Senior Researcher Jobs in Colorado
Senior Researcher jobs in Colorado are concentrated in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, where institutions like the University of Colorado, Lockheed Martin, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory maintain deep research programs across environmental science, aerospace systems, and biomedical fields. Demand is strongest for researchers with expertise in energy transition, defense technology, and public health, reflecting Colorado's role as a hub for federally funded labs and advanced industry. The market draws candidates from new senior-level appointments to principal researcher roles with staff oversight responsibilities. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.
OUR MISSION
True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.
OUR VALUES
- Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
- What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
- It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.
YOUR MISSION
As a member of the Applied Algorithms and Autonomy team, you will design, build, and deploy core autonomy capabilities for True Anomaly. You will work with a talented cross-functional team to advance technology at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and classical optimization. This will involve hands-on development across various areas including fleet scheduling, vehicle autonomy, mission planning, wargaming, threat assessment, and uncooperative RPO capabilities. You are a first principles engineer who takes ownership of the systems you build and delivers results.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Design, implement, and validate optimization algorithms for fleet-level mission planning, resource allocation, and sequential decision-making under uncertainty
- Contribute to system architecture for large-scale distributed optimization problems, informed by statistical modeling, simulation-based analysis, and operational constraints
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to formalize stakeholder requirements into mathematical programs and deploy scalable solutions
- Tune and validate optimization models through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and operational deployment
- Develop production-quality implementations with rigorous documentation and testing
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in operations research, applied mathematics, computer science, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related quantitative discipline
- Proficient in C/C++ and Python for implementing optimization solvers and numerical methods
- Strong expertise in at least one domain:
- Adversarial optimization: game theory, Nash equilibria, minimax optimization, sequential games, adversarial search
- Mathematical programming: model predictive control, trajectory optimization, dynamic programming, stochastic control, mixed-integer programming, convex optimization
- Statistical learning: reinforcement learning, online learning, classification/regression under uncertainty, anomaly detection, predictive modeling
- Distributed optimization: fleet coordination, consensus protocols, multi-agent resource allocation, network flow optimization, decentralized control
- Solid foundation in probability theory, optimization, and stochastic decision processes
- 4+ years implementing and deploying optimization algorithms in operational systems with real-world constraints
- Demonstrated ability to formulate complex problems as tractable mathematical programs and collaborate across disciplines
- Passion for space operations and advancing capabilities in space domain awareness
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Master's or PhD in operations research, applied mathematics, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related discipline
- Experience with high-performance numerical computing and production-grade solver implementations
- Familiarity with edge computing constraints and real-time optimization under latency bounds
- Background in astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, or spacecraft operations
- Experience with Bayesian inference, state estimation (Kalman filtering, particle methods), and planning under partial observability
- Track record in verification/validation of mission-critical optimization systems
- Understanding of how game-theoretic, optimization, and learning-based approaches compose for robust decision-making
COMPENSATION
- Base Salary: $180,000 - $360,000
- Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Work Location—this is a fully onsite role. Candidates must be based in or able to commute to our Denver or Long Beach office daily.
- Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
- Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.
This position will be open until it is successfully filled. To submit your application, please follow the directions below. #LI-Onsite
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.
See All 26 Senior Researcher Jobs in Colorado
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Find Senior Researcher JobsSenior Researcher Jobs by City in Colorado
Where Colorado roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Researcher Job Market in Colorado
A snapshot from current Colorado openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Colorado12

- Anduril2

- Denver Health2

- Danone1

- Google1

Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Colorado Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior researcher jobs across Colorado.
- Doctoral degree in a relevant scientific or technical discipline required by most Colorado employers
- Five or more years of research experience with demonstrated project leadership in a specialized domain
- Record of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, or funded grants in the field
- Proficiency with statistical analysis software such as R, Python, SAS, or MATLAB
- Experience collaborating with federal agencies, national laboratories, or government-funded research programs
- Strong written and oral communication skills for presenting findings to technical and non-technical audiences
Senior Researcher Jobs in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior researcher in Colorado?
Most senior researcher roles in Colorado require a doctoral degree in a relevant field, though some positions accept a master's degree combined with extensive research experience. Colorado does not issue a state license specifically for researchers, so advancement depends on building a record of independent research, publications, and grant-funded work. Roles at federally affiliated institutions such as national laboratories often require security clearance eligibility and demonstrated expertise in a recognized specialty area.
Which companies hire senior researchers in Colorado?
Employers hiring senior researchers in Colorado right now include University of Colorado, Anduril, and Denver Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Colorado's concentration of national laboratories, aerospace contractors, and research universities means hiring activity tends to cluster around long-standing institutional partners with ongoing federal funding.
Which Colorado cities have the most senior researcher jobs?
Aurora, Denver, and Fort Collins hold the most senior researcher openings in Colorado. Denver anchors the market through its mix of federal agencies, health systems, and private sector research firms, while Boulder draws significant activity from the University of Colorado and nearby national laboratory campuses, and Colorado Springs reflects steady demand from defense and aerospace contractors concentrated on the Front Range.
Are there remote senior researcher jobs in Colorado?
Yes, and more than many fields, since much of the work involves data analysis, writing, and computational modeling that translates well to distributed settings. About 33% of senior researcher openings tied to Colorado are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the analytical nature of many positions. Literature review, qualitative coding, and grant writing roles tend to be the most consistently available in fully remote formats.
How can I get hired as a senior researcher in Colorado with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a postdoctoral fellowship or research associate position at one of Colorado's major institutions, including the University of Colorado system campuses or federally sponsored labs on the Front Range. Many candidates move into senior roles from adjacent positions such as research analyst, data scientist, or program evaluator. Building a portfolio of published work, even from graduate research, and securing at least one first-author publication substantially improves competitiveness for Colorado hiring panels that weight independent scholarly contribution heavily.
Where can I find and apply to senior researcher jobs in Colorado?
You can find and apply to senior researcher jobs in Colorado on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to identify roles that fit your background, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 26 Senior Researcher Jobs in Colorado
Find roles in Colorado that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Researcher Jobs