The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (http://www.mae.usu.edu/) at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) systems. 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 August 2025. Specific areas of interest 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, and environmental impacts of AAM to local communities. The successful applicant is expected to establish a vibrant research program, attract significant local and federal funding, develop partnerships that complement the existing capability at USU, and expand MAE departmental expertise in autonomous aerospace systems.

• 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.

Minimum 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.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Names and contact information for three professional references to be added to your Candidate Profile
3. Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
4. Teaching Philosophy to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

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

The MAE department has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with enrollments of approximately 900 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, and is the largest department in the College of Engineering. The department offers MS and PhD degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. The department currently has 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 5 professors of practice, with additional part-time instructors from local industry and research institutions. Faculty research areas include fluid dynamics, combustion and propulsion, flight mechanics, space dynamics, advanced materials, controls, and systems engineering with research expenditures in recent years about $3M. Successful applicants may have opportunities to work closely with scientists and engineers from the USU 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 Lab. 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.

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 through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

USU enrolls 28,900 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 Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

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 conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. 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 reasonable accommodations 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 01/2025

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 or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

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:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

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

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov