CIRES / NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Associate Scientist in Atmospheric Instrumentation and Balloon Operations

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder encourages applications for an Associate Scientist in atmospheric instrumentation and balloon operations within NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, Colorado. The successful candidate will work within the Atmospheric Composition and Chemical Processes (ACCP) program supporting federal and university scientists and engineers investigating atmospheric composition and its impacts on climate and air quality. Our group develops, characterizes, and deploys advanced instrumentation to make in situ measurements of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols from the surface to the stratosphere.

The selected candidate will support the existing Balloon Baseline Stratospheric Aerosol Profiles (B2SAP) observing team. The B2SAP team currently conducts routine balloon-borne measurements of stratospheric aerosol properties at geographically diverse locations. The project provides essential observations of stratospheric aerosol variability and the impacts of volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and other natural and human-driven perturbations on Earth's atmosphere and climate.

The selected candidate will provide technical support and will be trained in preparing, maintaining, and testing the Portable Optical Particle Spectrometer (POPS) instrument, and readying it for integration on balloons. The candidate's responsibilities will also include supporting balloon launches and payload recovery (typically within a couple hours drive from the launch site in Boulder, CO). There will be minor troubleshooting of instrumentation and the development of operational procedures. The successful candidate may be called upon to provide occasional hands-on technical support to B2SAP partner stations in the United States and internationally, helping improve measurement reliability and increase launch frequency across the network.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to a growing international atmospheric observing network while working in a collaborative environment that combines instrument development, field measurements, and scientific research.

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

CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) conducts research to improve understanding of the chemical and physical processes that influence Earth's atmospheric composition, air quality, and climate. Within CSL, the Atmospheric Composition and Chemical Processes program develops and deploys advanced instruments to investigate atmospheric constituents and processes affecting the ozone layer, atmospheric chemistry, and climate.

The B2SAP Project, established in 2019, provides routine in situ measurements of stratospheric aerosol number concentrations and particle size distributions using lightweight balloon-borne instrumentation. It is a geographically distributed observing network that supports investigations of background stratospheric aerosol conditions, variability, and perturbations associated with volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and other events. The network also provides an observational foundation for improving our understanding of the role of stratospheric aerosols in Earth's climate. The B2SAP aerosol measurements are flown along with GMLs Global Ozone and Water Vapor (GlO3W) program instrumentation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Prepare, maintain, and integrate balloon-borne scientific instrumentation (70%)

• Work with the POPS instrument to prepare it for a balloon flight. This entails testing and calibrating the commercially purchased POPS and modifying it to make accurate measurements in the stratosphere. Monitor and evaluate instrument performance and measurement quality, identifying poorly performing instruments and communicating any issues to the team. Maintain instrument readiness and test manuals for POPS calibration and maintenance procedures and support quality assurance and quality control procedures. Maintain user documentation, instrument records, and operational protocols to ensure consistency across the observing network.

Support balloon launches, field operations, and instrument recovery (20%)

• Participate in routine balloon-launch operations, including preflight preparation, payload testing, launch execution, real-time monitoring, and postflight assessment. Support instrument recovery operations and coordinate logistics associated with field activities. In general this means helping with balloon launches (you will be trained), and, with a teammate, following the balloon in a car equipped with radio for tracking balloon information. When the package lands (typically within a 2-hour drive), it must be retrieved and brought back to the laboratory. Test flown instrumentation and retest/recalibrate for the next flight. Assist with intensive field operations if they arise - would include similar responsibilities with additional instruments, and potentially remote launches.

Support and strengthen B2SAP partner stations (10%)

• Travel with a B2SAP/GlO3W team member to domestic and international B2SAP/GlO3W launch sites to provide hands-on technical support, instrument maintenance, operator training, and solving. Work with local collaborators to improve launch procedures, establish reliable operational workflows, and increase measurement frequency. Provide virtual support when partner sites are launching balloons without our physical presence. Support the coordination, preparation, and shipment of instrumentation and supplies to partner stations.

