Research Engineer Jobs in Colorado
Research Engineer jobs in Colorado are in strong demand, concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductors, biotechnology, and energy systems, with openings at every level from new-graduate positions to senior principal roles. The largest hiring metros are Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, home to major employers like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The most sought-after specialties include RF and systems engineering, materials science, and machine learning research tied to Colorado's growing tech and defense corridors. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Research Engineer JobsOverview
Open roles13
Top employerSRI International
Top cityBoulder, CO
Cities hiring8
Work type100% On-site
Top credentialMaster's degree in physics
Showing 5 of 13+ Research Engineer jobs
Research Engineer III – RF and Systems Engineer
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Added 3d ago
SRI International
Research Engineer III – RF and Systems Engineer
Boulder, Colorado
Added 3d ago
Research & Development Engineer
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Added 6d ago
Paragon Space Development Corporation
Research & Development Engineer
Lakewood, Colorado
Added 6d ago
Research and Development Composites Molding Engineer
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Added 3w ago
Re:Build Manufacturing
Research and Development Composites Molding Engineer
Commerce City, Colorado
Added 3w ago
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Senior Research Engineer (Electrical / Power Systems) - 1682
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Added 3w ago
SARA Inc
Senior Research Engineer (Electrical / Power Systems) - 1682
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Added 3w ago
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RF Research Engineer (Bioelectromagnetics) - 1676
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Added 3w ago
SARA Inc
RF Research Engineer (Bioelectromagnetics) - 1676
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Added 3w ago
Added 3d ago
Research Engineer III – RF and Systems Engineer
SRI International·Boulder, Colorado
Job functions:
$104k - $155k/yr
On-Site
Master's degree in physics
1,001-5,000 employees
Job Description
Overview:
SRI is seeking a Research Engineer III with a strong background in RF and Systems Engineering to contribute to the development, integration, and evaluation of advanced radar, communications, and sensing systems. This role emphasizes RF system architecture, requirements development, system-level design and analysis, hardware/software integration, and hands-on prototype development and testing. This role is onsite in Boulder, CO.
You will work within multidisciplinary teams to develop advanced systems spanning RF hardware, antennas, digital signal processing, embedded computing, software, and firmware. Applications include radar, communications, electronic warfare, remote sensing, quantum sensing, and photonics. The ideal candidate combines strong RF fundamentals with a systems-level perspective and enjoys taking complex technologies from initial concept and requirements through prototype development, field demonstration, and transition.
This role is part of SRI’s Advanced Technology and Systems Division (ATSD), which develops innovative, high-performance technologies across domains including radar and electronic warfare, imaging systems, robotics, quantum sensing, and applied optics
Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, integrate, and test advanced RF, radar, communications, and sensing systems and subsystems
- Contribute to system architectures, subsystem requirements, interface definitions, performance budgets, and verification approaches
- Perform RF system analysis, including link budgets, radar performance, noise figure, dynamic range, sensitivity, and interference assessments
- Design and evaluate RF architectures involving antennas, RF front ends, transmit/receive chains, data converters, and embedded processing hardware
- Perform engineering trade studies involving performance, size, weight, power (SWaP), cost, reliability, and technical risk
- Support hardware/software/firmware integration and troubleshoot interactions across system components
- Conduct hands-on RF hardware development, prototype assembly, laboratory testing, and performance characterization using RF test instrumentation
- Develop and execute test procedures, analyze results against requirements, and identify opportunities for system improvement
- Independently manage technical assignments and occasionally lead small engineering teams or defined technical tasks
- Document designs, analyses, test results, and technical accomplishments through reports and presentations
- Participate in technical discussions with customers and support occasional field testing and demonstrations
- Contribute to technical proposals, white papers, and new research concepts as opportunities arise
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- B.S. + 5 years, M.S. + 3 years, or Ph.D. + 0-1 year of relevant experience
- U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
Technical Expertise
- Strong foundation in RF and microwave engineering, including RF architectures, signal chains, antennas, and transmit/receive systems
- Demonstrated experience with radar, RF communications, electronic warfare, or related sensing systems
- Experience developing system architectures and translating system-level requirements into subsystem requirements and interfaces
- Understanding of radar and communications performance analysis, including SNR, noise figure, dynamic range, propagation, and waveform considerations
