Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering (Tenure-track)

Role details

Hiring Department

---------------------

The University of Texas Permian Basin's College of Engineering & Sciences welcomes applications for the position of a Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering to begin in August 2027.

Salary Range

$90,000.00 depending on qualifications

Essential Functions

-----------------------

The Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering is a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track faculty position in the College of Engineering & Sciences. The faculty member supports undergraduate and graduate Mechanical Engineering education through effective teaching, a sustained research and scholarship agenda, active pursuit of external funding, student research and mentoring, program assessment and continuous improvement, and Department, College, University, professional, and community service. The position collaborates with faculty, students, industry, and national laboratories as appropriate to assigned teaching and research responsibilities

Teaching and Student Learning

• Teach undergraduate and graduate Mechanical Engineering courses aligned with program needs and faculty expertise, including face-to-face and/or hybrid delivery as assigned.

• Maintain a normal teaching assignment of up to eighteen (18) semester credit hours per nine-month contract year, typically nine (9) credit hours per semester, subject to approved faculty workload practices.

• Use sound pedagogical practices, appropriate instructional technology, timely grading, office hours, and course assessment to support student-learning outcomes.

• Participate in course, laboratory, and curriculum revision and support senior-design/capstone activities as assigned.

Research, Scholarship, and External Funding

• Develop and sustain a focused research and scholarship agenda in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related area, with particular relevance to program priorities such as materials, advanced manufacturing, energy systems, or related fields.

• Actively pursue appropriate external funding and disseminate scholarly work through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, technical reports, or other discipline-appropriate outlets.

• Build effective research collaborations with industry, national laboratories, academic partners, and other stakeholders as appropriate to faculty expertise and approved University processes.

• Engage undergraduate and graduate students in research, design, laboratory, and other scholarly activities.

Assessment, Accreditation, Advising, and Service

• Contribute assessment data and evidence needed for ABET, SACSCOC, and program continuous-improvement processes as assigned by appropriate program leadership.

• Advise and mentor students, support student organizations and recruitment activities, and provide appropriate academic and professional guidance.

• Participate in Department, College, and University meetings, committees, commencement/convocation activities, professional service, and community engagement appropriate to faculty workload.

• Work collaboratively with faculty and staff to advance the Mechanical Engineering program and College priorities.

Required Qualifications

---------------------------

• Earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering field from an accredited institution; degree must be completed no later than the August 2027 appointment start date.

• Evidence of research and scholarly potential appropriate to a tenure-track Assistant Professor appointment, including the ability to develop a sustained research agenda and pursue external funding.

• Experience teaching, providing laboratory instruction, technical training, or other discipline-related instruction in an academic or industry setting.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and external partners.

• Evidence of mentoring, supervising, or engaging students in research, design, laboratory, or project-based work.

• Unofficial Transcripts.

Preferred Qualifications

----------------------------

• College-level lecture, laboratory, project-based, or senior-design teaching experience in Mechanical Engineering.

• Experience preparing, submitting, or administering external research proposals or grants; funded-project experience is desirable.

• Research or industry experience in materials, advanced manufacturing, energy systems, or another area aligned with program needs.

• Experience with ABET assessment, accreditation documentation, laboratory development, or curriculum continuous improvement.

• Ability to teach across multiple areas of the Mechanical Engineering curriculum and experience with academic advising or student mentoring.

Additional Information

--------------------------

From the Department

The College of Engineering and Sciences offers B.S. in Civil, Chemical, computer, Electrical, Mechanical, and Petroleum Engineering as well as B.S. in Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, and Mathematics and M.S. in Computer Science and Geology. The Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, and Petroleum Engineering Programs are ABET Accredited. The College is also home to the Texas Water and Energy Institute and the newly opened Advanced Manufacturing Center. The College is housed in building that opened 2019, with excellent facilities for instructional and curricular activities and research and development.

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• List of References

• Teaching Philosophy Statement

• Unofficial Transcripts

• Letters of Recommendation (Preferred)

Conditions of Employment

• The job description is not a complete list of all responsibilities and duties performed by employees. Employees may perform other related duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor.

• Employment is subject to an introductory period to monitor employee performance.

• Once hired, the prospective employee must present documentation within three (3) days of the hire date to establish their identity and employment eligibility as required by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Applicants must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire. UTPB participates in e-Verify.

• Employees must be able and willing to travel and perform duties away from campus as necessary and must be able to operate a licensed motor vehicle, have access to a dependable motor vehicle, and possess a valid state driver’s license. Must have and maintain a satisfactory driver’s record.

• Employment is contingent upon a successful background check.

• UT Permian Basin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Schedule

Generally, the normal work hours for the university are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 – 5:30 pm; Friday, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm with a one-hour lunch. The individual holding this position may need to be available early morning, evening, and on weekends to meet the needs of the department. Faculty hours may differ based on class schedule and department need.

Standard Working Conditions

• Able to lift various materials up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis.

• Able to bend, crouch, and reach continuously.

• Physically able remain seated, frequently to continuously.

• Able to remain standing up to 15% of the time.

• Possesses dexterity abilities required to perform job duties including extensive keyboard work, operating office equipment, performing filing, and other job-related responsibilities that include extensive wrist and hand movement.

• Standard working conditions may differ depending on department and occupation.

University Benefits

• UT Permian Basin offers an excellent compensation package including heath, retirement, & fringe benefits for eligible employees.

• Coverage includes medical, prescriptions, life insurance, AD&D, and matching retirement provided by UTPB.

• You may also be eligible to add dental, vision, family coverage, & flex-spending accounts, additional retirement, and a few other coverages as options too.

• Fringe benefits include tuition reimbursement (after one year of service), wellness breaks, employee assistant program (EAP), and meal deals, among other perks and discounts!

• Our benefits package, along with an ample leave policy, make for a great total compensation package.

About the University

The University of Texas Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. It was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973. The Permian Basin is one of the fastest-growing, culturally vibrant, economically invigorated regions of the country – full of industry, culture, and wide-open spaces. At the academic heart of this area sits The University of Texas Permian Basin – which every year, delivers smart, savvy leaders across the U.S.

As a regional, comprehensive institution, The University of Texas Permian Basin serves a diverse community of students from the region, the state, and beyond. Through excellence in student-centered teaching, learning, research, and public service, the University cultivates engaged citizens and impacts lives while advancing the technology and public interests of West Texas.

Our vision is that the University of Texas Permian Basin will be an innovative, responsive university that thinks large and lives local. We will lead in advancing education, research, economic competitiveness, and cultural enrichment.