Assistant Professor, Tenure Track - Robotics in Mechanical Engineering

Role details

The Department of Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering at the University of Washington invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, with an anticipated start date of September 2027. We seek applicants who demonstrate commitment to excellence in research, teaching, and service in a diverse and inclusive academic community. The successful candidate will join our faculty as tenure-track Assistant Professor, on a full-time basis for a nine-month academic appointment. Initial appointments is on a 3-year term, renewable while on the tenure-track, which is traditionally 6 years.

Starting date is expected on September 2027, but an earlier or later starting date can be arranged. The base salary range for this position will be $12,000-$17,900 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. We seek candidates in any of the subdisciplines of Mechanical Engineering, with a particular focus on Robotics.

The department has internationally recognized strengths in additive and advanced manufacturing, including composite materials manufacturing, robotics, biomechanics and biomedical engineering sciences, physics-based machine learning and artificial intelligence modeling and controls, energy storage and electrification, renewable energy and thermal and fluid sciences. Successful candidates will be expected to develop a strong research program on the fundamentals of Robotics, with applications to one or many of the areas of impact for which Mechanical Engineering is well-known. Candidates whose research complements or expands these areas are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop an internationally recognized extramurally funded research program and to provide innovative, high-quality teaching. The candidate will also be expected to contribute to a learning environment that welcomes and values all lived experiences and points of view, collaborate with members of the department, as well as other researchers within the University and affiliated institutions, participate in the department’s teaching in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs, and contribute to the mentoring and training of students in the department’s graduate programs.

They will be expected to propose and implement new initiatives in the undergraduate curriculum, and graduate courses in their areas of expertise, as well as activities to involve students from all backgrounds in research. In addition, all University of Washington faculty are expected to engage in teaching, research, and service. The Mechanical Engineering department’s research and teaching portfolio covers all aspects in the broad field of mechanical engineering. The department currently has 45 tenured, tenure track, research and teaching faculty, over 800 undergraduates, 250 Master’s students, 160 PhD students and 30 postdoctoral researchers, and continues to grow.

More information about the ME department is available at http://www.me.washington.edu . The University of Washington, located in Seattle, Washington, the heart of the high-tech Pacific Northwest, is one of the world’s leading universities, ranking No. 12 in Best Global Universities in 2026 by U.S. News & World Report ( https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings ). The College of Engineering and the ME Department foster a highly collegial and collaborative culture. The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all.

Applicants for this position must meet the following minimum qualifications: A Ph.D. or foreign equivalent doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline by the date of appointment. Demonstrated potential for excellence in scholarly research and teaching. Ability to develop an internationally recognized research program and contribute effectively to undergraduate and graduate education.