Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice
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Job no: 533971
Work type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Senior management: College of Engineering
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech seeks applications for a non-tenure track Professor of Practice faculty position (Assistant/Associate) with expertise in advanced manufacturing to support our continual growth in this area and to support the newly established VT MADE center for advanced manufacturing. The position will be effective August 2026. We seek candidates that have a wide range of experience with additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, robotic systems and their use in advanced manufacturing, material characterization (X-ray CT, mechanical testing, microscopy, etc.), and other relevant processes (welding, forming, etc.). This individual will assist in the coordination of the advanced manufacturing activities within the VT MADE center and will be the lead for an advanced manufacturing experiential learning and research space in our new Mitchell Hall which is currently under construction on the Virginia Tech campus. This will include training and assisting graduate students with the operation of various equipment, mentoring undergraduate student teams, contributing to industry training workshops, supporting research efforts, and the possibility of classroom instruction. We seek candidates motivated to contribute to a collegial, interdisciplinary Mechanical Engineering Department with a strong tradition of fundamental and applied research.
The Mechanical Engineering Department currently has 74 faculty members and is home to over 1,400 undergraduate and 300 graduate students. Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world. Building on its motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), Virginia Tech is dedicated to serving in the spirit of community and excellence. Virginia Tech actively seeks candidates to join our community in preparing leaders for the world. In the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges report, the College of Engineering’s undergraduate program ranks 13th and the graduate program ranks 31st among all U.S. engineering schools while the Mechanical Engineering Department’s undergraduate program is ranked 13th and graduate program is ranked 22nd. The Mission of the College of Engineering is to educate and inspire our students to be critical thinkers, innovators and leaders.
The successful candidate will have a graduate degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field, a proven experience in experimental advanced manufacturing, a strong record of academic and professional accomplishments, a proven ability to work collaboratively, prior experience leading interdisciplinary research projects in academia or industry, strong professional experience with industrial partners in the area of advanced manufacturing, a commitment to mentoring and advising student-led research, the ability to be an effective instructor in a variety of settings including laboratory focused group projects as well as classroom instruction, and a willingness to expand disciplinary boundaries while training the next generation of engineers.
A PhD degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field is preferred.
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Amanda Collins at mandamcg@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
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