Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor of Practice

Overview

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) (http://www.mae.usu.edu/) at Utah State University invites applications for three Professor of Practice positions to lead the development and delivery of an innovative, multi-course CORE Design and Problem Solving Experience within the undergraduate Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering curricula. At least one position will be filled by a candidate with a systems engineering background and will contribute to teaching coursework in support of a professional master’s degree in systems engineering. 

These positions offer a unique opportunity to help create a transformative educational experience that bridges classroom learning and professional engineering practice. The successful candidates will collaborate with faculty, industry partners, and students to develop a hands-on, experiential learning sequence that immerses students in authentic engineering challenges during their second and third years of study.

The CORE Design and Problem Solving Experience is intended to cultivate engineers who can confidently tackle ambiguous, open-ended problems by integrating independently acquired knowledge, sound engineering judgment, technical communication, and iterative design processes. Students will learn through doing, testing, failing, refining, and ultimately succeeding in environments that mirror real-world engineering practice.

The CORE Design and Problem Solving Experience will serve as the centerpiece of the undergraduate experience in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Through a sequence of integrated courses and projects, students will develop competencies in:

• Engineering design and systems thinking
• Structured problem solving
• Requirements development and management
• Research and development processes
• Risk assessment and decision making
• Identifying and applying appropriate engineering analysis
• Design for manufacturability, reliability, sustainability, cost, safety, and other Design-for-X principles
• Prototyping, testing, validation, and verification
• Documentation and technical reporting
• Communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Teamwork and project execution
• Learning independently and applying newly acquired knowledge
• Iterative design, resilience, and learning from failure

These are expected to be full-time, non-tenure-track Professor of Practice appointments. Rank and appointment details will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Responsibilities

Successful candidates will play a central leadership role in establishing and continuously improving this program. Responsibilities include:

Curriculum Development and Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the CORE Design and Problem Solving Experience.
• Develop project-based and experiential learning activities that integrate engineering science with professional engineering practice.
• Establish learning outcomes, assessment strategies, and course materials for a multi-course sequence.
• Collaborate with department faculty to ensure alignment with program objectives and accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate annual review and revision processes to keep the curriculum relevant to evolving industry needs.

Teaching and Mentorship

• Teach courses within the CORE Design and Problem Solving Experience and other courses as assigned by the department head.
• Mentor students through complex, open-ended engineering projects.
• Foster a learning environment where experimentation, iteration, and productive failure are valued as essential elements of engineering practice.
• Guide students in professional skills development, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and project management.

Assessment and Continuous Improvement

• Lead assessment efforts related to student learning and program effectiveness.
• Collect and analyze evidence of student achievement and skill development.
• Support departmental accreditation and continuous improvement activities.
• Develop metrics and assessment frameworks that measure growth in engineering judgment, design capability, and problem-solving proficiency.

Student Engagement and Co-Curricular Activities

• Serve as faculty advisor or co-advisor for engineering student organizations and competition teams.
• Support student participation in regional, national, and international engineering competitions.
• Help build a culture of hands-on learning, innovation, and professional engagement throughout the department.

Industry and External Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with industry partners to ensure program relevance.
• Seek opportunities for industry-sponsored projects, mentorship, and experiential learning activities.
• Facilitate interactions between students and practicing engineers.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Significant professional experience in engineering practice, product development, systems engineering, research and development, manufacturing, aerospace, or a related technical field.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex engineering problems and lead technical projects.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to student-centered learning and experiential education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching engineering courses at the university level.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience with systems engineering. 
• Experience with engineering design processes across the full product lifecycle.
• Familiarity with outcomes-based assessment and continuous improvement practices.
• Experience advising student organizations, project teams, or engineering competitions.
• Established connections with industry, government laboratories, or research organizations.
• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Education, or a related discipline.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please include:

Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

Cover Letter describing your qualifications for the position and our vision of the role to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Statement of teaching philosophy emphasizing experiential and project-based learning to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Description of relevant engineering practice and leadership experience to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Contact information for 3 professional references to be typed at the beginning of the application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not necessarily occasional temperature changes.  

College/Department Highlights

The MAE department has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with enrollments of approximately 800 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, and is the largest department in the College of Engineering. The department offers a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering; MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Composite Materials & Structures, and Space Systems Engineering; and PhD degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. The department currently has 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 4 professors of practice, with additional part-time instructors from local industry and research institutions. Annual department research expenditures are approximately $3M. Successful applicants may have opportunities to work closely with scientists and engineers from the USU Research Foundation Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), one of 14 Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC). Further, USU faculty also have access to the University of Utah Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC) facilities and the Utah Water Research Laboratory. USU is the nearest PhD-granting institution in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering to the Idaho National Laboratory, and is also in close proximity to Hill Air Force Base and other defense-related organizations.The College of Engineering at Utah State University is a regional leader in teaching and research. The college currently has 95 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, with additional professors of practice and part-time instructors from local industry and research institutions. We are home to the world-famous Utah Water Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation-funded ASPIRE Engineering Research Center for sustainable electrified transportation. Each year, our college welcomes an average of 2,000 undergraduate and 300 graduate students from around the globe. The college offers five ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees and 15 graduate degree programs. In 2023-24, the college generated $40 million in research expenditures. Our award-winning faculty regularly secure competitive funding, and our students excel at national design and scholarships challenges. USU is in close proximity to the Idaho National Laboratory, Hill Air Force Base, and other energy- and defense-related organizations. For more information, please visit: https://engineering.usu.edu/

University Highlights

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when it named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at 435-797-0122 or [email protected].

*updated 10/26

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

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In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

*updated 10/2025