Assistant or Associate Professor in Computer Hardware Engineering

University of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian university in Edmonton seeks an Assistant or Associate Professor in Computer Hardware Engineering. The successful candidate will engage in teaching, research, and service within a collaborative environment. Applicants should possess a Ph.D., solid communication skills, and a commitment to student engagement. This role offers a competitive salary and the chance to join a vibrant team dedicated to innovation. Applications close on February 27, 2026, and the anticipated start date is July 1, 2026.

Benefits

Health spending account

Pension benefits

Relocation expenses

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering or a related field.
• Experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Professional Engineer in Alberta.

Responsibilities

• Participate actively in teaching programs and supervision of students.
• Engage in research and seek funding from granting agencies.
• Participate in service to the university and governance.

Skills

Digital logic circuits and VLSI systems

Design automation of general-purpose computer systems

Hardware/software co-design for AI and ML

Embedded computing

Hardware security and cybersecurity

High-performance computing

Cyber-physical systems and IoT

Reconfigurable computing

Quantum computing

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering

Job description

Assistant or Associate Professor in Computer Hardware Engineering

Job Identification: 3319 | Posting Date: 12/10/2025 | Apply Before: 1/9/2026 | Job Schedule: Full Time | Locations: Edmonton, AB, Canada (On-site) | Category Type: Engineering - Computer Engineering | Position Type: Faculty (Includes Asst. Professors, Associate Professors) | College/Administrative Portfolio: College of Natural And Applied Sciences | Faculty/Department: Engineering

About the Team

The University of Alberta's College of Natural & Applied Sciences is one of North America's top engineering schools, known for innovation, collaboration, and impact. It fosters an exceptional student experience through a holistic approach that combines technical excellence with emotional intelligence. With strong community engagement, interdisciplinary research, and a commitment to societal well‑being, the faculty prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving, global engineering landscape.

Description

This position is part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA). The successful candidate will be offered a tenured or tenure‑track appointment with the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, in accordance with the University’s faculty agreement and benefits package.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta is seeking applications for a full‑time tenure‑track Assistant or Associate Professor position in computer hardware engineering.

Applications are invited from candidates with a passion for computer hardware engineering. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Digital logic circuits and Very Large‑Scale Integrated (VLSI) systems
• Design automation of general‑purpose computer systems
• Hardware/software co‑design for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
• Domain‑specific hardware for accelerators
• Embedded computing
• Hardware security and hardware‑based cybersecurity
• High‑performance computing
• Cyber‑physical systems and Internet of Things (IoT)
• Reconfigurable computing
• Chiplets and custom application‑specific integrated circuits (ASICs)
• Edge and cloud computing
• Quantum computing
• Emerging technologies for computing and memory

The successful candidate will join a team of faculty members committed to an exceptional student experience. The Department has over 1,000 undergraduate students across the electrical and computer programs and an enrolment of 400 graduate students, including approximately 200 Ph.D. students. Opportunities exist to engage with students in research laboratories, capstone projects, and student clubs and teams such as Mission Space Walker, UAlberta Solar Car, and the IEEE Student Branch.

Applicants who value working across disciplinary boundaries, within and outside engineering, as well as with communities and industry are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

The Assistant Professor role is the starting point on the academic faculty member career pathway at the University of Alberta. Faculty members are full members of the department and play an active role in democratic processes and governance. The responsibilities of the role include active participation in teaching, research, and service:

• Teaching (40%) Participation in teaching programs, including classroom teaching, supervision of students conducting research, and personal interactions with and advising students. An Academic Faculty member may decide on specific course content and instructional methodology, recognizing the approved course description, and academic policies approved by the Department, the Faculty, and the University. Teaching is year‑round, with most courses in the Fall (September to December) and Winter (January to April) semesters. Teaching assignments are decided in discussion with the Department Chair. Licensure as a Professional Engineer or Licensee in Alberta is required and must be obtained within five years of the hire date.
• Research (40%) Participation in research, including the preparation or performance of creative works and reflective inquiry, and disseminating research results by means appropriate to the discipline. Academic Faculty members are encouraged to seek funding for research from granting agencies or other sources.
• Service (20%) An Academic Faculty member shall be actively engaged in service to the University and participate in the collegial responsibilities of departmental, Faculty, and University governance. Provision of service to the discipline of the Academic Faculty member; participation in the governance of the University, the Faculty, and the Department, and dissemination of knowledge to the general public by making available the Academic Faculty member’s expertise and knowledge of the discipline.

