Assistant Professor of Practice

Mississippi State University • Starkville, MS

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University invites applications for one non-tenure track, nine-month faculty position. This role is under the administrative supervision of the head of the school. An Assistant Professor of Practice in ME is an engineer and a scholar with a strong interest in teaching, supervising undergraduate students, and providing service to the department. The successful candidate will be expected to make significant contributions to the department's teaching and service responsibilities. Mississippi State University is an R1 institution with very high research activity. The Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering is one of eight academic departments in the Bagley College of Engineering. The Mechanical Engineering School’s faculty research expenditure is approximately $15.2M annually for 20 tenure/tenure-track faculty. The Mechanical Engineering School offers an ABET-accredited undergraduate program in mechanical engineering, as well as graduate studies leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The Mechanical Engineering School has over 1,100 undergraduate and 110 graduate students and has the largest student enrollment within the Bagley College of Engineering and 2nd/3rd largest within Mississippi State University.

Requirements

• Masters’ or PHD in Mechanical Engineering, or related area OR its equivalent in professional achievement.
• A minimum of 3 years of industry, government, or applied research experience relevant to the teaching field.
• Demonstrated excellence in leadership, project management, and technical communication.
• In-depth knowledge of applied mechanical engineering, particularly in engineering design, prototyping, manufacturing processes, and industry best practices.
• Expertise in mechanical system design and proficiency in CAD modeling tools.
• Strong understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM) principles and both additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques.
• Familiarity with industry standards, including ASME and ISO.
• Experience with multidisciplinary, design-build-test projects, particularly those integrating hands-on, experiential learning environments.
• Solid foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals, with proven success in applied or industry-based engineering roles.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching, fostering student engagement, and contributing to workforce readiness through hands-on engineering education.

Nice To Haves

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills are a must.
• Proven ability to connect industry practice with academic instruction and student mentorship.
• Prior teaching or mentorship experience in higher education or professional training environments.
• Familiarity with accreditation standards (e.g., ABET) and outcomes-based education.
• Active professional licensure or certifications relevant to the field (e.g., PE, PMP, OSHA, Six Sigma, etc.).
• Ideal candidates will bring practical experience in one or more of the following areas: mechanical system design, CAD modeling, design for manufacturing (DFM), additive and subtractive manufacturing, engineering standards (e.g., ASME, ISO), and multidisciplinary design-build-test projects.
• The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals, demonstrated success in applied or industry-based engineering environments, and a commitment to teaching excellence and student engagement.

Responsibilities

• Teach a variety of undergraduate and/or graduate courses in Mechanical Engineering.
• Engage in routine departmental, college, and university service functions and committees, as requested.
• Advise undergraduate student design teams and organizations.
• Participate in required scholarly activities as part of the College's accreditation standards.
• Develop and deliver experiential learning opportunities and industry-aligned curricula.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff on workforce development, outreach, and industry engagement efforts.
• Contribute to grant writing, proposal development, and externally funded projects, particularly those tied to applied practice.
• Serve as a liaison between the university and industry/government partners to promote collaboration and innovation.
• Mentor students on professional development, internships, career readiness, and capstone or applied research projects.
• Engage in other related duties, as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level