Science & Research H-1B Sponsorship Jobs in Colorado
Colorado's science and research sector spans national laboratories, aerospace firms, and biotech companies concentrated in Denver, Boulder, and the Front Range corridor. Employers like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Ball Aerospace, and the University of Colorado system regularly sponsor H-1B visas for qualified researchers, scientists, and engineers seeking to build careers in one of the country's most research-intensive states.
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Get Access To All JobsCOMPANY DESCRIPTION
Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. Those big leaps in human health, sustainability and beyond exponentially accelerate scientific progress in areas ranging from disease detection and treatment and nature-positive agriculture to novel applications of AI that are driving the creation of new technologies.
What sets Flagship apart is our ability to advance science and technology by uniting innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our scientific founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and transform for the benefit of people and planet.
Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity's most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.
Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE's "Change the World" list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a UAS Systems Integration Engineer II to join our growing hardware team. This is a deeply technical, hands-on engineering role for someone who lives at the intersection of firmware, electronics, and airframe design. You will help drive the development of the technical architecture of our fixed-wing UAV platform — co-developing the autopilot stack, airframe, payload integration, and C2 link from the ground up. Working within a small, high-caliber team, you will drive the system from early prototype toward a hardened, field-deployable platform capable of executing precision scientific missions in demanding international environments. The ideal candidate brings end-to-end systems thinking and a builder's instinct — equally comfortable in CAD, oscilloscope traces, and firmware source code.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Configure, tune, and iterate on autopilot firmware for fixed-wing airframes, including PID tuning, failsafe logic, auto modes, and mission scripting using ArduPlane;
- Read, modify, and debug ArduPilot source code (C++) to extend autopilot capabilities, implement custom behaviors, and resolve vehicle-level anomalies;
- Design, build, and iterate on fixed-wing airframes across aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion integration — optimized for payload capacity, endurance, and operational resilience;
- Support flight test campaigns alongside flight operations — pre-flight vehicle readiness checks, ground station and telemetry setup, in-field troubleshooting, and rapid turnaround of firmware and hardware fixes between flights;
- Develop C2 link architecture, RF link budgets, electronics integration, and spectrum compliance strategies for long-range BVLOS operations;
- Design and implement custom ground station software and user interfaces to support mission planning, real-time monitoring, and post-flight analysis;
- Integrate and validate onboard science payloads and sensors, ensuring electrical compatibility, data integrity, and mission performance;
- Analyze flight logs (MAVExplorer, Flight Review) to diagnose anomalies, validate performance models, and drive systematic improvements to vehicle reliability;
- Design and fabricate custom electronics, including PCB layout for power distribution, sensor interfacing, and avionics integration;
- Document designs, test results, firmware change logs, and component specifications to build a scalable engineering knowledge base for the drone program.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field; equivalent hands-on experience will be considered.
- BS + 2-4 or MS + 0-2 years of hands-on hardware/software systems integration experience required, in real-mission or production contexts;
- Proficiency in C++ and Python, with demonstrated experience reading, modifying, and debugging ArduPilot source code; strong familiarity with MAVLink protocol and GCS tooling;
- Hands-on experience with ArduPilot or PX4 based autopilot systems, preferably in production-ready or real-mission contexts;
- Experience with RF link design, C2 spectrum compliance, antenna selection, and electronics integration for long-range UAV systems;
- Electronics design and integration experience required; PCB design and fabrication experience is a strong plus;
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is a plus (or the ability to obtain is required); BVLOS waiver experience is a strong plus;
- Ability to work hands-on across the full hardware stack — from firmware and avionics to airframe fabrication and field deployment — in a small team environment;
- Experience with atmospheric sensing instrumentation or science payload integration is a strong plus;
- Strong documentation and engineering rigor: changelogs, test reports, design rationale, and component specifications suitable for future scaling and external review;
- Genuine passion for building novel aerial systems with real-world scientific impact, and comfort operating at the frontier of hardware, firmware, and systems engineering.
LOCATION: Boulder, CO
ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:
Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity's most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.
Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE's "Change the World" list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies.
At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.
Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, "FSP") do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $130,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Protocos currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Protocos's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering or one of its portfolio companies, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact privacy@flagshippioneering.com.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps. Those big leaps in human health, sustainability and beyond exponentially accelerate scientific progress in areas ranging from disease detection and treatment and nature-positive agriculture to novel applications of AI that are driving the creation of new technologies.
What sets Flagship apart is our ability to advance science and technology by uniting innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our scientific founders, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and transform for the benefit of people and planet.
Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity's most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.
Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE's "Change the World" list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies.
