Assistant Professor Of Aerospace Science

MSU Denver enrolls over 16,000 students, where nearly 60% are first generation and over 55% are students of color. Located in downtown Denver, we are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado. As the third largest institution of higher education in Colorado and the only institution with an open access mission, MSU Denver is a model university for today's college students. The University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. MSU Denver is particularly interested in applicants who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented and historically minoritized groups.

About the Department

MSU Denver's Aviation and Aerospace Science Department has reimagined possibilities by evolving into one of the largest and most sophisticated programs in the country. Our students have access to unrivaled resources no other university in Colorado can offer, such as the most innovative flight simulation training laboratories in the world, an on-campus satellite engineering lab, and partnerships with the industry that grant students access to the same advanced technology and software used at NASA.

Learn more about the department.

About the Role

MSU Denver invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the academic rank of assistant professor. This is a 9-month appointment beginning August 2026, with a required teaching load of 12-credit hours per fall/spring semesters in undergraduate-level coursework.

The position focuses on teaching, mentoring, and leading student-centered efforts in scholarship within one or more of the following prioritized teaching areas:

• Space operations
• Space flight
• Space systems integration
• Space commercialization
• Space cyber-security
• Space-based geo-spatial analysis

Other subject areas common to both aeronautics and aerospace may also be required (e.g., aerodynamics; aviation and aerospace history). The successful candidate will teach across multiple delivery formats, including in-person, hybrid, and asynchronous modalities. Options may exist for summer teaching depending on department needs and student demand. The role includes advising students during 5 scheduled office hours per week, plus additional meetings as needed for academic planning, graduate school preparation, and career exploration.

Responsibilities

• Teach 12-credit hours per fall/spring semesters in multiple delivery formats (in-person, hybrid, online).
• Maintain office hours for advising and student-centered activities, including meetings outside scheduled hours.
• Serve as a resource for students regarding program policies, licensure, certificate pathways, career pathways, and academic progression.
• Assist with student recruitment, admissions interviews, and orientation events.
• Contribute to ongoing curriculum design, development, and revision.
• Maintain current, evidence-based content and culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Participate in assessment of student learning outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Contribute to departmental, university, and professional service through committee work.
• Engage in ongoing research, scholarship, and professional writing that advance the field and align with the department’s mission.
• Stay informed on national trends, policy changes, and best practices in aviation and aerospace science.
• Maintain licensure or certification as applicable (e.g., relevant FAA licensure, industry certifications).
• Provide documented service to the department, college, university, and community.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, students, and industry members from other domains (e.g., computer science, engineering, physics, cyber-security, advanced manufacturing, industrial design).

Requirements

• A nationally accredited master's degree in aerospace sciences, aeronautical sciences, engineering technology, computer science, or other related degree.
• Four years (or more) of related aviation and/or aerospace technology work experience. (Note: An MS or MA in the areas defined above is a terminal degree for this tenure-track position.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in a related field.
• Prior teaching experience at a U.S. nationally accredited collegiate institution in classes related to aviation, aerospace, engineering, or computational science.
• Experience with space mission architecture, including aerospace systems engineering, spacecraft design and subsystem development, launch processes, ground station and mission operations, and/or space system automation.
• Experience with industry tools for mission simulation (e.g., ANSYS STK), systems programming and computation, system design, and data analysis.
• Advanced and/or applied understanding of orbital mechanics, the space environment, and its impact on crewed and uncrewed systems.
• Knowledge of historical spaceflight systems and future industry trends, including system automation, modular architectures, artificial intelligence integration, and/or aerospace workforce development.
• Experience applying or teaching with technologies such as cube-sats, sat-simulators, flat-sats, space mission operations simulations, space-based remote sensing, project management tools, and other related instructional technologies.
• Documented experience instructing collegiate classes in-person or online via web-based delivery.
• Documented research or publishing experience grounded in employing the scientific method.
• Experience working with students from highly varied backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented groups.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $84,000 - $94,000 at the Assistant Professor rank. The salary of the finalist selected will be set based on internal equity, education, experience, specialty, and training.

Benefits

MSU Denver offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Tuition reimbursement
• Free RTD pass
• Life and supplemental insurance plans
• Access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan

View a summary of benefits.