The Department Chair supervises Faculty Members. Annually, Faculty Members prepare and submit a report of their university responsibilities to the Department Chair and the Dean. A competitive market salary is offered. For full details on responsibilities, salary, benefits, leaves, and related details, see the University’s employment information.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering or a related field such as Computer Science.
• Experience effectively communicating the results of research within and outside the academy, including publications in reputable, peer‑reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
• Licensure, progress towards licensure, or eligibility for licensure as a Professional Engineer or Licensee in Alberta through APEGA; licensure must be obtained within five years from the date of hire.
• Ability to effectively develop, instruct, and engage learners in the engineering curriculum.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Considered an Asset

• Industry experience in engineering, trades, sciences, and technology industries.
• Experience with interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects as well as with managing large, multi‑year research projects.
• Experience working with industry and community partners for research projects.
• Team, lab, and facility management experience, including but not limited to safety, supervision, and procurement.
• Teaching experience and training in teaching, lesson planning, and curriculum design.
• Teaching, research, service, and volunteer work related to the role as well as community boards and organizations and outreach to and helping underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Grant application and financial management experience and training.

How to Apply

Please ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria above. To apply, please select the “Apply Now” icon below and submit the following in ONE PDF document:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae, including your research, teaching, and service experience related to the role and responsibilities, as well as the qualifications above
• Research Plan (maximum 3 pages) that outlines main areas of current research and short and long‑term research goals, and how you will build and retain a high‑performing and diverse research team. Please include your plans for the design of the research environment and the team, and for equitable opportunities for all members of the team to engage with the work being conducted and other opportunities that will advance their career goals, and up to 3 recent peer‑reviewed research publications
• Teaching Dossier including
  1. Teaching philosophy (maximum 3 pages), including how you will contribute to our culture of providing exceptional educational experiences that focus on learner engagement and inclusivity, experiential and active learning, while building engineering knowledge and skills as well as emotional intelligence, social mindedness, and ethics, and
  2. Evidence and potential for teaching effectiveness, such as related training, teaching assistantships, courses instructed, recent course evaluations, and example course outlines for courses you delivered as an instructor.
• If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

Next Steps

• Applicants will be accepted until February 27, 2026; however, our shortlisting process will begin in early January 2026. The anticipated start date for these positions would be July 1, 2026. University representatives will review application packages, and should the hiring committee advance your application, you will be contacted for an online pre‑interview.
• Please note that applications with missing information or components will not be considered.

For applicants selected for interviews, three letters of reference will be requested. Applicants will be expected to contact the three referees and arrange to have them submit their letters of reference via email attachment. Details will be provided to those candidates selected for interviews.

About the Faculty of Engineering and the University of Alberta

The Faculty of Engineering aims to maintain its position among the top schools in North America. We will do this through innovation and excellence from faculty members and staff who value collaboration, interdisciplinary work, and an engaging and positive work culture. We are dedicated to building a better future for society by:

• Building the future through people in a collaborative, cross‑functional environment
• Developing minds and hands with heart by taking a holistic approach to provide an exceptional student experience through education and enrichment that strives to develop the highest‑calibre engineers: Those who possess both technical acumen and emotional intelligence, expanding the traditional definition of “engineering”
• Demonstrating the ever‑expanding value of our contributions through community engagement, research impact, and value to society
• Uniquely positioning the engineering field to help uplift the whole of humanity

The University of Alberta exists to inspire and ignite the human spirit in pursuit of a better tomorrow. Its work is rooted in a commitment to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered while honouring Indigenous identities, languages, cultures and world views. As one of the world’s top 100 teaching and research universities, the U of A ranks among the Top 4 in Canada, providing a 19.4 billion annual economic impact in Alberta alone. The U of A seeks to challenge, to change and to always be leading with purpose.

More than 46,000 students and 14,000 staff shape the U of A, with outstanding achievements in learning, research, creativity, innovation and engagement across five campuses — including one rural and one francophone. The U of A attracts top talent in rigorous undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in 17 faculties across three colleges and more than 621 million in sponsored research revenue. The U of A has more than 340,000 alumni worldwide, with alumni‑founded companies generating more than 250 billion in annual revenue.

Working and Living in Edmonton

Benefits, Health, & Wellness

We offer a benefits package that includes a health spending account, parental leave, and pension benefits. For Faculty members, some moving and relocation expenses may be reimbursed. Spouses/partners are offered employment services through the University’s spousal/partner employment program. For spouses eligible to be academic faculty members, we encourage discussion with the Department Chair at the offer stage or during employment. The campus offers a medical clinic, and multiple childcare and housing options within steps of campus. Academic faculty members are offered parental and medical leave, retirement benefits, and healthcare benefits.

Living in Edmonton

ExploreEdmonton.com is home to over one million people and is Alberta’s capital. Edmonton offers a vibrant start‑up and technology ecosystem, federal and provincial government offices, and the corporate offices of the provincial healthcare system. The city offers the amenities of a large urban centre while maintaining a friendly atmosphere. Several faculty members live in nearby neighbourhoods with a range of multi‑family and single‑family housing options within walking and biking distance of the University. Alberta is among Canada’s top provincial school systems, with several primary and secondary schools near campus. Edmonton is known internationally for its thriving arts and festival scene, with one of North America’s largest stretches of urban parkland, and top‑ranked health care services.

About Us

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms—physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies, and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of belonging and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6784323