THE ROLE
We are seeking a UAS Systems Integration Engineer II to join our growing hardware team. This is a deeply technical, hands-on engineering role for someone who lives at the intersection of firmware, electronics, and airframe design. You will help drive the development of the technical architecture of our fixed-wing UAV platform — co-developing the autopilot stack, airframe, payload integration, and C2 link from the ground up. Working within a small, high-caliber team, you will drive the system from early prototype toward a hardened, field-deployable platform capable of executing precision scientific missions in demanding international environments. The ideal candidate brings end-to-end systems thinking and a builder's instinct — equally comfortable in CAD, oscilloscope traces, and firmware source code.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Configure, tune, and iterate on autopilot firmware for fixed-wing airframes, including PID tuning, failsafe logic, auto modes, and mission scripting using ArduPlane;
- Read, modify, and debug ArduPilot source code (C++) to extend autopilot capabilities, implement custom behaviors, and resolve vehicle-level anomalies;
- Design, build, and iterate on fixed-wing airframes across aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion integration — optimized for payload capacity, endurance, and operational resilience;
- Support flight test campaigns alongside flight operations — pre-flight vehicle readiness checks, ground station and telemetry setup, in-field troubleshooting, and rapid turnaround of firmware and hardware fixes between flights;
- Develop C2 link architecture, RF link budgets, electronics integration, and spectrum compliance strategies for long-range BVLOS operations;
- Design and implement custom ground station software and user interfaces to support mission planning, real-time monitoring, and post-flight analysis;
- Integrate and validate onboard science payloads and sensors, ensuring electrical compatibility, data integrity, and mission performance;
- Analyze flight logs (MAVExplorer, Flight Review) to diagnose anomalies, validate performance models, and drive systematic improvements to vehicle reliability;
- Design and fabricate custom electronics, including PCB layout for power distribution, sensor interfacing, and avionics integration;
- Document designs, test results, firmware change logs, and component specifications to build a scalable engineering knowledge base for the drone program.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field; equivalent hands-on experience will be considered.
- BS + 2-4 or MS + 0-2 years of hands-on hardware/software systems integration experience required, in real-mission or production contexts;
- Proficiency in C++ and Python, with demonstrated experience reading, modifying, and debugging ArduPilot source code; strong familiarity with MAVLink protocol and GCS tooling;
- Hands-on experience with ArduPilot or PX4 based autopilot systems, preferably in production-ready or real-mission contexts;
- Experience with RF link design, C2 spectrum compliance, antenna selection, and electronics integration for long-range UAV systems;
- Electronics design and integration experience required; PCB design and fabrication experience is a strong plus;
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is a plus (or the ability to obtain is required); BVLOS waiver experience is a strong plus;
- Ability to work hands-on across the full hardware stack — from firmware and avionics to airframe fabrication and field deployment — in a small team environment;
- Experience with atmospheric sensing instrumentation or science payload integration is a strong plus;
- Strong documentation and engineering rigor: changelogs, test reports, design rationale, and component specifications suitable for future scaling and external review;
- Genuine passion for building novel aerial systems with real-world scientific impact, and comfort operating at the frontier of hardware, firmware, and systems engineering.
LOCATION: Boulder, CO
ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:
Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity's most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.
Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE's "Change the World" list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies.
At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.
Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, "FSP") do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering's internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $130,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Protocos currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Protocos's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering or one of its portfolio companies, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact privacy@flagshippioneering.com.
H-1B Science & Research Job Roles in Colorado
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Search Science & Research Jobs in ColoradoScience & Research H-1B Sponsorship Jobs in Colorado: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor H-1B visas in Colorado?
Colorado has a strong concentration of H-1B sponsoring employers in science and research. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin Space, the University of Colorado system, and several biotech firms along the Denver-Boulder corridor have filed H-1B petitions for research and technical roles. Federal contractors and national laboratory affiliates are particularly active sponsors given the depth of specialized roles they hire for.
Which cities in Colorado have the most science and research H-1B sponsorship jobs?
Boulder and Denver account for the largest share of science and research H-1B sponsorship activity in Colorado. Boulder hosts a dense cluster of federal labs, aerospace contractors, and university-affiliated research centers. Denver and its suburbs, including Golden and Littleton, are home to energy research institutions and defense contractors. Fort Collins also draws sponsoring employers through its proximity to Colorado State University and agricultural research programs.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for H-1B sponsorship in Colorado?
Roles that routinely qualify include research scientists, atmospheric scientists, materials scientists, aerospace engineers, environmental scientists, and bioinformatics specialists. The H-1B requires the position to be a specialty occupation, meaning it typically demands at least a bachelor's degree in a specific technical or scientific field directly related to the duties. Postdoctoral researcher and principal investigator positions at universities and national labs frequently meet this standard.
How do I find science and research H-1B sponsorship jobs in Colorado?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters science and research H-1B sponsorship jobs in Colorado by employer, role type, and location. Rather than sorting through job postings with no indication of visa support, Migrate Mate surfaces positions from employers with a documented history of H-1B sponsorship, making the search considerably more targeted for researchers and scientists looking to work in Colorado.
Are there any Colorado-specific considerations for H-1B sponsorship in science and research?
A meaningful share of Colorado's research employers are federal contractors or national laboratories, which can introduce additional hiring requirements such as security clearances. Certain positions at facilities like NREL or aerospace contractors may require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, making them ineligible for H-1B sponsorship regardless of the employer's general sponsorship history. Applicants should confirm clearance requirements before pursuing specific roles to avoid mismatches late in the hiring process.
What is the prevailing wage for H-1B science & research jobs in Colorado?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.