Utah State University
Department Head
Requisition ID: 2025-9541
# of Openings: 1
Location: US-UT-Logan
Category: Faculty
Position Type: Benefited Full-Time
Job Classification: Faculty
College: College of Engineering
Department: Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Advertised Salary: Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits
Overview The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Utah State University (USU) invites applicants for a full-time Department Head with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. The MAE Department Head is responsible for strategic and visionary leadership to support USU's land- and space-grant mission including leadership of teaching, research, and service activities in a dynamic and ambitious department within the College of Engineering. The successful candidate will be an experienced leader with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, mentoring, and service. MAE seeks a Department Head that can broaden the department's engagements with USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory (a University Affiliated Research Center), national labs and other federal and industrial partners; collaborate with other departments and colleges; and interact collegially with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and the community. This is a 12-month tenured position that reports to the Dean of the College of Engineering.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field. Candidate experience should be commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor in MAE at USU. Applicants need to have demonstrated expertise in a relevant area of mechanical and aerospace engineering including but not limited to fluid dynamics, combustion and propulsion, flight mechanics, advanced air mobility, space dynamics, hypersonic flow, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials including composites, nuclear materials characterization, thermal hydraulics, controls, systems engineering, and computational modeling. Candidates should have a strong track record of research funding, teaching, service, mentorship, peer‑reviewed publications or other research outputs, engagement with a broad array of partners, and a background in strong core fundamentals that allow them to work across multidisciplinary areas.
For full consideration, applications should be submitted no later than January 2, 2026.
Responsibilities
Promote an ambitious vision and mission for the department consistent with the vision and mission of the College and University.
Mentor the department's faculty members in their teaching, research, and service activities.
Oversee curriculum development and delivery, assess educational outcomes, and accreditation.
Monitor the administrative, financial, and space management components of the department.
Raise extramural funds in support of the department's teaching, research, and service activities, and promote the development of research centers.
Engage productively with academic, industrial, and government partners to advance an ambitious and impactful research and training programs.
Enhance recognition of the department on national and international stages.
Lead new faculty recruitment efforts and facilitate processes related to recruitment, promotion, and tenure.
Actively participate in assigned college, university, and external duties.
Serve as a catalyst for attracting and supporting undergraduate and graduate students.
Participate in interdisciplinary efforts with other departments and initiatives at USU.
Qualifications
Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or closely related fields.
Demonstrated achievements appropriate for appointment at the Full Professor level.
A strong background in engineering fundamentals.
Evidence of success as a Principal Investigator or leader of an independent research program.
Record of peer‑reviewed publications in high‑quality journals or other measures of research outcomes.
Ability to engage industry partners and connect curriculum to the practice of engineering in the field.
Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including demonstrated ability to teach, inspire, and mentor faculty and students.
Ability to obtain a United States DoD Security Clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Active United States DoD or DoE Security Clearance.
Positive experience in research with demonstrated success in program development and leadership.
Extensive experience in higher education and a commitment to the education mission of the college.
Demonstrated ability to engage productively with external research, training, and service partners.
Experience working on multi‑disciplinary research teams.
Teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Experience in developing high‑impact experiential learning curricula.
Record of involvement in seeking extramural funding.
Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam or earned a Professional Engineering license.
Required Documents
Resume/CV uploaded in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV".
Cover Letter describing your qualifications for the position and your vision of the role uploaded under "Documents 1-10".
Contact information for 3 professional references to be added to your Candidate Profile.
**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
Job offer will be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
Equal Opportunity Employer Utah State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination for any reason by any person of any race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a historic or protected class, veteran status, criminal history or any other status protected through the applicable laws and regulations.
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Overview The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Utah State University (USU) invites applicants for a full-time Department Head with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. The MAE Department Head is responsible for strategic and visionary leadership to support USU's land- and space-grant mission including leadership of teaching, research, and service activities in a dynamic and ambitious department within the College of Engineering. The successful candidate will be an experienced leader with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, mentoring, and service. MAE seeks a Department Head that can broaden the department's engagements with USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory (a University Affiliated Research Center), national labs and other federal and industrial partners; collaborate with other departments and colleges; and interact collegially with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and the community. This is a 12-month tenured position that reports to the Dean of the College of Engineering.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field. Candidate experience should be commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor in MAE at USU. Applicants need to have demonstrated expertise in a relevant area of mechanical and aerospace engineering including but not limited to fluid dynamics, combustion and propulsion, flight mechanics, advanced air mobility, space dynamics, hypersonic flow, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials including composites, nuclear materials characterization, thermal hydraulics, controls, systems engineering, and computational modeling. Candidates should have a strong track record of research funding, teaching, service, mentorship, peer‑reviewed publications or other research outputs, engagement with a broad array of partners, and a background in strong core fundamentals that allow them to work across multidisciplinary areas.
For full consideration, applications should be submitted no later than January 2, 2026.
Responsibilities
Promote an ambitious vision and mission for the department consistent with the vision and mission of the College and University.
Mentor the department's faculty members in their teaching, research, and service activities.
Oversee curriculum development and delivery, assess educational outcomes, and accreditation.
Monitor the administrative, financial, and space management components of the department.
Raise extramural funds in support of the department's teaching, research, and service activities, and promote the development of research centers.
Engage productively with academic, industrial, and government partners to advance an ambitious and impactful research and training programs.
Enhance recognition of the department on national and international stages.
Lead new faculty recruitment efforts and facilitate processes related to recruitment, promotion, and tenure.
Actively participate in assigned college, university, and external duties.
Serve as a catalyst for attracting and supporting undergraduate and graduate students.
Participate in interdisciplinary efforts with other departments and initiatives at USU.
Qualifications
Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or closely related fields.
Demonstrated achievements appropriate for appointment at the Full Professor level.
A strong background in engineering fundamentals.
Evidence of success as a Principal Investigator or leader of an independent research program.
Record of peer‑reviewed publications in high‑quality journals or other measures of research outcomes.
Ability to engage industry partners and connect curriculum to the practice of engineering in the field.
Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including demonstrated ability to teach, inspire, and mentor faculty and students.
Ability to obtain a United States DoD Security Clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Active United States DoD or DoE Security Clearance.
Positive experience in research with demonstrated success in program development and leadership.
Extensive experience in higher education and a commitment to the education mission of the college.
Demonstrated ability to engage productively with external research, training, and service partners.
Experience working on multi‑disciplinary research teams.
Teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Experience in developing high‑impact experiential learning curricula.
Record of involvement in seeking extramural funding.
Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam or earned a Professional Engineering license.
Required Documents
Resume/CV uploaded in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV".
Cover Letter describing your qualifications for the position and your vision of the role uploaded under "Documents 1-10".
Contact information for 3 professional references to be added to your Candidate Profile.
**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
Job offer will be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
Equal Opportunity Employer Utah State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination for any reason by any person of any race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a historic or protected class, veteran status, criminal history or any other status protected through the applicable laws and regulations.
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