Assistant Professor, Untenured Associate Professor, or Tenured Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering

stanford•Palo Alto, CA

About The Position

Stanford University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor, untenured Associate Professor, or tenured Associate Professor level. Candidates from all areas of mechanical engineering are welcome, with interest in researchers who will strengthen the department’s education and research missions and advance modern mechanical analysis and design through fundamental and applied work in core areas such as mechanics and materials, thermo-fluids and energy, design and manufacturing, and dynamics, controls, and robotics. Evaluation will emphasize the originality, quality, and potential impact of scholarly contributions. The department has particular interest in innovative experimental methods, including photonics and other light-based sensing techniques, high-throughput and autonomous laboratory platforms, and AI methods for mechanical engineering design and analysis, especially reasoning- and agent-based systems. Candidates integrating AI with mathematical modeling, simulation, or experimentation in closed-loop scientific discovery workflows are especially encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate courses and mentor graduate students pursuing Ph.D. research. Applications should include a resume, combined research and teaching statements totaling 3–5 pages, and the names and email addresses of 3–5 references. References for current tenured faculty will be contacted only if the candidate is shortlisted; for other applicants, references will be contacted upon application submission. Applications will be accepted until January 4, 2027, with review beginning in late fall. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The expected base pay for the nine-month academic appointment is $144,100–$163,766 for an Assistant Professor, $158,510–$196,803 for an untenured Associate Professor, and $168,510–$206,803 for a tenured Associate Professor. These ranges do not include summer salary. Compensation is determined based on factors including experience and qualifications, departmental budget, internal equity, and external market pay. The department can provide further information about compensation and benefits, including housing assistance.

Requirements

Completed or be completing a Ph.D. in the advertised field or a closely related field.
Evidence of the ability to pursue a program of research.
Strong commitment to graduate and undergraduate teaching.
Submit a resume, research and teaching statements totaling 3–5 pages combined, and names and email addresses for 3–5 references.

Nice To Haves

Research in innovative experimental methods, including photonics or other light-based sensing techniques, high-throughput platforms, or autonomous laboratory platforms.
Research using AI methods for mechanical engineering design and analysis, particularly reasoning- and agent-based systems.
Integration of AI with mathematical modeling, simulation, or experimentation in closed-loop workflows for scientific discovery.
Research that advances mechanical analysis and design through fundamental and applied work in core mechanical engineering domains.