Associate Professor: Mechanical Engineering

Phaki Personnel Management Services; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Phaki Personnel Management Services invites applications for an Associate Professor position in Mechanical Engineering in Port Elizabeth. The appointee will provide academic leadership across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, drive research capacity, supervise postgraduate students, and contribute to curriculum renewal in line with national accreditation standards.

The role requires a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, a minimum of seven years of experience, ECSA registration, and a

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering is required.
• Minimum of 7 years of work experience in mechanical engineering academia or industry.
• Registration with ECSA as PrEng or Pr Tech Eng is required.
• Teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels is essential.
• Significant research in solid state welding and a proven track record of supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership in learning and teaching within Mechanical Engineering at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Strengthen research capacity and contribute to scholarly activity and postgraduate supervision.
• Lead curriculum development and ensure alignment with accreditation standards (ECSA/CHE where applicable).
• Supervise Masters and Doctoral candidates and develop structured research training frameworks.
• Foster industry collaboration and engaged scholarship and contribute to regulatory bodies and professional societies.

Skills

Teaching experience

Research leadership

Postgrad supervision

Scholarly publishing

Education

Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

• The purpose of this academic post is to provide academic leadership in learning and teaching within Mechanical Engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and to contribute meaningfully to research, innovation, and postgraduate supervision.
• The incumbent is expected to develop and strengthen research capacity within the department, engage in scholarly and professional service, and contribute to the core academic and strategic functions of organisation.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Relevant Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minimum of 7 years work experience;
• Registered with ECSA, as PrEng or Pr Tech Eng;
• Teaching experience in under and post graduate Mechanical Engineering modules
• Significant research having been conducted in the research focus area of solid state welding
• Must have a proven track record of successfully supervised postgraduate students;
• Must have a track record and published in DHET accredited conferences and/or journals

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Teaching Excellence

• Deliver high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate innovation teaching pedagogically approaches(blended learning, problem-based learning, research-led teaching) informed by current research and industry practice.
• Lead module coordination and ensure quality assurance, moderation, and continuous improvement of assessment practices.
• Perform administration including preparation for and participation in quality review and accreditation processes
• Develop into providing leadership in curriculum development, renewal, and alignment with national accreditation standards (e.g., ECSA/CHE where applicable).
• Perform any reasonable task requested as required to fullfill the operational needs of the Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Potential to offer SLP’s

Research Leadership and Scholarly Output

• Maintain a sustained record of high-quality, peer-reviewed publications in accredited journals.
• Demonstrate research leadership through applying for NRF rating (where applicable) and national/international recognition.
• Develop and lead funded research projects and secure external grants.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary and strategic research focus areas aligned with institutional priorities.
• Supervise and mentor emerging researchers toward publication productivity.

Postgraduate Supervision and Capacity Development

• Supervise Masters and Doctoral candidates to successful completion within prescribed timeframes.
• Develop structured research training frameworks to strengthen postgraduate throughput and quality.
• Examine postgraduate theses internally and externally at national and international institutions.
• Build supervisory capacity within the department through co-supervision and mentorship.
• Facilitate postgraduate research workshops/seminars and scholarly communities of practice.

Engagement, Industry Collaboration and Societal Impact

• Establish and sustain partnerships with industry, professional bodies, and community stakeholders to lead or participate in engaged scholarship projects.
• Contribute to professional societies and regulatory bodies relevant to the discipline.
• Promote commercialization, innovation, and applied research outputs where applicable.

Associate Professor: Mechanical Engineering • Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, ZA