Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor - Robotics & AI

Position Type:

Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor - Robotics & AI

Position Type:

Regular

Salary Range:

Hiring range is $116,846 - $129,756

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Purpose:

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Santa Clara University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor starting in the fall of 2027.  We seek candidates in the broad area of robotics with expertise in the areas of robot perception and sensor fusion, motion and task planning, resource-aware robotics, the design of safety-critical robotic systems, manufacturing and principled uses of AI in these and related fields. Expertise in every area is not required; however, candidates must demonstrate substantial expertise beyond a single area of specialization. This is a strategic growth area for ECE, and this position would complement the research and expertise of current ECE faculty as well as faculty in other related programs such as the M.S. in Robotics and Automation or the M.S. in AI. This position is also intended to strengthen connections with the Cunningham Shoquist Center for Applied AI and Human Potential. Candidates should have an articulated plan for engaging with a diverse academic environment and student body through teaching, research, service, and mentorship. Santa Clara University is committed to hiring faculty eager to promote the university’s values of inclusive excellence at the department and university levels. Our location in Silicon Valley offers unique and broad opportunities for industry collaboration, and candidates are encouraged to include potential collaboration plans with industry in their research statements, where applicable.

The department is especially interested in candidates with excellent research promise and demonstrated track record, with the ability to collaborate with faculty across multiple disciplines. The ideal candidate will have a commitment to teaching excellence at the undergraduate and graduate levels in areas related to traditional and emerging areas in electrical and computer engineering. This would include teaching lower division courses and being active in curriculum innovation and student engagement. Candidates are expected to contribute to graduate teaching and research mentorship in the M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Candidates should have academic, industrial, or equivalent research experience and should be able to articulate plans for future impactful research in their areas of interest. In addition to teaching and research contributions, Santa Clara University is committed to hiring faculty eager to promote the university’s values at the department and university levels.

The new assistant professor will join the SCU ECE faculty at a time of significant opportunity for research laboratory establishment and programmatic development. Forward-looking research will be supported in the School of Engineering facilities located in the state-of-the-art 270,000 square foot Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation, which houses engineering and science departments, research laboratories, teaching laboratories, and spaces facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, and involvement in humanitarian engineering.

Basic Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering or a closely related field by appointment start date.
• A demonstrated research track record or strong research potential in robotics, including high-quality journal publications.
• A commitment and demonstrated potential to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and to engage in curriculum development.
• A commitment to contribute to a diverse and inclusive academic culture.

Responsibilities

• Developing a productive, impactful research program, disseminating research through high-quality publications, attracting external funding, and engaging students in research.
• Teaching upper division undergraduate and graduate courses in areas of specialization, as well as lower division courses; developing curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate level.
• Service to the Department, School, University, and the profession.

Start Date: September 1, 2027

Position will remain open til filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants should submit

• A detailed current CV (including a publication list)
• A statement of research interests, future research directions, and research accomplishments;
• A statement of teaching interests, philosophy, and relevant experience
• Three professional references including their name and contact information

Additional Information About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University (https://www.scu.edu) is a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university, located in the heart of Silicon Valley and is California’s oldest operating institution of higher education. The University is also distinguished by a sustained high ranking by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) with regard to the gender balance of the tenure stream engineering faculty and the master’s graduates. The School of Engineering is committed to improving the human condition through engineering education, practice, and scholarship, promoting the University’s mission to ‘fashion a more humane, just and sustainable world’.

SCU maintains small class sizes and promotes close faculty/student interaction. The ECE Department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, with 15 full-time tenure stream faculty members, four fellows of the IEEE, and a strong pool of adjunct faculty who instruct about 240 undergraduate majors, and about 80 part-time and full-time graduate students. The School of Engineering maintains strong ties to local industry.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

​Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decisionmaking, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/. 

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.  Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at [email protected] or by phone at (408)554-5750. Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status, please contact [email protected].

Work Authorization:

A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for visa sponsorship assessment by Santa Clara University together with its legal counsel.