engineering expertise and its ability both to manage long-term collaborations with agencies such as NASA and to respond to faster-moving opportunities with private sponsors, LASP has grown rapidly in the last decade, with expenditures that exceed well over $150M annually, secured through grants, contracts, and other funding vehicles. Some 400 of LASP's 600-person staff are technical staff and research scientists. The LASP community includes tenure/tenure-track faculty, approximately 110 student employees, 69 graduate students, and 10 postdocs.

An important element of LASP's mission is to train the next generation of space scientists and engineers: through wide-ranging research and flight projects, LASP participates actively in the development of the future leaders of space research and is a leader in educating students with highly valued technical and scientific skills. Undergraduate and graduate student participation is integral to LASP's R&D and operational success. In this regard, LASP has been both a contributor to and beneficiary of the remarkable growth of the state of Colorado's space sector.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

  • Support the Project Scientist (Prof. Paul Hayne) as an interface to the instrument teams and Mission Systems Engineering (MSE) team.
  • Interface with engineering team (through Prof. Jay McMahon) to develop and test software for asteroid shape modeling based on planned navigation products.
  • Support the development of Scarabaeus software package for EMA navigation.
  • Undertake an active research program in planetary science, seeking external funding from NASA and/or other federal agencies.
  • Other duties as assigned.

What You Should Know

What You Should Know

  • Onsite presence is expected 5 days per week, including regular meetings at LASP's SPSC, LSTB, ARL, and Park Place buildings.
  • Optional travel to the UAE and Japan will take place in 2027 and 2028.

What We Can Offer

What We Can Offer

$86,800 - $94,300 per year.

Benefits

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

What We Require

  • PhD in planetary science or related field, with a track record of publications in the peer-reviewed literature.

What You Will Need

What You Will Need

  • Experience working with scientists and engineers as part of a robotic space mission.
  • Computer modeling and data analysis expertise, including reduction of data from remote sensing instruments on planetary spacecraft.

What We Would Like You to Have

What We Would Like You to Have

  • At least one year of postdoctoral experience.
  • Expertise in image processing.

Special Instructions

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

  • Resume or CV.
  • Cover Letter.
  • Reference Letter (Not Confidential)

(Optional) Transcripts/Proof of Degree: If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources Department using an approved online vendor. However, if your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit an English-translated version as an Optional document.

Please apply by 8/27/2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu

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The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. Click here for a list of ADA and Title IX coordinators. To view the Regent policy, please click here. This organization participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each employee's I-9 form to confirm work authorization.

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Numbers & Facts

LocationBoulder, CO
Salary$86,800–$94,300 Per Year

Skills

  • Aerospace and Defenseunmatched
  • Atmospheric Physicsunmatched
  • Atmospheric Sciencesunmatched
  • Data Analysisunmatched
  • Data Modelingunmatched
  • Earth Sciencesunmatched
  • Federal Governmentunmatched
  • Federal Laws and Regulationsunmatched
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)unmatched
  • Fundingunmatched
  • Homeland Securityunmatched
  • Image Processingunmatched
  • Instrumentationunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Plasmaunmatched
  • Product Planningunmatched
  • Publicationsunmatched
  • Recreationunmatched
  • Research & Development (R&D)unmatched
  • Research Grantsunmatched
  • Scientific Researchunmatched
  • Social Security Administrationunmatched
  • Software Developmentunmatched
  • Space Scienceunmatched
  • State Laws and Regulationsunmatched
  • Systems Engineeringunmatched
  • Technical Researchunmatched
  • Technical Supportunmatched
  • Test Plan/Scheduleunmatched
  • Training/Teachingunmatched
  • Willing to Travelunmatched

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