Assistant Professor of Aerospace Science

Department

Aviation & Aerospace Science

About MSU Denver

MSU Denver enrolls over 16,000 students, where nearly 60% are first generation and over 55% are students of color. Located in downtown Denver, we are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado. As the third largest institution of higher education in Colorado and the only institution with an open access mission, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students. The University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. MSU Denver is particularly interested in applicants who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented and historically minoritized groups. 

About the Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science
MSU Denver’s Aviation and Aerospace Science Department has reimagined possibilities by evolving into one of the largest and most sophisticated programs in the country. Our students have access to unrivaled resources no other university in Colorado can offer; such as the most innovative flight simulation training laboratories in the world, an on-campus satellite engineering lab and partnerships with the industry that grants students access to the same advanced technology and software used at NASA. For more information on the department, please visit: https://www.msudenver.edu/aviation-aerospace/ 

Position Summary

The Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science at MSU Denver invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position centering on excellence in teaching, advising, scholarship, and service.

This position is offered at the academic rank of assistant professor. The position is a 9-month appointment beginning August 2026. The required teaching load is 12-credit hours per fall / spring semesters in undergraduate-level coursework.

• This position is focused on teaching, mentoring, and leading student-centered efforts in scholarship focused within one or more of the following prioritized teaching areas:
• (a) space operations,
• (b) space flight,
• (c) space systems integration,
• (d) space commercialization,
• (e) space cyber-security,
• (f) space-based geo-spatial analysis,
• and in applying associated technologies as related to each domain.
• Other subject areas common to both aeronautics as well as aerospace may be required as part of the 12-credit hour teaching load per semester (e.g., aerodynamics; aviation and aerospace history).

The successful candidate will teach across multiple delivery formats including in-person, hybrid, and asynchronous modalities. Options may exist for the successful candidate to continue teaching in summer sessions depending on department needs and student demand. This position enables opportunities to teach on campus and/or online delivery, and to budget flextime for working partially remotely (with prior approval).

The role also requires advising students during 5 scheduled office hours per week plus with additional student meetings as needed in areas such as academic planning, graduate school preparation, and career exploration. Advising and meeting with students specifically enrolled in each assigned class is also expected and may fall outside of general scheduled office advising hours.

Additional responsibilities include active service to the department, college, university, and broader community; engagement in scholarly activities that contribute to both academic and professional communities; and cultivating partnerships within helping professions at local, regional, and national levels.

Duties/Responsibilities

This position is responsible for the duties outlined below:

• Teaching 12-credit hours per fall / spring semesters in multiple delivery formats (in-person, hybrid, online).
• Maintaining office hours as required to include advising/consultation with students and engaging in student-centered activities outside of scheduled office hours.
• Serve as a resource for students regarding program policies, licensure, and certificate pathways (if applicable), career pathways, and academic progression.
• Assist with student recruitment, admissions interviews, and orientation events.
• Contribute to ongoing curriculum design, development, and revision.
• Maintain current, evidence-based content and culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Participate in assessment of student learning outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Contribute to departmental, university, and professional service through committee work.
• Engage in ongoing research, scholarship, and professional writing that advance the field and align with the mission of the department.
• Stay informed on national trends, policy changes, and best practices in aviation and aerospace science.
• Maintain licensure or certification as might be applicable (e.g., relevant FAA licensure, industry certifications.
• Providing documented service to the Department, College, University and Community as per published department and university guidelines.
• The successful candidate must also work with and be sensitive to the educational needs of a highly varied urban population.
• The successful candidate will also be expected to collaborate with faculty, researchers, students, and industry members from other domains, such as but not limited to (e.g.) computer science, engineering, physics, cyber-security, advanced manufacturing, and industrial design.

Required Qualifications

• A nationally accredited master’s degree in aerospace sciences, aeronautical sciences, engineering technology, computer science or other related degree,
• Plus 4 years (or more) of related aviation and or aerospace technology work experience. (Note: an MS or MA in the areas defined above is a terminal degree for this tenure track position).

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (Ph.D.) in a related field strongly desired.
• Prior teaching experience teaching at a U.S. nationally accredited collegiate institution in classes related to aviation, aerospace, engineering, or computational science, or other related fields.
• Experience with space mission architecture, inclusive of aerospace systems engineering, spacecraft design and subsystem development, launch processes, ground station and mission operations, and/or space system automation.
• Experience with industry tools for mission simulation (e.g., ANSYS STK), systems programming and computation, system design, and data analysis.
• An advanced and/or applied understanding of orbital mechanics along with the space environment and its impact on crewed and uncrewed systems.
• Knowledge of historical spaceflight systems and future industry trends, inclusive of system automation, modular architectures, artificial intelligence integration, and/or aerospace workforce development.
• Experience applying or teaching with technologies such as cube-sat, sat-simulators, flat-sats, space mission operations simulations, space-based remote sensing, project management tools, and other related instructional technologies.
• Documented experience instructing collegiate classes in-person or online via Web-based delivery.
• Documented research or publishing experience grounded in employing the scientific method.
• The University is particularly interested in applicants who have experience working with students from highly varied backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented groups.

Salary for Announcement

The salary range for this position is $84,000 - $94,000 at Assistant Professor rank. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, education, experience, specialty, and training.

MSU Denver offers excellent benefits that include medical, dental, retirement, tuition benefit, free RTD pass, and more. For a brief overview of these options, visit our Benefits section below.

Instructions to Apply

Complete applications received by Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:59 PM MST will receive full consideration, but applications will be accepted after this date until the position is filled. Candidates must apply online through MSU Denver’s career site, https://www.msudenver.edu/careers.

Complete applications will include the following required materials:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Philosophy
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• Unofficial Graduate College Transcripts
• References
• Optional documents include (1) Peer/Student Evaluations and (2) Licenses/Certifications.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting Representative

Elizabeth Wellington

Posting Representative Email

[email protected]

Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.   

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at[email protected].

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.