Special Information

• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• This position is subject to the availability of funding. The incumbent is not eligible for Service Professional non-renewal notice, or Classified Staff layoff or recall status.
• Required application materials:
  • Applicants must submit the following:
    • Curriculum vitae/resume
    • A one- to two-page cover letter
    • Contact information for three professional references. References will be contacted only with the applicant’s prior permission.
• Cover letter expectations:
  • The cover letter must clearly identify:
    • The applicant’s relevant area(s) of expertise from the discipline categories listed above
    • The level of experience in each area, supported by past employment, education, or project work
    • Note: Candidates are not expected to have expertise in all domains and should indicate their specific concentrations. The complete skill set presented above will be met by the integration of a team comprised of individuals carrying specific strengths and whose overlapping areas of shared skills allow for collaborative work.
• Export control requirements:
  • This position must comply with all U.S. laws and regulations governing the export of controlled technologies and information. Finalists will be asked to provide additional information to determine eligibility for any required export licenses or exemptions. Employment offer is contingent upon a satisfactory export control evaluation.
    
• Work schedule considerations:
  • Some duties may require work outside normal business hours, including travel, integration activities, or test campaigns.
• NAU is currently engaged in transitioning to a new employment category called University Staff, which aligns the current Classified Staff, Service Professional, and Administrator classifications into a single, unified employment group.  As a result, while the position of Instrument Engineer, Lead is currently classified as Service Professional, effective July 1, 2026, this position will be automatically transitioned to the University Staff category.  

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About the Department/College

NAU’s Radiant Center for Remote Sensing coalesces existing expertise in remote sensing and applications across the university to answer pressing scientific questions in multiple disciplines including planetary surfaces, atmospheres, ecology, forestry, wildfire science, environmental science, urban planning/geography, geoscience/volcanology, and anthropology/archeology. The Radiant Center is housed under the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) which promotes research, scholarship, and creative activity across Northern Arizona University.

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About the Position

The Radiant Center for Remote Sensing seeks to hire an instrument development engineering team comprised of 2-4 individuals whose combined areas and levels of experience will augment existing expertise and fuel growth in Radiant’s development activities for multiple currently funded NASA projects. We are recruiting for an: Instrument Engineer, Intermediate; Instrument Engineer, Senior; AND/OR Instrument Engineer, Lead.

The team of engineers will support full development cycle activities from conception to delivery and operation. Candidates with multidisciplinary and overlapping expertise are encouraged to apply. Areas of experience solicited in this call include but are not limited to:

1. Systems Engineering:
   • Requirements development/management, flow‑down, and verification planning
   • Technical resource and schedule management
   • Mission operations concept development
   • Test planning, integration coordination, and configuration control
   • Compliance with export control and programmatic standards
   • Management of interface agreements/drawings/specification
2. Quality Engineering:
   • Safety and mission assurance planning for flight and ground systems
   • Quality engineering and risk management practices
   • Process definition, documentation, and configuration management
   • Oversight of inspection, nonconformance, and corrective‑action processes
   • Management of regulatory compliance
3. Mechanical/Thermal Engineering:
   • Mechanical design, CAD modeling, and assembly documentation
   • Structural and vibration analysis for flight hardware
   • Mechanical assembly, integration, and test support
   • Vibration/structural test planning, execution, and data review
   • Mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE) design and fabrication oversight
4. Thermal Engineering:
   • Thermal modeling, analysis, and design for instrument subsystems
   • Thermal test planning, setup, and execution
   • TVAC test support and data interpretation
   • Development of thermal procedures and test documentation
5. Electrical & Software Engineering Support:
   • Electrical systems engineering and interface definition
   • Parts selection, derating, and worst‑case analysis
   • Software/firmware development best practices for flight programs, including V&V
   • Coordination with external vendors for electrical hardware and software development

The successful candidates will be crucial engineering team members who collaborate in the development and application of new remote sensing instruments for use in laboratory, field, UAS, and spaceborne environments. They will contribute to the design, analysis, development, procurement, fabrication, integration, and test of optical, electrical, and mechanical subsystems for spacecraft instruments. Applicants should have experience in spacecraft or aerospace programs and be familiar with best practices within their identified areas of expertise, particularly those listed above. The Radiant Center for Remote Sensing welcomes applicants with a range of engineering backgrounds and diverse technical and leadership experience.

Responsibilities Include

Instrument Engineer, Intermediate:

80% - Engineering

• Implements engineering design via the application of various engineering domains (e.g., systems, mechanical, thermal, electrical, SMA, etc.).
• Applies engineering principles in the solution of problems for the development of instrumentation and/or processes.
• Procures, fabricates, integrates, and tests systems and components to ensure conformance to engineering design, specifications, and requirements.
• Performs computer-aided design and analysis to develop engineering drawings/models, analysis results, integration plans, and other engineering products.

10% - Technical Communication

• Develops engineering documentation and design review materials; presents designs for review.
• Develops conceptual designs, conducts preliminary analysis, produces writing, and otherwise supports proposal development efforts.
• Conducts analysis and writing in support of project reporting.

10% - Other

• Participates in team meetings.
• May travel to conferences, reviews, or otherwise to support Center objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Instrument Engineer, Senior:

75% - Engineering

• Oversees and implements engineering design via the application of various engineering domains (e.g., systems, mechanical, thermal, electrical, SMA, etc.).
• Oversees and implements the adoption of engineering principles in the solution of problems for the development of instrumentation and/or processes.
• Oversees and implements procurement, fabrication, integration, and testing activities for systems and components to ensure conformance to engineering design and specifications.
• Oversees and performs computer-aided design and analysis to develop engineering drawings/models, analysis results, integration plans, and other engineering products.

10% - Technical Communication

• Coordinates and develops engineering documentation and design review materials; presents designs for review.
• Develops conceptual designs, conducts preliminary analysis, produces writing, and otherwise supports proposal development efforts.
• Conducts analysis and writing in support of project reporting.

5% - Supervision

• May direct and supervise professional & technical staff and graduate students including training, scheduling, hiring decisions.
• Monitors and evaluates staff performance in productivity, skill level, adherence to protocols, and safety.
• Provides technical guidance to personnel involved with producing design drawings.
• Works with employees to correct deficiencies and implement discipline procedures.
• Supports performance evaluation of supervisees.

5% - Administrative Duties

• Manages budgets, staffing and cost control for the instrumentation design process with the aid of project management staff.

5% - Other

• Participates in team meetings.
• May travel to conferences, reviews, or otherwise to support Center objectives.
• Supports an orderly and functional laboratory workspace.
• Other duties as assigned.

Instrument Engineer, Lead:

70% - Engineering

• Directs and implements engineering design via the application of various engineering domains (e.g., systems, mechanical, thermal, electrical, SMA, etc.).
• Directs and implements the adoption of engineering principles in the solution of problems for the development of instrumentation and/or processes.
• Directs and implements procurement, fabrication, integration, and testing activities for systems and components to ensure conformance to engineering design and specifications.
• Directs and performs computer-aided design and analysis to develop engineering drawings/models, analysis results, integration plans, and other engineering products.

10% - Technical Communication

• Directs and develops engineering documentation and design review materials; presents designs for review.
• Develops conceptual designs, conducts preliminary analysis, produces writing, and otherwise supports proposal development efforts.
• Conducts analysis and writing in support of project reporting.

10% - Supervision

• Directs and supervises professional & technical staff and graduate students including training, scheduling, and hiring decisions.
• Monitors and evaluates staff performance in productivity, skill level, adherence to protocols, and safety.
• Provides technical guidance to personnel involved with producing design drawings.
• Works with employees to correct deficiencies and implement discipline procedures.
• Supports performance evaluation of supervisees.

5% - Administrative Duties

• Coordinates budgets, staffing and cost control for the instrumentation design process with the aid of project management staff.

5% - Other

• Participates in team meetings.
• May travel to conferences, reviews, or otherwise to support Center objectives.
• Supports an orderly and functional laboratory workspace.
• Other duties as assigned.

