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Pilot Biologist Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Director of R&D

Denver, CO · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial production trials. * Develop technical specifications ... Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2 ...

Director of R&D

Denver, CO · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial production trials. * Develop technical specifications ... Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2 ...

Director of R&D

Denver, CO

$100K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial production trials. * Develop technical specifications ... Bachelors degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 23 ...

Director of R&D

Denver, CO

$100K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial production trials. * Develop technical specifications ... Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2 ...

Director of R&D (Denver)

Denver, CO · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial production trials. * Develop technical specifications ... Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2 ...

Director of R&D

Denver, CO

$100K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial production trials. * Develop technical specifications ... Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2 ...

Director of R&D

Denver, CO · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial production trials. * Develop technical specifications ... Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2 ...

Showing results 21-37

Pilot Biologist information

See Colorado salary details

$38.9K

$94K

$145.1K

How much do pilot biologist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for pilot biologist in Colorado is $94,009.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $62,600.00 and $127,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a pilot biologist?

Pilot biologists are professionals who combine aviation skills with biological expertise to conduct aerial surveys, wildlife monitoring, and environmental research. They often fly aircraft to observe, track, and collect data on animal populations, habitats, or ecological changes. Their work supports conservation efforts, wildlife management, and scientific studies, often in collaboration with government agencies or research organizations. Pilot biologists must be licensed pilots and have a background in biology or a related field to effectively perform their duties.

How do pilot biologists typically balance flying responsibilities with biological data collection and analysis?

Pilot Biologists often split their time between piloting aircraft for aerial surveys and conducting biological research, such as wildlife monitoring or habitat assessments. This dual responsibility requires strong time-management skills and the ability to transition between field operations and scientific work. Collaborating closely with other biologists, technicians, and sometimes government agencies is common to ensure accurate data collection and safety during flights. The role can be demanding, especially during peak fieldwork seasons, but offers unique opportunities for both scientific contribution and aviation experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a pilot biologist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Pilot Biologist, you need a strong background in biology or wildlife sciences, a commercial pilot’s license, and experience with field research techniques. Familiarity with GIS mapping software, data collection tools, and specialized aircraft instrumentation is commonly required. Excellent observational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for this role. These competencies are crucial for safely conducting aerial surveys, accurately gathering ecological data, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams for environmental research.

What is the difference between Pilot Biologist vs Marine Biologist?

AspectPilot BiologistMarine Biologist
Required CredentialsBiology degree, pilot license, specialized trainingBiology degree, research experience, often a marine science certification
Work EnvironmentAircraft, remote field sites, marine environmentsLaboratories, research vessels, coastal and open ocean
Employer & IndustryEnvironmental agencies, research organizations, governmentUniversities, research institutes, conservation groups

While both Pilot Biologists and Marine Biologists work in marine environments, Pilot Biologists combine biological expertise with piloting skills to conduct surveys and research from aircraft or boats. Marine Biologists focus primarily on studying marine organisms and ecosystems. The roles overlap in fieldwork and environmental monitoring, but Pilot Biologists uniquely operate aircraft or vessels to access remote or large areas efficiently.

What are popular job titles related to Pilot Biologist jobs in Colorado?

For Pilot Biologist jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Pilot Biologist jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Pilot Biologist job openings:

Infographic showing various Pilot Biologist job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $94,009 per year, or $45.2 per hour.

Associate Director, Adsorbent Chemistry

Alta Resource Technologies, Inc.

