Assistant Professor

wsu; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

paid sick leave

paid holidays

medical, dental, life and disability保险

retirement

deferred compensation

Job summary

Washington State University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering in Pullman, WA. The search spans robotics and autonomy with diverse application domains, and begins on August 16, 2027.

The successful candidate will build an externally funded program, teach undergraduate and graduate courses, and collaborate across disciplines within MME and the wider university.

Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field by the date of hire.
• Strong commitment to building a world-class research program with external funding.
• Proven or potential for teaching and instruction.
• Demonstrated commitment to equitable and inclusive educational experiences and service in alignment with WSU's land grant mission.

Responsibilities

• Establish an internationally recognized, externally funded research program in robotics and autonomy.
• Collaborate with current faculty to build interdisciplinary teams and contribute to teaching, mentoring, and service.
• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in robotics and related areas.
• Maintain a workload of 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service.

Skills

Publication & funding potential

Teaching ability

Equitable & inclusive education

Education

PhD in Mechanical Engineering / Robotics / Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

Available Title(s)

270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor

Business Title

Assistant Professor

Employee Type

Faculty

Position Details

The Opportunity:

The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture (VCEA) at Washington State University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor rank in Pullman, WA. MME seeks to strengthen its capabilities in robotics and autonomous systems, with an emphasis on intelligent robotic systems designed to operate in complex, unstructured, and dynamic environments.

The search is intentionally broad across robotics and autonomy. Relevant application domains include, but are not limited to, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, environmental monitoring, nuclear systems, underwater and marine robotics, infrastructure inspection, construction, disaster response, and other real-world and mission-critical applications.

Candidates whose work can complement and create new collaborations with MME's existing strengths in advanced manufacturing, materials, energy, nuclear engineering, and related areas are particularly encouraged. It is anticipated the successful candidate will begin their appointment on August 16, 2027.

Job Duties

The successful candidate is expected to establish an internationally recognized, externally funded research program that advances the autonomy, intelligence, robustness, and reliability of next-generation robotic systems. The candidate will collaborate with current faculty to build interdisciplinary teams and contribute to excellence in teaching, mentoring, and service.

We seek candidates with a strong foundation in robotics and autonomous systems. Areas of expertise may include, but are not limited to, robot perception, sensing, navigation and localization, planning and control, manipulation, robot learning, embodied AI, human-robot interaction, multi-robot systems, mechatronics, robotic system integration, and autonomous decision-making for physical robotic systems operating in real-world environments.

Candidates who integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning with physical robotic systems are particularly encouraged to apply. Research that connects robotics with the School's existing strengths-including advanced manufacturing and materials-is welcomed, but the candidate's primary scholarly identity should be in robotics and autonomous systems.

The successful candidate should be capable of developing and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in robotics and related areas, including mechatronics, system dynamics, control systems, introduction to robotics, robot dynamics, and other courses aligned with the department's educational mission and the candidate's expertise. The typical workload for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position within MME is 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service.

Additional Information

This is a full-time (100% FTE) , 9-month, tenure-track faculty position. This position is not eligible for overtime .

Screening date: First consideration will be provided to applications submitted before November 1, 2026. Review of applications will remain ongoing until the posting close date of January 31, 2027.

9-month Academic Salary: $100,000 - $115,000 USD | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110 , the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.

Benefits

• paid sick leave
• paid holidays
• medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents
• retirement
• deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts
• For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation .

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field by the date of hire.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to building a world-class research program at WSU through publication of peer-reviewed research in leading journals and conferences, with potential to secure external research funding.
• Proven or potential for successful teaching and instruction.
• Demonstrated record of or potential for commitment to equitable and inclusive educational experiences and service in alignment with WSU's land grant mission.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated record of accomplishments and potential to become an outstanding scholar and educator i