ECE Engineering Research Associate I, II, or III - Open Pool

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 10 months ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 30 Jun 2023

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title ECE Engineering Research Associate I, II, or III - Open Pool
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202300289AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week
Proposed Annual Salary Range $35,000 - $80,000 depending on experience and area of specialty
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 06/30/2023
Description of Work Unit
Colorado State University is a land-grant institution, with enrollment of more than 33,000 students. CSU offers 76 undergraduate degree programs, 114 graduate degree programs, 21 professional master’s degree programs, and a Professional Veterinary Medicine program. CSU’s world-class research and scholarship attract more than $370 million in research funding every year, ranking second nationally in federal research funding for universities without a medical school.
Fort Collins is an attractive community of approximately 170,000 located along the Colorado Front Range at the base of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver. The city is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It consistently ranks high on quality of life measures by numerous publications; see https://www.fcgov.com/visitor/awards for the complete list. The Front Range has developed into a high-tech hub with companies such as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM, Intel, Keysight Technologies, Broadcom, AMD, Xilinx, Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Woodward and Northrop Grumman located in or near Fort Collins. The city offers a pleasant climate with excellent schools and abundant cultural and recreational opportunities nearby. For more information on Fort Collins, check out the City’s website: www.visitftcollins.com .
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has 22 faculty members, 400 undergraduates, and 190 graduate students. It has cross-cutting research programs in biomedical engineering; communications and signal processing; computer engineering; controls and robotics; electric power and energy systems; electromagnetics and remote sensing; and lasers, optics, and applications. In 2015, the National Science Foundation selected the ECE department to lead the nation to scalable and sustainable change in engineering education through its Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) program. Impressively, CSU was the first ECE department chosen by the NSF for this highly competitive initiative of national importance.
The department participates in the CSU Information Science and Technology Center (ISTeC), the CSU-CHILL National Radar Facility, and the NSF Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere. It is home to the headquarters of the NSF Engineering Research Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology. ECE boasts three Colorado State University Distinguished Professors and one University Distinguished Teaching Scholar, the highest recognition available for CSU faculty. More than 40% of ECE faculty hold IEEE Fellow distinction, and many faculty have courtesy appointments in the departments of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Systems Engineering and collaborate with faculty in these and other departments across CSU. More information on the department can be found at www.engr.colostate.edu/ece .
Position Summary
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University (CSU) is seeking applications for Research Associate.
Positions with specific areas of research could include:
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Communications and signal processing
  • Computer engineering
  • Controls and robotics
  • Electromagnetics and remote sensing
  • Lasers and photonics


Research Associates participate in professional, scientific activities at several levels of difficulty and responsibility described in the Class Concepts. They typically are assigned responsibility for the coordination of various aspects of research projects that:
  • involve the design, construction, assembly, and test of experimental equipment and instrument systems as well as computer software programs and hardware systems;
  • provide information and advice to principal investigators and/or other faculty and research personnel with administrative responsibility for the research program or teaching facility;
  • act as scientific or technical liaisons to investigators, shop personnel, vendors, extramural funding agencies, and external clientele including commodity and industry organizations;
  • design or supervise the design of electrical, mechanical, electronic, and/or optical instruments and of computer-associated systems and equipment;
  • supervise or perform the recording and reduction of test data for instrument design and evaluation purposes; and,
  • assemble and evaluate information and prepare reports with respect to feasibility, engineering design criteria, and performance of instrument systems. 

Research Associates at the highest levels make significant innovative contributions to the design and conduct of scientific and research methodology to a degree that typically changes the course of the investigation, and/or direct a broad range of programs.
Required Job Qualifications
Research Associate I:
  • Bachelors degree
  • 0 – 3 years of professional, post-baccalaureate (or equivalent) experience
  • Knowledge: possess knowledge of basic principles, concepts, and
    methodology of a professional or scientific position, and skill in applying this knowledge in carrying out assignments, operations, or procedures. Incumbents also possess practical and/or technical knowledge to perform assignments such as carrying out limited projects that involve use of specialized, complicated techniques.
  • Work experience involves some knowledge of the practical and potential values of research and experimentation in the field involved.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.


Research Associate II:
  • Bachelors degree and more than 3 years of relevant professional experience or a recent Masters degree and no other significant professional experience, preferably in a STEM related field.
  • Knowledge: possess knowledge of the principles, concepts, and
    methodologies described for Level I that has been either: (a) supplemented by skills gained through job experience to permit independent performance of recurring assignments, or (b) supplemented by additional professional or administrative knowledge.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Research Associate III:
  • Bachelors degree and 5 years of work-related experience or a Masters degree with at least 2 years experience may join CSU. Individuals with a PhD who have no additional experience. Degree preferably in a STEM related field
  • Knowledge: Incumbents possess knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices such as would be gained through extended graduate study or experience, and applies this knowledge to difficult and complex work assignments. Incumbents also possess a comprehensive, intensive, practical knowledge of a technical field and skill, and applies this knowledge to the development of new methods, approaches, or
    procedures.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred Job Qualifications
Diversity Statement
Ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, teaching and outreach with relevant programs, goals and activities.

Essential Duties


Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
Please submit a cover letter that addresses the minimum qualifications and your interest in the fields listed in the position summary, a resume or CV, and the names and contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
This open pool expires June 30, 2023. Applicants wishing to be considered beyond this date must reapply.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact Alauna Sutton
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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