California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering Faculty - AY 26/27
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California, us, 93403
Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering Faculty - AY 26/27
Join to apply for the
Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering Faculty - AY 26/27
role at
California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo .
The Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California (Cal Poly) is excited to invite applications for a full‑time, academic‑year tenure‑track faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank beginning Fall 2026. Cal Poly has a tradition of excellence in teaching and scholarship that supports a curriculum centered on a "Learn by Doing" philosophy and focused on preparing graduates to make a positive impact on their world day one. Cal Poly is committed to the teacher‑scholar model. As teachers, faculty are expected to exhibit strong pedagogical skills and to remain proficient and current in their disciplines.
This search is for an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering in the two broad areas of thermo‑fluids and mechanics. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a variety of courses within a particular stem of the mechanical engineering curriculum (e.g., thermo‑fluids stem or mechanics stem) to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings. Additional responsibilities include advising students, participating in university service activities, and conducting applied research in mechanical engineering. Outcomes assessment and Learn by Doing are important components of Cal Poly’s curriculum. The successful candidate may have a specific specialization in areas such as biomechanics, heat transfer, energy systems, or fracture mechanics, for example, and are expected to teach in the wider area around their specialization. As scholars, faculty should be engaged in scholarly work that is of very high quality as evidenced by external peer review. As colleagues, faculty are encouraged to perform service activities at all levels of the University.
Please note that the department also has searches open in the area of Mechatronics and Mechanical System Design. Please visit https://jobs.calpoly.edu and search for Job No. 550311 (Mechatronics) or 550308 (Mechanical System Design) to view.
Salary will be commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Qualified candidates with industry experience are encouraged to apply. Anticipated hiring range: $106,000 – $117,000 per year.
About the Department The Department of Mechanical Engineering has over 1,600 undergraduate students spread over two campuses: San Luis Obispo and Solano. This position is specifically for the San Luis Obispo campus. The department is the largest at Cal Poly in terms of student size. Faculty (tenured and tenure‑track plus lecturers) number nearly 80 in all. The department oversees four machine shops and makerspaces that serve students from across the university, and operates multiple labs to support the undergraduate curriculum. Faculty are active in various areas of research through sponsored projects from government and industry, and are proud of its tradition of collaborating with undergraduate and MS‑level students.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209, and other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, and is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment.
Required Qualifications
An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution or international equivalent is required for appointment. Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) will be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate was awarded prior to or by the start of the appointment.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in teaching, effective communication, and interpersonal skills and must have the ability to work effectively with students, staff and faculty.
Must be able to develop an externally funded, applied research program that involves undergraduate and graduate students, and partnerships with key stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience and commitment to hands‑on, student‑centered learning and teaching, as well as demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings are required.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong interests in undergraduate and graduate teaching are required.
Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.
This search is focused on either the thermo‑fluids or mechanics stem of Mechanical Engineering. Successful candidates will be expected to teach a variety of courses to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated excellence in university‑level teaching and research (commensurate with time since degree), experience with laboratory‑based instruction, and/or industry experience.
Experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment is preferred.
Additional Areas Of Emphasis For The Department Include
Demonstrated excellence in university‑level teaching and research.
Demonstrated active engagement in scholarship and professional development.
Strong knowledge of industry practices.
Demonstrated excellence in laboratory‑based, hands‑on instruction.
Willingness to teach in multiple areas of the undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering curriculum.
How To Apply To apply, applicants should complete a required online faculty application and attach the following supplemental documents: (1) cover letter providing details of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position; (2) current CV; (3) statement of goals and plans for research; (4) copy of unofficial transcripts; and (5) Universal Student Success Statement. Applicants must provide three professional references with names and email addresses. Finalists for the position will be required to provide three letters of reference and official transcripts before appointment for final consideration. Applicants should also provide a statement addressing inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching practices.
Cal Poly’s ability to sponsor employment‑based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Cal Poly does not commit to providing visa sponsorship for this position, and applicants should not expect that such sponsorship will be offered.
For full consideration, candidates are encouraged to apply by the Review Beginning Date, December 1st. Applications received after this date may be considered. For questions, please contact Dr. Kim Shollenberger, Chair of the Search Committee via email at kshollen@calpoly.edu.
