Assistant Professor - Tenure Track - Mechanical System Design - AY 26/27

Cal Poly • San Luis, CA

15d • $106,000 - $117,000

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California (Cal Poly) is excited to invite applications for a full-time, academic year, tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank beginning Fall 2026. Cal Poly has a tradition of excellence in teaching and scholarship that supports a curriculum centered on a "Learn by Doing" philosophy and focused on preparing graduates to make a positive impact on their world day one. Cal Poly is committed to the teacher-scholar model. As teachers, faculty are expected to exhibit strong pedagogic skills and to remain proficient and current in their disciplines. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a variety of mechanical design and solid mechanics courses to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings. Additional responsibilities include advising students, participating in university service activities, and conducting applied research in mechanical engineering. Outcomes assessment and Learn by Doing are important components of Cal Poly’s curriculum. Specific assignments will depend on department and program needs. The successful candidate may have a specific background in areas such as design theory, mechanics or manufacturing, for example, and are expected to teach in the general areas of mechanics, mechanical design and/or design theory. As scholars, faculty should be engaged in scholarly work that is of very high quality as evidenced by external peer review. As colleagues, faculty are encouraged to perform service activities at all levels of the University. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Qualified candidates with industry experience are encouraged to apply. Anticipated hiring range: $106,000 – $117,000 per year. The College of Engineering at Cal Poly is committed to building a faculty of teacher-scholars who collaborate to provide a multi-disciplinary and hands-on approach to inclusive excellence in student learning and applied research. We believe that individuals from broad backgrounds strengthen our programs and positively impact student success. We encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for consideration. Cal Poly emphasizes Learn by Doing, which involves extensive lab work and projects in support of theoretical knowledge. As a premier comprehensive polytechnic university, Cal Poly is ranked as the best public master's university in the western U.S., while its Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program is also highly ranked. The program has a strong focus on undergraduate and master’s level education through a laboratory intensive, hands-on curriculum. Our tenured, tenure-track, and lecturer/adjunct faculty are dedicated engineers with a passion for teaching, innovative applied research, interacting with students, and advising student club activities. The department values teaching excellence and offers students small class sizes and hands-on activities throughout their undergraduate careers. In addition to nearly a dozen teaching laboratory spaces, our students’ education and extra-curricular activities are further enhanced by having direct access to state-of-the-art machine shop facilities where students transform their designs into working prototypes. Cal Poly and the College of Engineering support collaborative research opportunities for faculty. There are numerous opportunities to partner with faculty across campus to engage in impactful research. For more information about the department, please visit https://me.calpoly.edu/. The starting date for this position is September 2026. This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all. Cal Poly provides a range of benefits for our faculty which can be found at https://afd.calpoly.edu/hr/benefits/ . Cal Poly is family friendly, offering parental leave, educational fee waivers, childcare pre-tax benefits, and an on-campus children’s center ( https://www.asi.calpoly.edu/childrens-center/).

Requirements

• An earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering in the general area of mechanical system design or a closely related field from an accredited institution or international equivalent is required for appointment. Candidates nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) will be considered but must provide proof that the doctorate was awarded prior to or by the start of the appointment.
• demonstrate excellence in teaching, effective communication, and interpersonal skills
• must have the ability to work effectively with students, staff and faculty from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• must demonstrate the ability to develop an externally funded, applied research program that involves undergraduate and graduate students, and partnerships with key stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to hands-on, student-centered learning and teaching, as well as demonstrated ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings are required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong interests in undergraduate and graduate teaching are required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language is required.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred specializations include design communication, data-driven design decisions (big data), artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted collaborative design, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary activities in system engineering and mechanical or human-centered design.
• Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated excellence in university level teaching and research (commensurate with time since degree), experience with laboratory-based instruction, and/or industry experience.
• Experience working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment is preferred.
• Strong background in senior design project, mechanical engineering design, solid mechanics, design for strength & stiffness, and mechanical system design.
• Demonstrated active engagement in scholarship and professional development.
• Demonstrated excellence in university level teaching and research.
• Strong knowledge of industry design practices.
• Demonstrated sound working knowledge in modern design and analysis tools.
• Demonstrated excellence in laboratory-based, hands-on instruction.
• Willingness to teach in multiple areas of the undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering curriculum.

Responsibilities

• teach a variety of mechanical design and solid mechanics courses to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings
• advising students
• participating in university service activities
• conducting applied research in mechanical engineering
• teach in the general areas of mechanics, mechanical design and/or design theory
• teach machine element design, design for strength & stiffness, mechanical system design, senior project, upper-division technical electives, and master’s level courses related to the candidate's expertise

Benefits

• Cal Poly provides a range of benefits for our faculty which can be found at https://afd.calpoly.edu/hr/benefits/
• Cal Poly is family friendly, offering parental leave, educational fee waivers, childcare pre-tax benefits, and an on-campus children’s center ( https://www.asi.calpoly.edu/childrens-center/).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees