Aerospace Engineering Assistant or Associate Professor
Utah State University
Aerospace Engineering Assistant or Associate Professor
Utah State University
Land-grant university in Logan, UT
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (http://www.mae.usu.edu/) at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for two tenure-track faculty positions in aerospace engineering with an emphasis in high-speed aerodynamics and hypersonic flows, propulsion, system identification, guidance, navigation, and control, uncertainty quantification, or multi-agent systems in the context of aerospace applications.
One of the positions is broadly targeted towards candidates with research and teaching interests supporting aerospace engineering research in propulsion (rocket, jet, low thrust, etc), high-speed fluid dynamics, flight dynamics, or other related areas. Computational or experimental researchers are both sought.
Research of one of the candidates will support the growing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and related Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) fields. Specific areas of interest with regards to AAM and UAS include: the design, development, modeling, and flight testing of AAM concepts for fix-wing and rotor eVTOL, sUAS, among others; application of system identification and control to AAM; unmanned traffic management (UTM) systems; propulsion for AAM systems; multi-agent systems, swarming, and autonomy.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field. Candidates will be considered at either the assistant or associate professor level. This is an academic-year position (funded for 9-months) with an anticipated start date of Spring 2027 or negotiable. The successful applicant is expected to establish a vibrant research program supported by external and federal funding, develop partnerships that complement the existing capabilities at USU, and expand MAE departmental expertise in aerospace systems.
Teaching responsibilities may be in the areas of fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, aerospace controls/state estimation/system identification, flight dynamics and simulation, or numerical methods. Additional topic courses in aerospace engineering may be developed to suit candidate expertise.
Competitive candidates will be expected to:
Assistant Professor:
Associate Professor:
Along with the online application, please include:
**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not necessarily occasional temperature changes.
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/
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
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.
Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination 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 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
435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D
1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322
Cody Carmichael
Title IX Coordinator
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
Land-grant university in Logan, UT
Utah State University is a public land-grant and space-grant research university headquartered in Logan, Utah. It provides education, research, and public engagement through its main campus and a statewide network of locations.
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