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Contract Physicist Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

US Department of the Air Force

$129K/yr

... management, contract execution, and technical support. Click on "Learn more about this agency ... or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c ...

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All JobsContract Physicist JobsContract Physicist Jobs in Colorado

Contract Physicist information

See Colorado salary details

$41.5K

$99.7K

$238.2K

How much do contract physicist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract physicist in Colorado is $99,689.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $62,000.00 and $117,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract physicist?

Contract physicists are professionals who work on a temporary or project-by-project basis rather than as permanent employees. They apply their expertise in physics to solve specific problems, conduct research, or provide consulting services for various organizations, such as research institutions, private companies, or government agencies. Their work can involve experimental or theoretical physics and often requires adapting to different projects, environments, and teams. Contract physicists typically negotiate the terms and length of their engagements, which can offer flexibility and diverse experiences.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a contract physicist?

A Contract Physicist should possess a solid background in physics, analytical problem-solving abilities, and at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree in physics or a related field. Familiarity with simulation software, laboratory equipment, and data analysis tools like MATLAB or Python is often required. Strong communication, adaptability, and project management skills help them excel in diverse, client-driven environments. These skills ensure precise project delivery, effective collaboration, and the ability to address complex scientific challenges on a contract basis.

What are common challenges faced by contract physicists, and how can they be addressed?

Contract physicists often encounter challenges such as adapting quickly to new projects, managing multiple client expectations, and staying updated with the latest research. Since they may work with diverse teams across different organizations, strong communication and time management skills are essential. Building a robust professional network and keeping up with advancements in their field can help contract physicists secure new opportunities and remain competitive. Proactively seeking feedback and clarifying project goals early on also greatly improves project outcomes.

What is the difference between Contract Physicist vs Research Physicist?

AspectContract PhysicistResearch Physicist
CredentialsTypically requires a PhD in Physics or related fieldTypically requires a PhD in Physics or related field
Work EnvironmentProject-based, temporary assignments, often freelance or consultingPermanent or long-term research positions in labs or academia
Employer & IndustryGovernment agencies, private companies, consulting firmsUniversities, research institutes, corporate R&D
Work FocusApplying physics to specific projects, often with deliverablesAdvancing scientific knowledge, publishing research

Contract Physicists typically work on short-term projects for various clients, focusing on applying physics skills to meet specific goals. Research Physicists usually hold permanent positions dedicated to scientific discovery and publishing. Both roles require advanced degrees, but their work environments and objectives differ significantly.

Is being a contract physicist a high paying job?

Contract physicists can earn competitive wages, often depending on their level of expertise, specialization, and the industry they work in, such as research, defense, or technology. Compensation may vary significantly based on project scope, experience, and the duration of contracts, with some roles offering higher pay for specialized skills or security clearances.

What are the most commonly searched types of Physicist jobs in Colorado?

The most popular types of Physicist jobs in Colorado are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Physicist jobs in Colorado?

For Contract Physicist jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Physicist jobs in Colorado look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Physicist jobs in Colorado are:

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Contract Physicist jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Contract Physicist job openings:

Contract Physicist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Physicist job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,689 per year, or $47.9 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer

Odyssey Systems Consulting Group, Ltd.

Colorado Springs, CO • On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

Position Summary
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to be a primary technical contributor on the Multimode Threat Engagement Simulation Platform. You will own significant portions of the stack end-to-end - building the Julia computation backend, the React/TypeScript/CesiumJS frontend, and the CI/CD pipeline that delivers standalone Windows and Linux artifacts - with a primary emphasis on high-performance and scientific computing. You will work closely with the Lead Engineer on architecture decisions and with domain engineers (RF, EO/IR) to implement their physics models in a performant, maintainable form.
This role demands genuine depth in high-performance compute application development. The backend is not a conventional web API - it runs trajectory integration, Monte Carlo simulation across thousands of runs, and real-time surrogate model inference. You should be comfortable profiling and optimizing numerical code, reasoning about parallelism, and making informed trade-offs between simulation fidelity and throughput.
***Contingent upon contract award***
Responsibilities
High-Performance Computation Backend
  • Implement and optimize the Julia physics computation server: trajectory integration (RK4/RK45 schemes via DifferentialEquations.jl), SGP4 orbital propagation (SatelliteToolbox.jl), and Monte Carlo driver with Threads.@threads parallelism
  • Profile and optimize computation-critical paths; benchmark throughput and latency against program requirements (e.g., 10,000 Monte Carlo runs within a defined wall-clock target)
  • Integrate ONNX.jl surrogate model inference for real-time parameter sweep capabilities; ensure inference latency meets the <1ms interactive target
  • Implement CZML generation from physics outputs - trajectory arcs, satellite orbital paths, coverage footprints - for time-dynamic Cesium visualization
  • Design and maintain the mission data model: JSON serialization, versioned file format with backward compatibility, and cross-platform path handling for Windows and Linux
  • Implement the HTTP.jl API layer with well-defined request/response schemas, appropriate error handling, and structured logging

