Associate Professor - Mechanical Engineering

Associate Professor - Mechanical Engineering

East Texas A&M University invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering position at the Department of Engineering & Technology, beginning Fall 2026. This position will be one of the founding hires for the new B.S. Mechanical Engineering program, with emphasis on robotics, mechatronics, and laboratory development, as well as ABET accreditation preparation.

The successful candidate will contribute to the department's teaching, research, and service missions. We seek a scholar who demonstrates potential for impactful research, effective and comprehensive teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and meaningful service to the department, college, university, and profession, within a student-ready framework.

Duties & Responsibilities

Teaching

• Teach undergraduate mechanical engineering courses and laboratories supporting the new B.S. in Mechanical Engineering program, including Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Processes, Mechatronics, Robotics, Controls, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and related lab courses. Teach Senior Design/Capstone and other common engineering courses as needed (e.g., Introduction to Engineering & Technology, Computing for Engineers, Engineering Economics, Probability & Statistics).
• Develop and deliver laboratory-based courses, including lab manuals, experiments, safety procedures, and assessment strategies in mechanics/materials, mechatronics/robotics, manufacturing/automation, and thermal-fluid systems. Use effective, student-centered teaching practices appropriate for a student-ready R2 institution. Advise and mentor undergraduate students on course planning, careers, internships, and undergraduate research.
• The typical teaching load is four courses each in the Fall and Spring semesters.

Research and Scholarly Activity

• Develop and maintain a productive research program in mechanical engineering or related areas such as robotics, mechatronics, automation, advanced manufacturing, or thermal-fluid systems. Disseminate research through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and other scholarly outlets, and actively pursue external funding to support research, laboratory development, and student engagement.
• Seek external funding to support research as appropriate to the discipline.
• Involve undergraduate (and, when possible, graduate) students in research and lab projects, including senior design, independent studies, and industry collaborations.

Program and Laboratory Development / ABET

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and assessment of the new B.S. Mechanical Engineering curriculum.
• Design, establish, and continuously improve mechanical engineering instructional laboratories, including equipment selection, installation, safety management, maintenance, and documentation. Participate fully in ABET-related activities, including defining and mapping student outcomes, conducting assessment, analyzing data, documenting continuous-improvement actions, and preparing materials for ABET reviews.

Service and Outreach

• Serve on department, college, and university committees and participate actively in departmental activities.
• Support outreach, recruitment, and retention initiatives for the new program and develop industry partnerships to enhance internships, senior design, labs, and workforce-aligned activities.
• Provide professional service to the discipline, such as reviewing papers, organizing conferences, and engaging with relevant professional societies.

Qualifications

Required:

• Education: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (or a very closely related discipline) from an ABET-accredited U.S. institution of higher learning, completed by the time of appointment.
• Demonstrated ability or strong potential to teach a wide range of undergraduate mechanical engineering courses, including both lecture and lab formats.
• Ability to develop and maintain instructional laboratories, including hands-on experiments, equipment, and safety practices.
• Evidence of potential for scholarly productivity, such as published or in-progress peer-reviewed papers, conference presentations, or related outputs.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• A record of high impact peer-reviewed publications and sustained scholarly productivity.
• A record of effective teaching at the undergraduate level and evidence of contribution to curriculum or program development.
• Significant service contributions (e.g., committees, program coordination, professional service) and evidence of leadership potential in program or laboratory development.
• Demonstrated experience attempting external funding as PI or Co-PI.

Preferred:

• Prior relevant industry experience in mechanical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, manufacturing, or related areas.
• Evidence of research productivity, such as accepted grant proposals, patents, or substantive industry-sponsored projects.
• Evidence of teaching excellence in higher education, including positive teaching evaluations, teaching awards, or documented instructional innovation.
• Experience with laboratory development and management (equipment selection, budgeting, installation, safety, maintenance).
• Experience with and/or knowledge of ABET accreditation processes, including assessment, documentation, and continuous improvement.
• Professional Engineering (P.E.) license or eligibility to pursue licensure.
• Experience with online or hybrid course development and instruction.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.