ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering #00098258

Missouri University of Science and Technology; Rolla (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla invites outstanding applicants for tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant or associate professor rank in mechanical engineering. We seek candidates across a broad range of research areas including autonomous and intelligent systems, physical AI, and thermal and energy sciences.

Applicants should demonstrate potential for an externally funded research program, high-quality teaching, and service to the profession. A Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Evidence of establishing a strong external funded research program.
• High-quality, innovative teaching at undergrad and grad levels.
• Active service in the applicant's professional community and/or institution.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead an externally funded research program.
• Provide high-quality teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Contribute to service activities within the department and broader community.

Skills

External funding

Teaching excellence

Service to profession

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Position Summary

Job ID: 60880

Location: Rolla

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This is an exceptional moment to launch an academic career here. The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is the largest department on campus, and each of its degree programs is the largest and highest-ranked among public institutions in Missouri. The department has nearly tripled its research expenditures over the last four years and has a long-established record of research excellence, with five junior faculty having received CAREER and DoD Young Investigator awards in the last ten years. Several Ph.D. students have received prestigious fellowships from NASA, NSF, and DoD, and the department is also home to the Missouri Space Grant Consortium, a NASA-funded, statewide program supporting space-related research, fellowships, and outreach.

Housed in a state-of-the-art 145,000-square-foot facility, the department includes 28 internationally recognized tenured/tenure-track faculty, 9 teaching faculty, 10 staff members, over 140 graduate students (including 80 Ph.D. students), over 1,400 undergraduate students, and over 12,000 living alumni. We are equally proud of our many award-winning teachers and deeply value excellence in the classroom. We are looking for colleagues who are as energized by mentoring and teaching students in the classroom and laboratory as they are by advancing the frontiers of their research field, and who will help us continue to prepare engineers who are as strong in fundamentals and hands‑on practice as they are in emerging computational and AI‑enabled tools.

Job Description

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in Rolla, Missouri invites outstanding applicants for tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant or associate professor rank in mechanical engineering. We welcome candidates across a broad range of research areas that complement and expand the department's strengths in mechanical engineering. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to, autonomous and intelligent systems, physical AI, thermal and energy sciences, and dynamics and controls. Relevant topics may include embodied and physical AI, robotics and robot learning, human-robot and human-machine collaboration, autonomous ground, aerial, and space systems, thermal management, energy conversion and storage, sustainable energy systems, and nonlinear, optimal, and learning‑based control of cyber‑physical systems. Excellent candidates in other fields relevant to mechanical engineering are also encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

Applicants must provide evidence of, and potential for, excellence in (a) establishing a strong, externally funded research program, (b) high-quality, innovative teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and (c) service in the applicant's professional community and/or institution. Qualified candidates will possess a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field by the time of appointment. Successful applicants will also demonstrate alignment with one or more of Missouri S&T's multi‑disciplinary, multi‑investigator research centers and programs, including the Intelligent Systems Center, the Center for Research in Energy and the Environment, and the Kummer Center for Advanced Manufacturing - collaborative homes where new faculty quickly find co‑investigators, graduate students, and shared facilities.

Application Deadline

Review of applications will begin as they are received and will continue until the positions are filled. For full consideration, please apply before October 15, 2026.

Sponsorship Information

Employment visa sponsorship may be available for candidates currently in the United States in H-1B status or other work‑authorized status.

Community Information

University Information

Missouri S&T is one of the nation's leading research universities with over 100-degree programs in 39 disciplines. It was founded in 1870 as one of the first technological institutions west of the Mississippi River. Located about 100 miles west of St. Louis in the vibrant community of Rolla, Missouri S&T is an accessible, safe, and friendly campus surrounded by Ozarks' scenery. Missouri S&T offers undergraduate degrees in engineering, the sciences, liberal arts, humanities, and business, with M.S. and Ph.D. programs available in many of the science and engineering programs. With over 7,000 students and 300 faculty, Missouri S&T is big enough to accommodate a broad population, yet small enough for individuals to build high visibility and impactful careers.

COLLEGE of ENGINEERING & COMPUTING (CEC)

Missouri S&T's College of Engineering and Computing is the largest of three colleges at S&T, accounting for approximately 80% of the total enrollment (about 4,500 undergraduates and 800 graduate students). The college includes more than 170 ranked faculty members who serve in 16 undergraduate programs, all with master's and doctoral equivalents organized into nine academic departments. The college recently added a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and a Ph.D. in bioengineering, both starting in fall 2024. Missouri S&T, supported by the College of Engineering and Computing, is nationally recognized for its career outcomes and ROI.

About Rolla

Rolla, Missouri offers several great advantages that help individuals enjoy a high quality of life. Rolla is an ideal place for families, with its low cost of living, excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and a range of recreational activities suitable for all ages. The Ozark Scenic Riverways and beautiful landscapes offers abundant opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of every lifestyle. With its vibrant community, Rolla hosts multiple events, concerts, art exhibitions, and theater performances throughout the year. The university's Leach Theatre showcases nationally renowned performers for campus and community alike. Overall, living in Rolla offers a high quality of life with a supportive community, affordable living, beautiful natural surroundings, and numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 573-341-7734.