Assistant Professor of Engineering - Mechanical

About the role

The Department of Engineering at Swarthmore College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning in Fall 2027. Candidates should have expertise in Mechanical Engineering and be capable of teaching courses in mechanical design and/or materials engineering. We will prioritize candidates whose teaching and research encompasses the cross-cutting focus areas of engineering design, social impacts of technology, and/or sustainability. We seek candidates with the ability to teach talented undergraduates from diverse backgrounds in introductory core courses as well as mid- to upper-level elective courses in the candidate’s area of specialization.

Responsibilities

• Teach two courses per semester (or equivalent including lab sections) across introductory and advanced mechanical engineering topics.
• Engage in high-quality research that involves undergraduate students, leveraging Swarthmore’s strong emphasis on undergraduate research.
• Contribute to the ABET-accredited general Engineering major, including courses with attached laboratory components.
• Participate in departmental and college service as appropriate.

Qualifications

• PhD completed by January 2028.
• Interest in undergraduate teaching is crucial; previous teaching or TA experience is highly valued.
• Demonstrated and established record of conducting original research.

Teaching and research focus

• Ability to teach courses in mechanical design and/or materials engineering.
• Research and teaching that touch on engineering design, social impacts of technology, and/or sustainability are prioritized.

Support and resources

• Ample support for lab space and equipment, including the opportunity to customize lab space in a new science building.
• Research support available through departmental funds and internal college grants.
• Generous sabbatical policy: one semester of paid leave every four years, extendable to a year with external funding; first sabbatical leave funded for a full year by the college.
• Swarthmore attracts exceptional undergraduates who compare favorably in ability with many early-career graduate students, and their work as research assistants is often funded 100% by the college.
• Ideal location near Philadelphia with many potential collaborators and facilities at eight nearby engineering schools (five with graduate programs).