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Minimum Qualifications

Instrument Engineer, Intermediate:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, and
• 2 years of relevant experience in any of the areas specified above.

Instrument Engineer, Senior:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, and
• 3 years of professional engineering experience related to the disciplines listed above.

Instrument Engineer, Lead:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, and
• 5 years of professional engineering experience related to remote sensing instrument development within one of the disciplines listed above.

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

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Preferred Qualifications

Instrument Engineer, Intermediate:

• Advanced degree in engineering or related field.
• Experience with optical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and/or software related to remote sensing instrument development.
• Experience with carrying out assembly, integration, and test programs for airborne and/or spaceborne applications.
• Experience with advanced engineering analysis techniques including but not limited to thermal modeling, static/dynamic analysis, and/or electronics parts worst case analysis.
• Experience with managing projects that adhere to NASA Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) best practices, NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR), and environmental standards (e.g., General Environmental Verification Standards - GEVS).

Instrument Engineer, Senior:

• Advanced degree in engineering or related field.
• Experience with optical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and/or software related to remote sensing instrument development.
• Experience with carrying out assembly, integration, and test programs for airborne and/or spaceborne applications.
• Experience with advanced engineering analysis techniques including but not limited to thermal modeling, static/dynamic analysis, and/or electronics parts worst case analysis.
• Experience with managing projects that adhere to NASA Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) best practices, NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR), and environmental standards (e.g., General Environmental Verification Standards - GEVS).

Instrument Engineer, Lead:

• Advanced degree in engineering or related field.
• Experience with optical, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and/or software related to remote sensing instrument development.
• Experience with carrying out assembly, integration, and test programs for airborne and/or spaceborne applications.
• Experience with advanced engineering analysis techniques including but not limited to thermal modeling, static/dynamic analysis, and/or electronics parts worst case analysis.
• Experience with managing projects that adhere to NASA Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) best practices, NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR), and environmental standards (e.g., General Environmental Verification Standards - GEVS).

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Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Instrument Engineer, Intermediate:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of engineering design principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of advanced techniques and the modification of theories.
• Knowledge of engineering best practices in one or more of the following fields: Systems Engineering, Safety and Mission Assurance, Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Electrical Engineering.

Skills

• Skilled in engineering design applications.
• Skilled in applying engineering principles and procedures.
• Skilled in both verbal and written communication.

Abilities

• Stages and coordinates a number of projects.
• Sustains complex teams.
• Facilitates communication across individuals and teams.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Communicates effectively.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.

For Instrument Engineer, Senior:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of engineering design principles and procedures.
• Knowledge of advanced techniques and the modification of theories.
• Knowledge of engineering best practices in one or more of the following fields: Systems Engineering, Safety and Mission Assurance, Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Electrical Engineering.
• Knowledge of supervisory practices and principles.

Skills

• Skilled in engineering design applications.
• Skilled in applying engineering principles and procedures.
• Skilled in both verbal and written communication.

Abilities

• Stages and coordinates a number of projects.
• Sustains complex teams.
• Facilitates communication across individuals and teams.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Communicates effectively.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.

Instrument Engineer, Lead:

Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of engineering design principles and procedures.
• Advanced knowledge of advanced techniques and the modification of theories.
• Advanced knowledge of engineering best practices in one or more of the following fields: Systems Engineering, Safety and Mission Assurance, Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Electrical Engineering.
• Knowledge of supervisory practices and principles.

Skills

• Skilled in engineering design applications.
• Skilled in applying engineering principles and procedures.
• Skilled in both verbal and written communication.

Abilities

• Stages and coordinates a number of projects.
• Sustains complex teams.
• Facilitates communication across individuals and teams.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Communicates effectively.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.

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Compensation

Instrument Engineer, Intermediate: Salary range begins at $80,000.

Instrument Engineer, Senior: Salary range begins at $94,000.

Instrument Engineer, Lead: Salary range begins at $108,000.

Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

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Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

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Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

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Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

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Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.