Assistant Professor of the Practice (Advanced Rocketry Laboratory)

Prairie View A&M University•Prairie View, TX

About The Position

Prairie View A&M University seeks an Assistant Professor of Practice to lead and deliver an interdisciplinary, student-centered, design-build-test rocketry program anchored in the Advanced Rocketry Laboratory. A core expectation of the appointment is the ability to operate responsibly in controlled-technology environments, including practical experience with export compliance requirements such as ITAR/EAR and related controlled information frameworks. This position is funded by a grant or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of grant or restricted funding.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
Four years of industry experience.
Multiple years of experience leading student-driven rocketry laboratories or comparable hands-on engineering programs, including responsibility for lab operations, governance, safety culture, mentoring systems, and sustained design-build-test activities.
Multiple years of experience developing and delivering safety-critical, high-consequence instruction, curriculum, and training, demonstrated through formal teaching, technical training, or operational instruction in environments where procedural rigor and readiness standards are required.
Multiple years of experience in export compliance and controlled environments, including demonstrated working knowledge of ITAR/EAR and/or related controlled information frameworks, and experience implementing practical training, documentation, and access control practices.
Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver curriculum and hands-on learning experiences, including course/module development, lab-integrated instruction, and assessment methods aligned with workforce preparation.
Proven ability to design, commission, and stand up laboratory and test operations using disciplined processes, including development of procedures, readiness reviews, training qualifications, documentation systems, and continuous improvement practices.
Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder coordination skills, with experience partnering effectively across technical teams and institutional functions (for example: departments, facilities, EHS, compliance, operations, and external partners).
Evidence of effective mentoring and workforce preparation outcomes, including coaching students or early-career engineers through applied projects, reviews, test campaigns, and professional development.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
Experience with static fire testing, propulsion instrumentation, cryogenic or high-pressure systems, composites, and laboratory safety governance.
Experience commissioning engineering laboratories or test facilities, including procedure development and readiness reviews.
Several years of professional experience spanning multiple sectors (industry, government, and academia), demonstrating the ability to operate across the full aerospace ecosystem and interface effectively with varied partners, regulators, sponsors, and technical stakeholders.
Working knowledge of industry quality and risk management standards such as ISO 9000, AS 9100, ISO 31000, etc.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for an interdisciplinary, student-run rocketry program, including governance structures, mentorship models, and peer-teaching frameworks that scale.
Build and sustain a laboratory culture emphasizing safety, documentation, accountability and professional conduct.
Lead readiness for major lab milestones (test campaigns, design reviews, readiness reviews, learning reviews, etc.).
Implement and maintain laboratory export-control practices aligned to ITAR and EAR.
Partner with university compliance, safety, and research security administrative offices to ensure auditable, instruction-compatible compliant workflows.
Establish practical training, documentation, and access control practices that enable student learning while protecting controlled information.
Lead the technical design and instructional layout of the Advanced Rocketry Laboratory.
Collaborate with faculty, Facilities, EHS, and Space Services to translate instructional requirements into buildable lab layouts and commissioning plans.
Identify infrastructure requirements including power, networking, ventilation/exhaust, high-pressure systems, fire protection and emergency shutoffs, hazardous storage and access controls, and test area governance (blast, debris, and noise).
Develop lab readiness documentation, including standard operating procedures, hazard analyses, training plans, and test conduct packages.
Integrate quality, risk, and configuration management concepts into lab instruction and course materials, reflecting common aerospace practice.
Develop and deliver hands-on instruction for advanced rocketry laboratories and associated lecture courses, with an emphasis on student-centered learning and applied training.
Demonstrate the ability to teach complex technical content in high-consequence environments where rigor, verification, and procedural compliance are essential.
Collaborate with faculty, and industry representatives to develop and refine rocketry-focused curriculum, including undergraduate, graduate, and interdisciplinary offerings and related content.
Create and continuously improve lab-integrated courses, modules, and syllabi aligned with current industry standards, safety protocols, and accreditation expectations.
Integrate lab experiences into department coursework through co-development with faculty.
Train faculty and staff on laboratory operations, safety protocols, export-control-aware instructional practices, and test execution workflows.
Serve as a technical resource supporting applied propulsion and launch systems instruction across programs.
Mentor undergraduate and graduate students engaged in rocketry coursework, laboratories, and design projects.
Advise student teams on propulsion system design, test planning, data analysis, and readiness reviews.
Prepare students for careers in propulsion, launch systems, test engineering, and advanced manufacturing through applied, project-based learning.
Support implementation milestones, reporting, and deliverables associated with the Space Innovation and Student Success Initiative.
Contribute to sustainability and continuous improvement of the Advanced Rocketry Laboratory.
Support external engagement and industry-informed practices related to propulsion and launch systems.