What You Should Know

• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position. Given project deliverables, candidates must be legally able to start work on a full-time basis and pass a federal background check by the targeted start date of February 1, 2027.
• This is a one-year position with the possibility of extension based on the availability of funding.
• This is a full-time position located at NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) located in the David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado.
• The position involves substantial hands-on laboratory and field work and requires on-site presence.
• Weather balloon launch and recovery activities from Boulder 2-3 times per month require working outdoors, occasionally in challenging weather conditions and sometimes requiring extended hiking over uneven terrain.
• The successful candidate will work closely with CIRES and NOAA scientists and engineers from CSL, CIRES and NOAA colleagues in the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) and external collaborators from other US and international groups
• Domestic and international travel will be required to support balloon launches, instrument maintenance, and training at B2SAP/GlO3W remote partner stations.
• Field deployments may last several days to a few weeks and may involve irregular schedules, including early mornings, evenings, or weekends depending on weather conditions and operational requirements.
• Limited hybrid work may be possible when duties do not require physical presence in the laboratory or field.
• CIRES HR will include the appropriate federal facility access and background-check requirements.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this role is $60,000 - $81,100. Salary is commensurate with education and years of experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
• Some relocation funds are available to help offset expenses, following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocation processes and procedures.
• This position offers a hybrid work modality, up to 1 day per week.
• CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development, and a Mentorship Program.
• Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues.
• As an employee at CU Boulder, you receive a pass allowing free access to the regional public transit system, which is an outstanding network of buses and light rail systems that provide service within Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.
• CIRES/NOAA CSL provides a collaborative research environment and the opportunity to contribute to atmospheric measurements that improve our understanding of climate and the upper atmosphere. The successful candidate will join a team with extensive experience in balloon-borne instrumentation and stratospheric observations.
• This position offers opportunities to develop technical expertise in atmospheric measurement systems, participate in domestic and international field deployments, contribute to the advancement of scientific instrumentation, and help strengthen a growing global observing network.

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. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be driven. Be ingenious. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, atmospheric science, chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Hands-on experience with the assembly, testing, maintenance, or solving of scientific instrumentation, electronic systems, or other technical measurement equipment. Experience may have been acquired through academic research, laboratory work, internships, or professional employment.

What You Will Need

• Knowledge of scientific instrumentation and basic electronic and mechanical skills.
• Ability and willingness to participate in local routine and intensive field operations.
• Hold a full and valid driver’s license.
• Willingness to travel to remote US and international research locations alongside NOAA/CIRES colleagues to train personnel at our remote partner sites.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify technical issues and communicate these to the B2SAP team to develop practical solutions.
• Ability to work independently in the laboratory.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with scientists, engineers, technical staff, and external partners.
• Ability to organize a schedule, follow instrumentation manuals and maintain accurate documentation.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position details both required skills and desired skills, applicants do not need to have all of the desired skills and experience to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work, along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We provide on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

• Experience with atmospheric measurement instrumentation, particularly aerosol spectrometers, optical particle counters, radiosondes, or balloon-borne sensors.
• Experience with balloon launches, scientific field campaigns, or remote observing stations.
• Experience training collaborators or developing standard operating procedures for scientific instrumentation.
• Experience with instrument calibration, quality assurance, and scientific data management.
• Experience with electronic circuits, basic laboratory skills such as soldering and drilling
• Experience with data acquisition systems, telemetry, or embedded computing platforms.
• Experience with instrument design, mechanical fabrication, 3D printing, or computer-aided design (CAD).
• Experience with programming or data processing tools such as Python or MATLAB.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV.
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
3. Although not needed at the time of application, please be ready to submit contact information for 3 professional references. If you are identified as a finalist for this position, you will be asked to invite your references to complete a Crosschq questionnaire on your behalf. Crosschq is an online reference check solution. All information is kept confidential and shared only with the members of the search committee.

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. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Please apply by November 22, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply 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: Katie Smith

Posting Contact Email: kate.smith-1@colorado.edu