Frontend and Visualization
  • Build React/TypeScript components for the mission planning interface: tabbed mission overview, asset and task tree views, mission parameter forms, and the analysis panel
  • Integrate and maintain the CesiumJS/Resium 3D globe: asset markers, trajectory rendering, satellite ground tracks, coverage footprints, and CZML-driven animation with the Cesium timeline
  • Manage frontend application state (mission data, UI state, async physics query results) using appropriate state management patterns for a data-heavy desktop application
  • Implement data-driven analysis visualizations - trajectory plots, Pk curves, Monte Carlo distribution charts - using Recharts, Plotly.js, or equivalent

DevOps and Cross-Platform Packaging
  • Maintain the CI/CD pipeline in GitHub Actions: automated builds producing Windows NSIS installers and Linux AppImages from a single codebase
  • Manage PackageCompiler.jl sysimage builds for the Julia physics server binary on both target platforms
  • Maintain electron-builder configuration and platform-specific packaging scripts; validate installer behavior on clean Windows and Linux test environments
  • Implement build-time embedding of ONNX model files and asset resources; manage versioning of bundled artifacts

***Contingent upon contract award***
Qualifications
Citizenship: Must be a US citizen
Minimum Required Qualifications
Clearance: Active Secret Clearance
Education: B.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related STEM field
Years of Experience: 5+ years of software development experience, with demonstrated depth in at least one of the following areas: scientific computing, numerical simulation, high-performance computing, or data-intensive desktop applications
Certifications: NA
Additional Skills
  • Proficiency in TypeScript/React or equivalent modern frontend framework
  • Experience with a compiled or JIT-compiled high-performance language (Julia, C++, Rust, Fortran, or Python with NumPy/Numba/Cython extensions)
  • Understanding of parallel computing patterns relevant to numerical workloads: thread-level parallelism, SIMD, memory-access optimization
  • Experience with REST API design and implementation as a client-server boundary within a single-machine application

Preferred Qualifications
Clearance: Active TS/SCI
Education: MS degree
Certifications: NA
Preferred Skills
  • Direct experience with Julia and the SciML / DifferentialEquations.jl ecosystem; PackageCompiler.jl sysimage generation
  • Experience with CesiumJS, Resium, and CZML for 3D geospatial visualization
  • Familiarity with orbital mechanics, trajectory simulation, or atmospheric modeling at an implementation level (not just theoretical)
  • Experience with ONNX Runtime, ONNX.jl, or equivalent ML inference frameworks
  • Experience with Electron and electron-builder for cross-platform desktop deployment
  • Familiarity with at least one sensor or physics domain: radar detection, EO/IR performance, acoustic propagation, or multi-sensor tracking - at the level of understanding model inputs/outputs and integrating them correctly

Additional Information
Location: Colorado Springs, CO or Boston, MA
Travel: Approx. 15-20%
Remote, Onsite, or Hybrid: Hybrid
#LI-JK1
***Contingent upon contract award***
Company Overview
Odyssey is a world-class technical, engineering, and integration company serving the warfighting ecosystem with airborne integration, ISR, C2, and warfighter readiness capabilities. Odyssey meets the military's operational needs by integrating layered defense systems from equipment, technology, and services to data, information, and business operations. We streamline defense acquisition and sustainment, engineering the technical battlefield with domain-specific proficiency to ensure lethality. Odyssey is dedicated to excellent contract execution, peak organizational performance, and fostering a workplace built on employee care.
Odyssey is proud to live out our core values of commitment, ambition, and respect in our work and communities through OdysseyCares, a philanthropic group focused on giving back through direct donations, an employer match program, and volunteering events.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
Please Note:
Final compensation for this position will be determined by various factors such as the Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant work experience, specific skills and competencies, geographic location, education, and certifications.
This position is filled through continuous recruitment and will remain open until a sufficient pool of applications has been received.
Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, Tricare supplement, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, employee assistance program, learning and development benefit, paid time off, and holidays.
Odyssey Benefits

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