Overview

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (http://www.mae.usu.edu/) at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for two tenure-track faculty positions in aerospace engineering with an emphasis in high-speed aerodynamics and hypersonic flows, propulsion, system identification, guidance, navigation, and control, uncertainty quantification, or multi-agent systems in the context of aerospace applications.

One of the positions is broadly targeted towards candidates with research and teaching interests supporting aerospace engineering research in propulsion (rocket, jet, low thrust, etc), high-speed fluid dynamics, flight dynamics, or other related areas. Computational or experimental researchers are both sought.

Research of one of the candidates will support the growing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and related Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) fields. Specific areas of interest with regards to AAM and UAS include: the design, development, modeling, and flight testing of AAM concepts for fix-wing and rotor eVTOL, sUAS, among others; application of system identification and control to AAM; unmanned traffic management (UTM) systems; propulsion for AAM systems; multi-agent systems, swarming, and autonomy.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field. Candidates will be considered at either the assistant or associate professor level. This is an academic-year position (funded for 9-months) with an anticipated start date of Spring 2027 or negotiable. The successful applicant is expected to establish a vibrant research program supported by external and federal funding, develop partnerships that complement the existing capabilities at USU, and expand MAE departmental expertise in aerospace systems.

Teaching responsibilities may be in the areas of fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, aerospace controls/state estimation/system identification, flight dynamics and simulation, or numerical methods. Additional topic courses in aerospace engineering may be developed to suit candidate expertise.

Responsibilities

Competitive candidates will be expected to:

Develop a significant externally funded research program that includes a strong record of peer-reviewed publications and graduate mentorship.
Effectively teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
Actively participate in assigned department and university duties, and demonstrate leadership in relevant technical societies.

Qualifications

Assistant Professor:

Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or closely related fields.
A strong background in engineering fundamentals.
Evidence of emerging research streams with potential for extramural support and publication.

Associate Professor:

Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or closely related fields.
A strong background in engineering fundamentals.
Evidence of established research streams with potential for extramural support and publication.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please include:

Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
Cover Letter describing your qualifications for the position and our vision of the role to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
Contact information for 3 professional references to be added to your Candidate Profile **Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits ## ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not necessarily occasional temperature changes.

College/Department Highlights

The MAE department has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with enrollments of approximately 800 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, and is the largest department in the College of Engineering. The department offers a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering; MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Composite Materials & Structures, and Space Systems Engineering; and PhD degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. The department currently has 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 4 professors of practice, with additional part-time instructors from local industry and research institutions. Annual department research expenditures are approximately $3M. Successful applicants may have opportunities to work closely with scientists and engineers from the USU Research Foundation Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), one of 14 Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC). Further, USU faculty also have access to the University of Utah Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC) facilities and the Utah Water Research Laboratory. USU is the nearest PhD-granting institution in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering to the Idaho National Laboratory, and is also in close proximity to Hill Air Force Base and other defense-related organizations.The College of Engineering at Utah State University is a regional leader in teaching and research. The college currently has 95 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, with additional professors of practice and part-time instructors from local industry and research institutions. We are home to the world-famous Utah Water Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation-funded ASPIRE Engineering Research Center for sustainable electrified transportation. Each year, our college welcomes an average of 2,000 undergraduate and 300 graduate students from around the globe. The college offers five ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees and 15 graduate degree programs. In 2023-24, the college generated $40 million in research expenditures. Our award-winning faculty regularly secure competitive funding, and our students excel at national design and scholarships challenges. USU is in close proximity to the Idaho National Laboratory, Hill Air Force Base, and other energy- and defense-related organizations. For more information, please visit: https://engineering.usu.edu/

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.

*updated 12/2025

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

matthew.pinner@usu.edu

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator

cody.carmichael@usu.edu

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 | OCR@ed.gov

*updated 10/2025

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream - Aerospace Engineering

This role is Pro-only for its first 7 days