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Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering Faculty - AY 26/27
role at
California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo .
The Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California (Cal Poly) is excited to invite applications for a full‑time, academic‑year tenure‑track faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank beginning Fall 2026. Cal Poly has a tradition of excellence in teaching and scholarship that supports a curriculum centered on a "Learn by Doing" philosophy and focused on preparing graduates to make a positive impact on their world day one. Cal Poly is committed to the teacher‑scholar model. As teachers, faculty are expected to exhibit strong pedagogical skills and to remain proficient and current in their disciplines.
This search is for an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering in the two broad areas of thermo‑fluids and mechanics. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a variety of courses within a particular stem of the mechanical engineering curriculum (e.g., thermo‑fluids stem or mechanics stem) to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings. Additional responsibilities include advising students, participating in university service activities, and conducting applied research in mechanical engineering. Outcomes assessment and Learn by Doing are important components of Cal Poly’s curriculum. The successful candidate may have a specific specialization in areas such as biomechanics, heat transfer, energy systems, or fracture mechanics, for example, and are expected to teach in the wider area around their specialization. As scholars, faculty should be engaged in scholarly work that is of very high quality as evidenced by external peer review. As colleagues, faculty are encouraged to perform service activities at all levels of the University.
Please note that the department also has searches open in the area of Mechatronics and Mechanical System Design. Please visit https://jobs.calpoly.edu and search for Job No. 550311 (Mechatronics) or 550308 (Mechanical System Design) to view.
Salary will be commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Qualified candidates with industry experience are encouraged to apply. Anticipated hiring range: $106,000 – $117,000 per year.
About the Department The Department of Mechanical Engineering has over 1,600 undergraduate students spread over two campuses: San Luis Obispo and Solano. This position is specifically for the San Luis Obispo campus. The department is the largest at Cal Poly in terms of student size. Faculty (tenured and tenure‑track plus lecturers) number nearly 80 in all. The department oversees four machine shops and makerspaces that serve students from across the university, and operates multiple labs to support the undergraduate curriculum. Faculty are active in various areas of research through sponsored projects from government and industry, and are proud of its tradition of collaborating with undergraduate and MS‑level students.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209, and other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, and is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment.
Required Qualifications
An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution or international equivalent is required for appointment. Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) will be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate was awarded prior to or by the start of the appointment.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in teaching, effective communication, and interpersonal skills and must have the ability to work effectively with students, staff and faculty.
Must be able to develop an externally funded, applied research program that involves undergraduate and graduate students, and partnerships with key stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience and commitment to hands‑on, student‑centered learning and teaching, as well as demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings are required.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong interests in undergraduate and graduate teaching are required.
Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.
This search is focused on either the thermo‑fluids or mechanics stem of Mechanical Engineering. Successful candidates will be expected to teach a variety of courses to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated excellence in university‑level teaching and research (commensurate with time since degree), experience with laboratory‑based instruction, and/or industry experience.
Experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment is preferred.
Additional Areas Of Emphasis For The Department Include
Demonstrated excellence in university‑level teaching and research.
Demonstrated active engagement in scholarship and professional development.
Strong knowledge of industry practices.
Demonstrated excellence in laboratory‑based, hands‑on instruction.
Willingness to teach in multiple areas of the undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering curriculum.
How To Apply To apply, applicants should complete a required online faculty application and attach the following supplemental documents: (1) cover letter providing details of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position; (2) current CV; (3) statement of goals and plans for research; (4) copy of unofficial transcripts; and (5) Universal Student Success Statement. Applicants must provide three professional references with names and email addresses. Finalists for the position will be required to provide three letters of reference and official transcripts before appointment for final consideration. Applicants should also provide a statement addressing inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching practices.
Cal Poly’s ability to sponsor employment‑based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Cal Poly does not commit to providing visa sponsorship for this position, and applicants should not expect that such sponsorship will be offered.
For full consideration, candidates are encouraged to apply by the Review Beginning Date, December 1st. Applications received after this date may be considered. For questions, please contact Dr. Kim Shollenberger, Chair of the Search Committee via email at kshollen@calpoly.edu.
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