Boulder, CO • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 5 days ago


Job description

About Alta
Alta Resource Technologies (Alta) is a next generation mining company that uses synthetic biology to separate critical minerals from conventional and unconventional resources, including e-waste. Founded in 2023, the company is expanding its team in Boulder, CO. The exponential growth of new tech industries, as well as the information technology sector, are driving historic growth in mineral demand and stressing existing supply streams. Meeting new demand, diversifying the supply chain, and producing minerals in a more sustainable manner requires the rapid development, deployment and scaling of new technologies. This mineral challenge represents a historic opportunity for technology development and value creation. Alta is proud to be at the vanguard of this mega trend.
Berkner Group has been retained to execute this search. If Berkner Group contacted you directly, please respond to the recruiter who reached out to you. If you are applying through this job posting and your background is a strong match, a member of the Berkner Group team may contact you to discuss the opportunity.
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced and innovative Associate Director to lead the development, optimization, and scale-up of adsorbent chemistries for advanced separation technologies. This role will focus on resin activation, surface functionalization, and immobilization processes to enable high-performance adsorbent materials for industrial applications.
The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in polymer and surface chemistry with a strong understanding of process development and technology transfer. This individual will work cross-functionally with applied biology, process engineering, analytical chemistry, and manufacturing teams to translate laboratory-scale innovations into robust, scalable manufacturing processes.
Key Responsibilities
  • Lead the design, development, and optimization of adsorbent materials, including resin activation, surface modification, and functionalization chemistries.
  • Develop and scale covalent immobilization strategies for proteins, and other functional molecules onto solid supports.
  • Evaluate and optimize a range of support materials
  • Design and execute experiments to characterize adsorbent performance
  • Establish structure-property relationships to guide adsorbent design and process optimization.
  • Develop robust, reproducible, and scalable manufacturing processes for adsorbent production.
  • Partner with process engineering teams to transfer laboratory methods into demo and commercial-scale operations.
  • Define critical process parameters, critical quality attributes, and in-process controls for adsorbent manufacturing.
  • Author and review technical reports, SOPs, batch records, specifications, and technology transfer documentation.
  • Collaborate closely with analytical teams to develop and validate characterization methods.
  • Support intellectual property generation, including invention disclosures, patent applications, and scientific publications.
  • Mentor and develop junior scientists while contributing to technical strategy and project prioritization.
  • Serve as a technical leader within multidisciplinary project teams and communicate progress to senior leadership.
Required Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with 8+ years of relevant industrial experience; or M.S. with 12+ years of experience.
  • Demonstrated expertise in resin activation and functionalization chemistries.
  • Experience developing covalent coupling chemistries, including amine-, thiol-, epoxy-, aldehyde-, carbodiimide-, click chemistry-, or maleimide-based systems.
  • Strong knowledge of surface characterization and analytical techniques, including spectroscopy, chromatography, microscopy, and materials characterization methods.
  • Experience leading cross-functional technical programs and mentoring scientists.
  • Proven track record of advancing technologies from research through process development.
  • Please note: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience scaling adsorbent manufacturing processes from laboratory to pilot or commercial production.
  • Knowledge of heterogeneous reaction engineering and solid-liquid processing operations.
  • Experience with immobilized proteins, enzymes, peptides, antibodies, or biomolecular ligands.
  • Familiarity with technology transfer, process validation, and quality systems.
  • Experience supporting external manufacturing partners, contract development organizations, or toll manufacturers.
  • Knowledge of design of experiments (DOE), statistical process control, and process modeling tools.
  • Experience working in critical minerals, hydrometallurgy, bioprocessing, or advanced materials industries.
Key Competencies
  • Scientific rigor and attention to detail
  • Strong technical leadership and influence
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment
  • Strong collaboration and project management capabilities
Success Metrics
Within the first 12 months, this individual will be expected to:
  • Develop and optimize scalable adsorbent functionalization processes.
  • Improve adsorbent performance metrics, including capacity, selectivity, and stability.
  • Establish reproducible manufacturing methods and associated documentation.
  • Successfully transfer at least one adsorbent process from laboratory to pilot scale.
  • Build strong partnerships across research, engineering, analytical, and operations teams.

What We Offer
  • The opportunity to lead a breakthrough program redefining U.S. supply chain resilience in critical materials.
  • A mission-driven, high-trust team operating at the intersection of innovation, national security, and sustainability.
  • High Impact & Visibility: direct interaction and reporting to executive leadership.
Compensation & Benefits
The starting annual pay range for this position is $160,000 to $185,000, commensurate with educational background and work experience.
Benefits include:
  • 401(K)
  • Medical, Dental, Vision plans (or equivalent)
  • Flexible Time Off
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Company Holidays

EOE
Alta Resource Technologies is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We believe that varied perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds strengthen our team and drive better outcomes for our clients and partners.
We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and the needs of the business. Alta participates in e-Verify for all positions.
If you require accommodations at any point in the hiring process, please let your recruiter know.
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