Adjunct Faculty, MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence

University of San Diego; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of San Diego invites applications for adjunct faculty in the Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MS-AAI) program. This on-campus role begins Fall 2026 in USD's Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, delivering in-person instruction in accelerated 7-week blocks.

Candidates should hold a relevant master's or higher degree, have AI/ML industry or applied research experience, and demonstrate strong communication and inclusive teaching practices.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a closely related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated industry experience related to AI or applied research experience in artificial intelligence or machine learning.
• Strong foundations in machine learning principles, probability, statistics, and linear algebra relevant to deep learning and large language models.
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative, and professional communication skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, student engagement, and inclusive teaching practices.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching excellence in an applied graduate program.
• Deliver engaging instruction in 7-week, in-person course formats.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback and meaningful engagement with graduate students.
• Integrate industry experience, real-world case studies, and emerging AI practices into the teaching curriculum.
• Mentor and advise graduate students on academic progress, career planning, and capstone project development.
• Uphold USD's Vision, Mission, and Core Values, including academic excellence, community, ethical conduct, and compassionate service.
• Maintain high standards of academic integrity and student performance.

Skills

AI industry experience

ML foundations

Communication skills

Inclusion & engagement

Education

Master's degree or higher in AI/CS/DS/Statistics/EECS

Tools

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Scikit-learn

LangChain

AWS SageMaker

Vector databases

Job description

Position Title & Department: Adjunct Faculty, MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence Posting # 5545

Department Description

The University of San Diego's innovative AI master's degree program (online or on-campus) is committed to training current and future artificial intelligence professionals for the important and fascinating work ahead. The strengths of our program include a significant emphasis on real-world applications, ethics, moral responsibility, and social good in designing AI-enabled systems. Designed to prepare graduates for success in this vitally important and fast-growing field, the master's in applied artificial intelligence master's degree program has been developed by AI experts in close collaboration with key industry and government stakeholders to provide in-depth practical and technical training.

University Description

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity's urgent challenges.

Detailed Description

The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego (USD) invites applications for adjunct positions in the Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence (MS-AAI) program, with an appointment beginning in Fall 2026. This is an on-campus position requiring the selected candidate to reside in the San Diego area. The MS-AAI program is delivered in accelerated 7-week course blocks, and all instruction occurs in person at USD. Courses in the MS-AAI program are centrally designed and maintained; adjunct faculty are expected to deliver and facilitate the provided curriculum rather than develop new course content.

USD is a designated Changemaker campus committed to academic excellence, student success, ethical responsibility, and community engagement.

The MS-AAI program is one of the few graduate programs in the nation that emphasizes applied, real-world artificial intelligence, integrating technical depth with ethics, moral responsibility, and AI for social good. Candidates with experience across all areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning will be considered. Preference will be given to candidates with the ability to teach courses in statistics, AI ethics, deep learning, computer vision, large language models (LLMs), and agentic AI systems. Applicants with strong industry experience, applied research experience, or prior teaching experience in higher education are especially encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching excellence in an applied graduate program.
• Deliver engaging instruction in 7-week, in-person course formats.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback and meaningful engagement with graduate students.
• Integrate industry experience, real-world case studies, and emerging AI practices into the teaching curriculum.
• Mentor and advise graduate students on academic progress, career planning, and capstone project development.
• Uphold USD's Vision, Mission, and Core Values, including academic excellence, community, ethical conduct, and compassionate service.
• Maintain high standards of academic integrity and student performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or a closely related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated industry experience related to AI or applied research experience in artificial intelligence or machine learning.
• Strong foundations in machine learning principles, probability, statistics, and linear algebra relevant to deep learning and large language models.
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative, and professional communication skills.
• Commitment to inclusion, student engagement, and inclusive teaching practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior university-level teaching experience, ideally in in-person, project-based, or experiential learning environments.
• Industrial experience in AI engineering, ML engineering, deep learning, generative AI, LLM development, computer vision, or MLOps/model deployment.
• Proficiency in developing and deploying modern AI/ML systems. This includes expertise in core languages (e.g., Python) and frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, LangChain, AWS SageMaker, and vector databases.
• Ability to integrate ethical frameworks, responsible AI principles, and real-world case studies into teaching.
• Experience mentoring graduate students or supervising capstone projects.
• Teaching responsibilities include lecturing, assessing assignments and projects, grading, providing feedback, and supporting students academically and professionally.

Background check

Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement

Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Posting Salary

$2,325 - $2,425 per unit

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget

Contact

Paula Schmid, [e-mail]

If you have any technical difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at [e-mail].

Additional Details

Additional Information. This is a part-time position. All teaching is conducted in person at the USD campus. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.