- Familiarity with digital signal processing and hands-on experience with RF laboratory instrumentation
Applied Experience
- Experience developing complex RF systems from concept through integration, test, and demonstration
- Ability to troubleshoot interactions across RF hardware, digital hardware, firmware, software, and algorithms
- Familiarity with real-time processing platforms such as SDRs, FPGAs, GPUs, and SoCs
- Experience performing system-level testing, verification, and performance characterization
Additional Skills
- Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or similar engineering/programming environments
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and system-level problem-solving skills
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to engineering teams, program leadership, and customers
- Experience with technical documentation, design reviews, proposals, and customer presentations
- Willingness to travel occasionally for testing, demonstrations, and customer engagement
Preferred Qualifications
- Active Top Secret (TS) clearance; SCI and/or recent SAP experience preferred
- Experience with RF/EM simulation tools such as ADS, HFSS, or CST
- Experience with maritime, airborne, or other operational sensing environments
- Experience leading multidisciplinary technical efforts and mentoring junior engineers
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with real-world impact
- Collaborative, mission-driven research environment
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
- Opportunities for technical leadership, innovation, and career growth
The salary range is: $104,139-$154,903. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/. SRI will accept applications until the position is filled.
SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For almost 80 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.
SRI International
Research Engineer III – RF and Systems Engineer
Boulder, Colorado
Added 3d ago1,001-5,000 employees
Job functions:
$104k - $155k/yr
On-Site
Master's degree in physics
Job Description
Overview:
SRI is seeking a Research Engineer III with a strong background in RF and Systems Engineering to contribute to the development, integration, and evaluation of advanced radar, communications, and sensing systems. This role emphasizes RF system architecture, requirements development, system-level design and analysis, hardware/software integration, and hands-on prototype development and testing. This role is onsite in Boulder, CO.
You will work within multidisciplinary teams to develop advanced systems spanning RF hardware, antennas, digital signal processing, embedded computing, software, and firmware. Applications include radar, communications, electronic warfare, remote sensing, quantum sensing, and photonics. The ideal candidate combines strong RF fundamentals with a systems-level perspective and enjoys taking complex technologies from initial concept and requirements through prototype development, field demonstration, and transition.
This role is part of SRI’s Advanced Technology and Systems Division (ATSD), which develops innovative, high-performance technologies across domains including radar and electronic warfare, imaging systems, robotics, quantum sensing, and applied optics
Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, integrate, and test advanced RF, radar, communications, and sensing systems and subsystems
- Contribute to system architectures, subsystem requirements, interface definitions, performance budgets, and verification approaches
- Perform RF system analysis, including link budgets, radar performance, noise figure, dynamic range, sensitivity, and interference assessments
- Design and evaluate RF architectures involving antennas, RF front ends, transmit/receive chains, data converters, and embedded processing hardware
- Perform engineering trade studies involving performance, size, weight, power (SWaP), cost, reliability, and technical risk
- Support hardware/software/firmware integration and troubleshoot interactions across system components
- Conduct hands-on RF hardware development, prototype assembly, laboratory testing, and performance characterization using RF test instrumentation
- Develop and execute test procedures, analyze results against requirements, and identify opportunities for system improvement
- Independently manage technical assignments and occasionally lead small engineering teams or defined technical tasks
- Document designs, analyses, test results, and technical accomplishments through reports and presentations
- Participate in technical discussions with customers and support occasional field testing and demonstrations
- Contribute to technical proposals, white papers, and new research concepts as opportunities arise
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- B.S. + 5 years, M.S. + 3 years, or Ph.D. + 0-1 year of relevant experience
- U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
Technical Expertise
- Strong foundation in RF and microwave engineering, including RF architectures, signal chains, antennas, and transmit/receive systems
- Demonstrated experience with radar, RF communications, electronic warfare, or related sensing systems
- Experience developing system architectures and translating system-level requirements into subsystem requirements and interfaces
- Understanding of radar and communications performance analysis, including SNR, noise figure, dynamic range, propagation, and waveform considerations
- Familiarity with digital signal processing and hands-on experience with RF laboratory instrumentation
Applied Experience
- Experience developing complex RF systems from concept through integration, test, and demonstration
- Ability to troubleshoot interactions across RF hardware, digital hardware, firmware, software, and algorithms
- Familiarity with real-time processing platforms such as SDRs, FPGAs, GPUs, and SoCs
- Experience performing system-level testing, verification, and performance characterization
Additional Skills
- Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or similar engineering/programming environments
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and system-level problem-solving skills
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to engineering teams, program leadership, and customers
- Experience with technical documentation, design reviews, proposals, and customer presentations
- Willingness to travel occasionally for testing, demonstrations, and customer engagement
Preferred Qualifications
- Active Top Secret (TS) clearance; SCI and/or recent SAP experience preferred
- Experience with RF/EM simulation tools such as ADS, HFSS, or CST
- Experience with maritime, airborne, or other operational sensing environments
- Experience leading multidisciplinary technical efforts and mentoring junior engineers
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with real-world impact
- Collaborative, mission-driven research environment
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
- Opportunities for technical leadership, innovation, and career growth
The salary range is: $104,139-$154,903. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/. SRI will accept applications until the position is filled.
SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For almost 80 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.
See All 13 Research Engineer Jobs in Colorado
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Find Research Engineer JobsResearch Engineer Jobs by City in Colorado
Where Colorado roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Boulder
4 jobsColorado Springs
3 jobsGolden
1 jobLakewood
1 jobLittleton
1 jobWestminster
1 jobFort Collins
1 jobCommerce City
1 jobResearch Engineer Job Market in Colorado
A snapshot from current Colorado openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
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What Colorado Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research engineer jobs across Colorado.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience with experimental design, data collection, and technical analysis
- Proficiency with relevant simulation, modeling, or lab instrumentation tools for the specialty area
- Ability to obtain or hold a DoD security clearance, required by many Colorado aerospace and defense employers
- Strong record of contributing to peer-reviewed publications, patents, or technical reports
- Experience collaborating within cross-functional teams across engineering, product, and science disciplines
Research Engineer Jobs in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research engineer in Colorado?
Most research engineer positions in Colorado require at minimum a bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or a closely related discipline, with many employers preferring a master's or doctorate for senior roles. Colorado does not require a state-issued license specifically for research engineers, though Professional Engineer licensure through the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors strengthens candidacy for roles involving public-facing or stamped engineering work.
Which companies hire research engineers in Colorado?
Companies currently hiring research engineers in Colorado include SRI International, SARA, and Johns Manville, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Colorado's concentration of aerospace primes, federal labs, and energy research institutions makes it one of the more consistent states for research engineering demand year-round.
Which Colorado cities have the most research engineer jobs?
Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Golden account for the largest share of research engineer openings in Colorado. Denver and Boulder drive volume through their dense clusters of aerospace contractors, biotech firms, and university-affiliated research centers, while Colorado Springs supports a significant share through defense and space systems employers anchored near Peterson Space Force Base and Schriever Space Force Base.
Are there remote research engineer jobs in Colorado?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since many research engineer roles involve lab work, prototyping, or classified facilities that require on-site presence. About 0% of research engineer openings tied to Colorado are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. Computational research, data analysis, modeling, and simulation work are the sub-areas most likely to appear as fully remote positions.
How can I get hired as a research engineer in Colorado with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to research associate or junior engineer roles at Colorado's federal laboratories and major defense contractors, which regularly hire recent graduates. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Ball Aerospace run internship-to-hire and new-graduate programs. Candidates who complete a relevant thesis project, hold a Security Clearance eligibility, or have earned an EIT designation through the Colorado State Board gain a measurable edge over other entry-level applicants.
Where can I find and apply to research engineer jobs in Colorado?
You can find and apply to research engineer jobs in Colorado on Migrate Mate, which lists current Colorado openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 13 Research Engineer Jobs in Colorado
Find roles in Colorado that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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