Assistant Professor - Tenure Track - Mechanical System Design - AY 26/27

About the role

The Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California (Cal Poly) is seeking a full-time, academic year, tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank beginning Fall 2026.

Responsibilities

• Teach a variety of mechanical design and solid mechanics courses to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings.
• Advise students.
• Participate in university service activities.
• Conduct applied research in mechanical engineering.

Requirements

• An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering in the general area of mechanical system design or a closely related field from an accredited institution or international equivalent is required for appointment.
• Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) will be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate was awarded prior to or by the start of the appointment.
• The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in teaching, effective communication, and interpersonal skills and must have the ability to work effectively with students, staff and faculty from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to hands-on, student-centered learning and teaching, as well as demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings are required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong interests in undergraduate and graduate teaching are required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.

Qualifications

• Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated excellence in university level teaching and research (commensurate with time since degree), experience with laboratory-based instruction, and/or industry experience.
• Demonstrated active engagement in scholarship and professional development.
• Demonstrated excellence in university level teaching and research.
• Strong knowledge of industry design practices.
• Demonstrated sound working knowledge in modern design and analysis tools.
• Demonstrated excellence in laboratory-based, hands-on instruction.
• Willingness to teach in multiple areas of the undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering curriculum.