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º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute is at the forefront of a revolution in America’s manufacturing economy: That is the use of smarter, leaner factories to develop and produce innovative new products, materials, and techniques.

Our students will acquire real-world learning through state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and materials, soft skills through carefully chosen curriculum, and collaborations with the professional community to augment the development of skills, knowledge, and dispositions that enable our graduates to immediately fill sought-after positions within advanced manufacturing industries.

The Advanced Manufacturing Sciences baccalaureate degree is a multi-disciplinary major that emphasizes both theoretical and practical applications providing students with a solid foundation in core skills, knowledge, and dispositions to facilitate employability in advanced manufacturing professional positions. This extended major program does not require a minor.

Why Bachelor’s‑Level Roles Are Growing Faster

Bachelor’s‑level manufacturing roles, especially in advanced manufacturing, engineering, operations, quality, and automation, have strong long‑term demand and remain among the most resilient and well‑paid industrial jobs in the state.

Shift Towards Advanced Manufacturing – Colorado manufacturers increasingly rely on:

• Automation and robotics
• Digital manufacturing systems
• Advanced materials and precision processes

This shift favors roles requiring analytical, engineering, and leadership skills.

Strong Industry Mix in Colorado

Colorado’s manufacturing base is weighted toward high‑value sectors that typically require degreed professionals including aerospace & defense, medical devices & bioscience, electronics and industrial machinery, clean energy and advanced materials, and food & beverage.

These sectors employ high concentrations of:

• Manufacturing engineers
• Process engineers
• Quality engineers
• Operations and plant managers

Top 10 Manufacturing Jobs Requiring a Bachelor’s Degree

Manufacturing Engineer

Designs and improves manufacturing processes, tooling, and workflows to increase efficiency, quality, and safety. Acts as the bridge between product design and production.

Mechanical Engineer

Designs mechanical systems, components, and equipment used in manufacturing. Often works on product design, automation systems, and equipment integration.

Industrial Engineer

Optimizes systems involving people, materials, information, and machines. Focuses on productivity, cost reduction, layout design, and workflow efficiency.

Operations or Production Manager

Leads day‑to‑day manufacturing operations, supervising teams, managing schedules, controlling costs, and ensuring safety and quality targets are met.

Quality Engineer

Develops and maintains quality systems to ensure products meet specifications and regulatory standards. Focuses on root cause analysis, audits, and continuous improvement.

Process Engineer

Specializes in controlling, monitoring, and improving specific manufacturing processes, especially in industries like food, chemicals, electronics, and medical devices.

Supply Chain or Materials Manager

Manages sourcing, inventory, logistics, and production planning to support manufacturing operations efficiently and cost‑effectively.

Maintenance or Reliability Engineer

Ensures manufacturing equipment runs reliably through preventive maintenance, predictive analytics, and failure analysis to minimize downtime.

Automation or Controls Engineer

Designs, programs, and maintains automated systems including PLCs, robotics, and industrial control systems used on production lines.

Lean and Continuous Improvement Manager

Leads initiatives focused on Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence to eliminate waste, improve quality, and reduce costs.

What These Jobs Have in Common

• Require systems thinking and problem‑solving
• Emphasize leadership, analysis, and decision‑making
• Combine engineering knowledge with real‑world production demands
• Offer strong advancement and salary growth potential
• Exist across nearly every advanced manufacturing sector

Education Advantage in Colorado Manufacturing

Colorado workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher have:

• Lower unemployment (~4.4%)
• Higher median earnings than non‑degreed peers
• Employers increasingly require degrees for advancement, even when entry roles are hands‑on
• Bachelor’s degrees act as a career accelerator, not just a hiring credential

Geographic Outlook

Strongest demand for bachelor’s‑level manufacturing jobs is along the Urban Front Range and account for over 80% of Colorado’s manufacturing employment and nearly all advanced manufacturing growth.

Data: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), OEDIT, and economic development and manufacturing‑industry reports.