Assistant Teaching Professor

Penn State University • University Park, IL

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for two full-time, non-tenure-line, professional track teaching faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor. Successful candidates will teach in-person courses required in the undergraduate and graduate programs at the University Park campus, provide student academic advising, course and curricular design, and may support academic administration during both the academic year and the summer. They will also provide specific expertise to the department’s academic programs and sponsored research in areas of particular need. The mission of the Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering is to nurture and grow aerospace engineers capable of addressing the emerging needs of the aerospace industry, fostering thought leaders and technical innovators. The department aims to create an inclusive environment where faculty are top scholars and creative leaders, and students are steeped in a rigorous approach to tough problems. The department emphasizes supporting people and community, attracting faculty who want to work together in a collegial environment, providing instruction based on supporting the whole person, and valuing inclusivity. The community includes 6 teaching faculty, 20 tenure-line faculty, and numerous active emeritus faculty, research faculty, and collaborators. The undergraduate program enrollment is growing steadily, with the entering class of third-year students expected to reach over 300 in fall 2026. Research programs have also grown to above $10M/year, with critical needs in research expertise. The department seeks to grow its professional faculty to support this enrollment and research growth without losing the personal touch and hands-on experiences valued in the undergraduate program, while also addressing critical gaps in graduate instruction and research expertise. This is a term position; the length of the term will be discussed during the interview process, and continuation past the term length will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

Requirements

• Hold a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering or a closely related field by date of appointment
• Be qualified to teach one or more of the courses required by the undergraduate and graduate programs
• Support research in areas of expertise reflecting particular needs within the department
• For one position: demonstrated experience in research and undergraduate and graduate instruction in areas supporting Space Systems, including astronautics, orbital mechanics, space mission design and analysis, and space system design
• For the second position: demonstrated experience in research and undergraduate and graduate instruction in dynamics, control and vehicle autonomy for both aircraft and spacecraft, avionics, robotics, and advanced computing in aerospace including real-time control of robotics and aerospace vehicles, with experience in flight testing in indoor and outdoor facilities and in constructing aerospace prototype vehicles for flight test
• Demonstrate teaching excellence
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for interacting with and mentoring a diverse student population
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for contributing to all students' sense of belonging

Responsibilities

• Teach in-person courses required in the undergraduate and graduate programs at the University Park campus
• Provide student academic advising
• Provide course and curricular design
• Support academic administration (may)
• Provide specific expertise to both the department’s academic programs and sponsored research in areas of particular need
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for interacting with and mentoring a diverse student population
• Contribute to all students' sense of belonging

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package for full-time employees
• Comprehensive medical coverage
• Comprehensive dental coverage
• Comprehensive vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree