Assistant/Associate Professor – Electrical/Computer Engineering - #000185

Western Carolina University; Cullowhee, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Carolina University’s College of Engineering invites applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor position in Electrical/Computer Engineering, nine-month tenure/tenure-track, at the Cullowhee, NC campus. Start date January or August 2027.

Faculty teach in undergraduate and graduate programs; we emphasize project-based learning, close industry engagement, and career preparation, with opportunities for undergraduate research and service to the department.

Job description

Assistant/Associate Professor – Electrical/Computer Engineering - #000185

Working Title Assistant/Associate Professor – Electrical/Computer Engineering - #000185

Department

Department Electrical and Computer Engineering

About WCU

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.
The College of Engineering ( COE ) at Western Carolina University ( WCU ) is growing!

The University has received substantial support from the North Carolina legislature to expand engineering to meet the rapidly growing needs of the region and state. Our engineering and construction management programs feature project-based learning embedded throughout the curricula, preparing our students for professional practice and advanced study. Industry engagement is a hallmark of our programs, and we pride ourselves on having faculty with significant industry experience. Our culture embraces faculty-student interaction through experiences such as undergraduate research. We are committed to regional economic development and changing the lives of our students and their families through a transformative experience at our main rural campus setting in the mountains of western North Carolina, and at sites in Asheville and across western NC. The college’s programs are instrumental to the economic vitality of the region and are advancing the university to be one of the nation’s premier regional comprehensive institutions. We are creating leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs with the foundation and skills needed for transformative careers in engineering and beyond.

We are recruiting for a faculty position in Electrical/Computer Engineering (or closely related field) at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank to serve a foundational role in developing and growing programs and research activity within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. This is a nine-month tenure/tenure-track position. Rank will be determined at point of hire. The anticipated start date is January or August 2027.

Faculty are routinely expected to teach in multiple topic areas at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Faculty candidates with teaching and research expertise in one or more of the following areas are highly encouraged to apply: