Assistant Professor | Structural Engineering

Washington State University; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Washington State University in Pullman, WA seeks a tenure-track, 9-month Assistant Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering with a focus on structural engineering. The candidate will develop an independent research program, teach undergraduate and graduate courses, and collaborate with CMEC and industry partners to advance the land‑grant mission.

The appointment emphasizes research (50%), teaching (30%), and service (20%), with opportunities to mentor MS/PhD students and secure extramural

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Civil Engineering by the time of hire.
• Demonstrated publication record in structural engineering in top-tier peer reviewed journals and conferences.
• Experience or displays potential for success in teaching and instruction.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate classes in civil engineering.
• Establish an independent research program funded by extramural grants.
• Publish in top-tier peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
• Recruit and advise MS and PhD graduate students.
• Contribute to curriculum development and assessment, and collaborate with partners.

Skills

Publications (structural)

Teaching ability

Collaborative skills

Research program development

Education

PhD in Civil Eng

Job description

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on: September 30, 2026

Available Title(s)

270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor

Business Title

Assistant Professor | Structural Engineering

Employee Type

Faculty

Position Term

9 Month - Summer

Position Details

The Opportunity:

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, WA is seeking highly motivated candidates for a tenure-track, full-time, 9-month academic, faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor. The department is seeking candidates with expertise in structural engineering and mechanics with the ability to develop strong research programs that utilize the state-of-the-art experimental testing facilities of the Composite Materials & Engineering Center (CMEC). It is anticipated the successful candidate will begin the appointment on August 16, 2027. In this role, you will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate classes in civil engineering, establish an independent research program through extramurally funded research grants, publish in top tier peer reviewed journals and conferences, recruit and advise MS and PhD graduate students, participate in undergraduate curriculum development and assessment, and collaborate with colleagues in the department, college, university system, and industrial and state partners to support the land grant mission of WSU. You will also be expected to develop and be committed to developing a world class research program. The anticipated workload will be 50% research, 30% teaching, and 20% service. A culture of multidisciplinary research with a varied group of CEE faculty and students is valued, and you will be expected to contribute to existing research efforts within the department and collaborate with researchers and students within the CMEC. The CMEC is an interdisciplinary research organization at WSU focused on developing new building materials and manufacturing technologies from recycled and renewable resources, as well as developing innovative structural systems and design methods to effectively utilize new materials. The CMEC has maintained long-standing associations with the sustainable infrastructure industry. The CMEC includes structural and material testing facilities including an ICC-accredited structural testing laboratory.

Additional Information

9-month Academic Salary: $105,000 - $110,000 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

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes 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

• Doctoral degree in Civil Engineering by the time of hire.
• Demonstrated publication record in structural engineering in top-tier peer reviewed journals and conferences.
• Experience or displays potential for success in teaching and instruction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and work collegially and collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Research interest in hybrid or modular structures.
• Possession of a Professional Engineering (PE) license.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility:

May be eligible for work visa sponsorship

About WSU Civil and Environmental Engineering

Washington State University (WSU) is a land-grant, multi-campus, Research-1 institution. This position serves on the Pullman campus, which has an enrollment of ~20,000 students. Pullman is a college town located in the Palouse region of south-eastern Washington. The climate is dry and the distinctive rolling hills of the Palouse are home to one of the most productive dryland wheat growing regions of the world. The location has unique recreational access to forests, rivers, and mountains in Idaho, Oregon, and WA. People who work at WSU Pullman typically live either in Pullman or the neighboring town of Moscow, Idaho, nine miles away. The larger metropolitan area of Spokane is 70 miles to the north.

The CEE Department is one of five schools/departments in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. The department has over 300 undergraduate students, 50 graduate students, and 22 tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 3 career track faculty. Degrees offered are Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE), Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSCE), a PhD degree in Civil Engineering, and a PhD in Engineering Science.

The CEE Department is in the PACCAR Environmental Technology Building that houses research and teaching labs and classrooms. In addition, the CMEC has material testing labs in PACCAR as well as the ICC-accredited Simpson Strong-Tie Structural and Research Laboratory (SSSRL). This testing facility features a two-story tall reaction wall with a through-hole pattern to support actuators up to 200 kips and a 40 ft × 60 ft reaction floor with a 2 ft × 2 ft anchorage grid for adaptable test setups. The lab is equipped with a dual-hook 7.5-ton overhead crane and servo-hydraulic actuators ranging from 10 to 300 kips with 10-48 in. stroke lengths. An additional 40 ft × 60 ft outdoor reaction floor supports full-scale construction of prototypes or testing of large structures. Additional information about CMEC facilities can be found online about the CMEC Equipment & International Code Council Accredited Testing Laboratory.

Area/College:

Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture

Department Name:

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Location:

Pullman Campus - Pullman, WA

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Inquiries should be directed to Professor Christopher Motter, [e-mail]

Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

Full time

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [e-mail].

Notice of Non-Discrimination:

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/