Professor of Practice in Geotechnical Engineering
Location: El Paso, TX | Category: Engineering | Job Type: Full-time | Posted On: Fri Oct 2 2026
About the role
The Department of Civil Engineering has 22 full-time faculty and 700 students enrolled in accredited BS in Civil Engineering, BS in Construction Engineering & Management, MS in Civil Engineering, MS in Construction Management, MS in Environmental Engineering, ME in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and PhD in Civil Engineering degree programs. The Department organizes and actively encourages its students to participate in its international programs, including the faculty-led study abroad programs to Brazil, Czech Republic, Mexico, Peru, as well as the Dual Master Degrees Program in Smart Cities with Czech Technical University. The civil engineering faculty members participate in research activities through the following centers affiliated with the Department: Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems (CTIS); Center for Environmental Resource Management (CERM); NSF-Funded Engineering Research Center for Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE); USDOT-Funded Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC); USDOT-Funded Center for Connected Cities for Smart Mobility towards Accessible & Resilient Transportation for Equitable congestion Reduction (C2SMARTER); USDOT-Funded Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH).
The Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering (CECE) at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for a Professor of Practice in Geotechnical Engineering beginning January 2027. We seek an experienced geotechnical engineer with an M.S. or Ph.D. in civil engineering or a closely related field and at least 10 years of substantial professional experience. The successful candidate will connect professional geotechnical practice with graduate teaching and mentoring.
This position presents a unique opportunity to help shape the future of professional graduate education in geotechnical engineering. The successful candidate will play a leading role in the development and delivery of a practice-oriented online geotechnical engineering graduate program designed for working professionals. Responsibilities include developing and teaching in person and online graduate courses, integrating real-world engineering applications and case studies into the curriculum, mentoring students, and strengthening partnerships with industry and government agencies. The department seeks a candidate who can bridge industry practice and academic instruction while helping position CECE as a regional and national leader in professional education for geotechnical engineering. The candidate should be able to translate field investigation, analysis, design, and construction experience into clear, rigorous instruction.
Geotechnical engineering is fundamental to the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure systems, including shallow and deep foundations, retaining structures, embankments, slopes, ground improvement systems, tunnels, and transportation infrastructure. Demand for engineers with advanced geotechnical expertise especially in the area of reliability-based design, continues to grow as federal, state, and local investments in infrastructure expand. Many practicing engineers need graduate education compatible with full-time work. CECE aims to combine flexible course delivery with technically rigorous, practice-based instruction. CECE's fully online Master of Science in Construction Management program provides an existing model for graduate instruction designed for working professionals. Building on this model, CECE envisions an online master's degree in geotechnical engineering. The