MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Assistant Professor -Tenure Track - Mechanical System Design AY 26/27

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 pedagogic skills and to remain proficient and current in their disciplines. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a variety of mechanical design and solid mechanics courses 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.  Specific assignments will depend on department and program needs. The successful candidate may have a specific background in areas such as design theory, mechanics or manufacturing, for example, and are expected to teach in the general areas of mechanics, mechanical design and/or design theory. 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.

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.

The College of Engineering at Cal Poly is committed to building a faculty of teacher-scholars who collaborate to provide a multi-disciplinary and hands-on approach to inclusive excellence in student learning and applied research. We believe that individuals from broad backgrounds strengthen our programs and positively impact student success. We encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for consideration. Cal Poly emphasizes Learn by Doing, which involves extensive lab work and projects in support of theoretical knowledge.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

As a premier comprehensive polytechnic university, Cal Poly is ranked as the best public master's university in the western U.S., while its Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program is also highly ranked.  The program has a strong focus on undergraduate and master’s level education through a laboratory intensive, hands-on curriculum. Our tenured, tenure-track, and lecturer/adjunct faculty are dedicated engineers with a passion for teaching, innovative applied research, interacting with students, and advising student club activities.  The department values teaching excellence and offers students small class sizes and hands-on activities throughout their undergraduate careers.  In addition to nearly a dozen teaching laboratory spaces, our students’ education and extra-curricular activities are further enhanced by having direct access to state-of-the-art machine shop facilities where students transform their designs into working prototypes. Cal Poly and the College of Engineering support collaborative research opportunities for faculty. There are numerous opportunities to partner with faculty across campus to engage in impactful research.

For more information about the department, please visit https://me.calpoly.edu/. The starting date for this position is September 2026.

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 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. 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, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Cal Poly provides a range of benefits for our faculty which can be found at  https://afd.calpoly.edu/hr/benefits/. Cal Poly is family friendly, offering parental leave, educational fee waivers, childcare pre-tax benefits, and an on-campus children’s center (https://www.asi.calpoly.edu/childrens-center/).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering in the general area of mechanical system design 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 from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Candidates must demonstrate the ability 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.

Preferred specializations include design communication, data-driven design decisions (big data), artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted collaborative design, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary activities in system engineering and mechanical or human-centered design. Successful candidates will be expected to teach a variety of mechanical design and solid mechanics courses to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings. Primary teaching assignments will involve machine element design, design for strength & stiffness, mechanical system design, senior project, upper-division technical electives, and master’s level courses related to the candidate's expertise. Additional responsibilities include advising students, participating in university service activities, and conducting applied or fundamental research in mechanical engineering. Outcomes assessment and Learn by Doing are important components of Cal Poly’s curriculum.  Specific assignments will depend on department and program needs. 

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.

Areas of emphasis for the department include:

• Strong background in senior design project, mechanical engineering design, solid mechanics, design for strength & stiffness, and mechanical system design.
• Demonstrated active engagement in scholarship and professional development.
• Demonstrated excellence in university level teaching and research.
• Strong knowledge of industry design practices.
• Demonstrated sound working knowledge in modern design and analysis tools.
• Demonstrated excellence in laboratory-based, hands-on instruction.
• Willingness to teach in multiple areas of the undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering curriculum.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS                                                    

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. NOTE: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

Faculty employees who wish to apply for permanent residency will be responsible for retaining an immigration attorney. All filing and attorney's fees will be incurred by the faculty member.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.  It is also expected that tenure-line faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, applicants are encouraged to provide 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 teaching philosophy (4) statement of goals and plans for research; (5) copy of unofficial transcripts; and (6) three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application.  Finalists for the position will be required to provide 3 letters of reference. The selected candidate will be required to provide official transcripts prior to appointment for final consideration. 

For full consideration, candidates are encouraged to apply by the Review Begin Date, October 13, 2025 Applications received after this date may be considered.

For questions, please contact John Chen, Acting Chairperson of Mechanical Engineering, via jchen24@calpoly.edu.