Description

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah (https://www.mech.utah.edu/) invites applications for a career-line faculty position at the Assistant, Associate, or Professor (Lecturer) rank focused on aerospace engineering with a particular interest in aerospace structures. We are looking for candidates with exceptional teaching ability at both undergraduate and master’s level in the subject areas. The position has a multiyear contract and an option to teach summer courses. 

The Department of Mechanical Engineering currently has a Master of Science program in Aerospace Engineering (MSAE). The MSAE started in Fall 2025 and includes a BS/MS integrated program. The primary role of this career line position is supporting growth and longer-term development in the MSAE (https://aerospace.utah.edu). The ideal candidate would be able to:

• Develop and teach a new core course in the MSAE program. The person will be expected to work with fellow faculty in developing and teaching an introductory graduate course in aerospace structures.  
• Create new graduate aerospace elective courses according to their area of expertise. These can be in any area, but space systems, rockets, and aircraft design are of particular interest.
• Demonstrate experience developing and teaching these subject areas as university courses.
• Demonstrate excellence in teaching rigorous engineering courses at the advanced undergraduate and graduate technical elective level.
• Contribute to the departmental teaching needs until the MSAE grows sufficiently large to merit a full aerospace course load. The department has a full undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum and has related Masters degree programs in systems engineering and engineering management as well as the MSAE program. 

The MSAE program is an on-campus degree program, however, we anticipate substantial off-campus (remote) enrollment in select classes from students currently professionally employed in Utah. The department currently supports remote enrollment through a mixture of specifically on-line courses and on-campus courses recorded and broadcast. The ideal candidate will have experience in both traditional and remote formats and be interested in teaching in a hybrid environment. The Department draws extensive industry enrollment in MS programs. The student body in these programs is heavily professional and so the ability to interact with local industry will be valuable. An ability to develop synergistic courses and relationships between the MSAE and our other programs would be valuable.

The State of Utah has a strong aerospace and defense industry with impact on GDP well above the national average. The career-line faculty member will be expected to be active in department, university, and professional service activities. Aerospace engineering and its related fields are active areas of research in the department. The position does not carry a research expectation, but all faculty are encouraged to collaboratively contribute to the department’s research goals.

Successful candidates should have a Ph.D. in a related field, preferably with aerospace structures experience. Candidates with a track record of high-quality teaching are especially encouraged to apply. Industry experience is welcome. 

The University of Utah, a member of the Association of American Universities, is a research-focused institution home to more than 35,000 students, world-class faculty and researchers, a medical campus, and many start-up companies. The University of Utah maintains more than 50 on-campus research centers with state-of-the-science infrastructure to robustly support aerospace materials research. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, fueled by the State of Utah’s “Engineering Initiative”, and currently houses 40 tenure-line faculty members, over 1,000 undergraduate and 250 graduate students (140 PhD students).

The University of Utah campus is situated in Salt Lake City, a growing, increasingly diverse, metropolitan city with a population of 1M nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. The greater SLC valley is an important economic hub of the Mountain West and is home to several large technology and Fortune 500 companies. SLC residents enjoy a highly accessible and walkable downtown with vibrant restaurants, sports, nightlife, and cultural events. Salt Lake City residents enjoy easy access to national parks (8 within a few hours’ drive), world-class skiing/snowboarding (7 resorts within 1 hour), hiking, fishing, biking, and rafting/kayaking. In addition, faculty members enjoy free access to public transportation and the convenience of an international airport located only 15 minutes from campus.

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2026 and will continue until the position closes. Applications must be submitted electronically and should include: (1) a 1-pg cover letter highlighting the applicant’s qualifications, including related experiences in aerospace and system design and development and/or teaching of aerospace or related engineering courses, (2) a current curriculum vitae, (3) a 2-pg teaching statement, (4) student reviews of taught courses (if available) and (5) contact information for a minimum of three references. 

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy related
conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal
Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number, can be located at https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/. Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu.