Mechanical Engineering

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

About the role

• Teach lecture- and lab-based courses in the undergraduate Mechanical Engineering curriculum in the Department of Physics and Engineering. Carry out engineering research involving undergraduate students and supervise senior capstone engineering design projects.

What you'll do

• Teach a full-time academic load of undergraduate courses in a combined engineering and physics department. Specific course assignments will be determined in collaboration with the department chair, but will be expected to primarily fall within upper-level mechanical engineering.
• Lead the design, procurement, and installation of advanced instrumentation, supported by available funding, to establish a laboratory space optimized for hands-on undergraduate engineering education and cutting-edge faculty research.
• Develop a research program with opportunities to involve undergraduate students.
• Form industry collaborations and partnerships, including organizing opportunities for student engineering design projects.
• Assist with ongoing reaccreditation through ABET in collaboration with the department. This is expected to include assisting with assessments and evaluations, writing portions of the self-study, and participation in the site visit.
• Contribute to an academic environment that seeks to advance inclusive excellence in the department and the discipline.

Qualifications

Skills

• Strong desire to teach mechanical engineering in a Christian liberal arts institution
• Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm for conducting high-quality research, with an expected track record commensurate with the candidate’s experience and career stage
• Capacity for integrating hands-on laboratory experiences and experimental learning opportunities into existing mechanical engineering courses and curricula
• Ability to mentor students in research and design projects
• Ability to collaborate with and contribute to interdisciplinary teaching and learning

Experience

• Required: Engineering research and/or design experience.
• Preferred: Demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching.
• Preferred: Experience with materials science/engineering materials

Education

• Required: hold a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Preferred: hold a Bachelor’s degree or significant undergraduate coursework in Mechanical Engineering

Compensation

• Salary and rank commensurate with qualifications and experience. We are open to hiring an Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor for this position. The range for an Assistant Professor is $56,015 - $70,567, Associate Professor is $65,538 - $84,798, and Full Professor is $77,843 - $95,621.

Position open:August 2027

Additional Responsibilities:

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments.  As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Other Duties: The essential functions, tasks and responsibilities of this position may change from time to time. Bethel University reserves the right to add or omit duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the University or its leadership. Additional tasks or duties required of the position, will be communicated to the incumbent with specificity to ensure the employee may perform their role with complete understanding. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed; it is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Remote Work and Sponsorship Restrictions:

Teaching must be done in person at our Arden Hills campus. The position is not open to remote employees. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. . 

Work Environment:

The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university in which all employees are expected to have a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of the University, and an agreement to abide by all University policies.

Benefits

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Learn about our commitment to diversity in hiring.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time