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Senior Distributed Systems Engineer Jobs in Boulder, CO

Geologics

Senior Principal Systems Engineer

Aurora, CO

$90 - $131.50/hr

Senior Principal Systems Engineer Onsite Location: Aurora, CO Required: TS/SCI Clearance No 1099 ... Experience building automation, developer tooling, and lifecycle reporting for large, * distributed ...

Geologics

Senior Principal Systems Engineer

Aurora, CO

$90 - $131.50/hr

Senior Principal Systems Engineer Onsite Location: Aurora, CO Required: TS/SCI Clearance No 1099 ... Experience building automation, developer tooling, and lifecycle reporting for large, * distributed ...

Raytheon Technologies

Senior Systems Engineer

Aurora, CO · On-site

$106K - $145K/yr

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Systems Engineer to support one of our premier programs. In this role, you will work in a collaborative, Agile development environment to deliver advanced ...

Raytheon

Senior Systems Engineer

Aurora, CO

$106K - $145K/yr

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Systems Engineer to support one of our premier programs. In this role, you will work in a collaborative, Agile development environment to deliver advanced ...

Ursa Major

Senior Systems Engineer

Berthoud, CO

$133K - $166K/yr

As a Senior Systems Engineer , you will leverage your experience to ensure our hypersonic propulsion and vehicle systems are designed, verified, and qualified to meet mission-critical customer ...

Ursa Major

Senior Systems Engineer

Longmont, CO

$133K - $166K/yr

As a Senior Systems Engineer , you will leverage your experience to ensure our hypersonic propulsion and vehicle systems are designed, verified, and qualified to meet mission-critical customer ...

Ursa Major

Senior Systems Engineer

Berthoud, CO · On-site

$133K - $166K/yr

As a Senior Systems Engineer , you will leverage your experience to ensure our hypersonic propulsion and vehicle systems are designed, verified, and qualified to meet mission-critical customer ...

Medtronic

Senior Systems Engineer

Lafayette, CO · On-site

$108K - $148K/yr

... for a Senior systems engineer to join the Systems Engineering Team within the newly formed Surgical Operation Unit. This role will collaborate across the Surgical OU Research and Development ...

Danaher

Senior Systems Engineer

Loveland, CO · On-site

$92K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will define system architecture and requirements, lead integration activities, and ensure system performance aligns with product objectives. You will lead cross ...

Medtronic

Senior Systems Engineer

Lafayette, CO · On-site

$108K - $148K/yr

... for a Senior systems engineer to join the Systems Engineering Team within the newly formed Surgical Operation Unit. This role will collaborate across the Surgical OU Research and Development ...

Medtronic

Senior Systems Engineer

Lafayette, CO · On-site

$108K - $148K/yr

... for a Senior systems engineer to join the Systems Engineering Team within the newly formed Surgical Operation Unit. This role will collaborate across the Surgical OU Research and Development ...

True Anomaly

Senior Systems Engineer

Denver, CO · On-site

$125K - $235K/yr

YOUR MISSION We are seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to join our team in developing and integrating cutting-edge aerospace and defense systems. In this role you will play a critical role in defining ...

Moog

Sr. Systems Engineer

Arvada, CO

$120K - $150K/yr

Job Title : Sr. Systems Engineer Reporting To: Management, Design Engineering Work Schedule: Onsite - Buffalo, NY As a Sr. Systems Engineer in our Space & Defense Group in East Aurora, NY or Arvada ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsDistributed Systems Engineer JobsSenior Distributed Systems Engineer JobsSenior Distributed Systems Engineer Jobs in Boulder, CO

Senior Distributed Systems Engineer information

See Boulder, CO salary details

$58.9K

$131.3K

$185.3K

How much do senior distributed systems engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior distributed systems engineer in Boulder, CO is $131,288.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $150,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Distributed Systems Engineer vs Cloud Solutions Architect?

AspectSenior Distributed Systems EngineerCloud Solutions Architect
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, experience with distributed systemsBachelor's/Master's in CS, IT, or related, cloud certifications (AWS, Azure)
Work EnvironmentDesigning, developing, and maintaining distributed systems in tech companiesDesigning cloud infrastructure solutions for clients or internal teams
Industry UsageTech, finance, e-commerce, and enterprise sectorsIT consulting, cloud service providers, enterprise IT departments

The Senior Distributed Systems Engineer focuses on building and optimizing distributed computing systems, while the Cloud Solutions Architect designs cloud infrastructure solutions. Both roles require technical expertise and often overlap in cloud environments, but their primary responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior distributed systems engineer?

A Senior Distributed Systems Engineer requires deep expertise in computer science fundamentals, scalable system architecture, and proficiency in programming languages such as Java, Go, or Python, often supported by a relevant degree and significant experience in distributed systems. Familiarity with tools like Kubernetes, Docker, Kafka, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) is typically expected, along with knowledge of monitoring and CI/CD pipelines. Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help in tackling complex engineering challenges and collaborating across teams. These skills are crucial for designing robust, scalable, and reliable systems that support organizational growth and high availability.

How much do senior distributed systems engineers make?

Senior distributed systems engineers typically earn between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. They often have expertise in cloud platforms, programming languages, and system architecture, which can influence compensation levels.

What are some common challenges senior distributed systems engineers face when designing scalable systems?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers often encounter challenges such as managing data consistency, ensuring fault tolerance, and minimizing latency across multiple nodes. Balancing trade-offs between availability and partition tolerance (as outlined by the CAP theorem) is a frequent consideration. Additionally, coordinating between development and operations teams to maintain system reliability and efficiently resolve issues that arise in production environments is crucial. Strong communication skills and a deep understanding of distributed architectures help address these complexities effectively.

What is a senior distributed systems engineer?

Senior Distributed Systems Engineers are experienced professionals who design, build, and maintain large-scale computing systems that run across multiple machines or locations. They focus on ensuring reliability, scalability, and performance of distributed applications, often dealing with challenges like data consistency, fault tolerance, and network latency. These engineers typically have deep expertise in distributed computing principles, programming languages, and cloud infrastructure. They also mentor junior team members and help architect robust solutions for complex technical problems.
What are popular job titles related to Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Boulder, CO? For Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs in Boulder, CO, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Senior Distributed Systems Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Distributed Systems Engineer job openings in Boulder, CO as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,177 per year, or $62.6 per hour.

Senior OPIR Systems Engineer

Chimera Enterprises International

Aurora, CO • On-site

$160K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Position Summary
The Senior OPIR Systems Engineer provides expert-level systems engineering and technical advisory support for persistent sensor operations and OPIR-related ground systems within NGA-Denver's Persistence Office. This role focuses on defining requirements, developing CONOPS, and guiding design, integration, test, and verification activities for complex GEOINT capabilities. The Senior Systems Engineer works as part of an integrated team, delivering objective IV&V and risk assessments that inform acquisition decisions and operational deployment. Ideal candidates are seasoned IC/DoD systems engineers with recent TCPED/OPIR experience and strong stakeholder collaboration skills.Key Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with government, FFRDC, contractor, and international partners to develop systems engineering solutions, integration strategies, and acquisition support for OPIR and persistent GEOINT capabilities.
  • Define, analyze, and document system requirements, technical specifications, Mission User CONOPS, and supporting technical reports and program documentation.
  • Support design, development, integration, and test & verification activities for OPIR ground systems and associated mission applications.
  • Provide independent verification and validation (IV&V) of system deliverables to ensure they meet user requirements, performance specifications, and interface documentation.
  • Support source selection processes by reviewing and refining acquisition strategies and participating in proposal evaluation activities.
  • Identify, assess, and manage technical risks related to performance, schedule, and budget, recommending mitigation strategies to senior stakeholders.
  • Lead and contribute to cross-functional technical teams, driving alignment across multiple stakeholder organizations and enhancing enterprise OPIR capabilities.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field; 15+ years of directly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • 10+ years of experience directly supporting Major Systems Acquisition-level projects in the IC or DoD.
  • Direct, recent (within the past 5 years) experience as part of an integrated IC/DoD contractor/government team focused on TCPED of persistent GEOINT phenomena (OPIR strongly desired).
  • Strong background in systems engineering, including requirements development, architecture design, integration, test, and verification for complex ISR/GEOINT systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide senior leaders with decision-quality technical analyses and recommendations for resource allocation and capability development.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and exercise independent judgment.
  • Active TS//SCI clearance with current CI Polygraph, or eligibility and willingness to obtain and maintain this level of clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with OPIR ground systems, GEOINT enterprise architectures, and mission management tools.
  • Familiarity with NGA, NSG, and IC/DoD acquisition frameworks and processes.
  • Experience leading or significantly contributing to cross-agency, multinational, or multi-organizational engineering efforts.
  • Knowledge of AI/ML applications, data pipelines, and automation tools relevant to ISR data processing and analytics.
  • Advanced degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline.

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