What are the responsibilities and job description for the Open Rank Faculty - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering position at Inside Higher Ed?
Posting Number
F2581P
Working Title
Open Rank Faculty - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Department
ENGR-Env Civil Agr & Mech
About The University Of Georgia
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
About The College/Unit/Department
The College of Engineering already has significant expertise in basic and translational research that supports programs in intelligent manufacturing engineering, robotics and automation, and future mobility. Faculty with expertise in artificial intelligence for manufacturing, digital twins, advanced automation, controls, intelligent machines, robotic systems, systems engineering and intelligent design, lightweight materials, autonomous vehicles, environmental sustainability, cybersecurity, human-machine interactions, and computational mechanics with AI are found in all four Schools within the college. Expertise within the College is supported by an extensive network across campus in business, policy, law, and outreach.
The state of Georgia offers a unique environment for innovation and impact, with an extensive multi-modal transportation network that includes the busiest airport in the world – Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport – an expanding port in Savannah, and a robust interstate highway system that is a hub of the region. Examples of recent economic development successes in manufacturing include companies such as, SK Battery America, Hyundai Motor Group, Rivian Automotive, Ascend Elements, and Archer Aerospace. In addition, Georgia is currently home to over 7,900 manufacturing companies employing over 475,000 workers in a wide range of industries, including a large aerospace industry. Georgia is also the home of over $31 billion dollars in investments in electric mobility over the last 8 years, and growing. The University of Georgia is strategically positioned to take advantage of opportunities in smart manufacturing, robotics and automation, systems engineering, aerospace, and e-mobility research and innovation due to its comprehensive nature and its extensive network across the state.
College/Unit/Department Website
engr.uga.edu/schools/ecam
Posting Type
External
Retirement Plan
TRS or ORP
Employment Type
Employee
Benefits Eligibility
Benefits Eligible
Anticipated Start Date
08/01/2026
Job Posting Date
11/21/2025
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions To Applicants
Applicants are asked to submit the following information along with their application:
Selected applicants will be required to submit transcripts and a background investigation demonstrating eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia.
Location of Vacancy:
Athens Area
EEO Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Classification Title
Open Rank
Faculty Rank
Open Rank
Contract Type
Academic (9 mo.)
Tenure Status
Tenure Track or Tenured
Minimum Qualifications
All candidates must have a Ph.D. in engineering, computer science, or a related discipline.
Position Summary
The College of Engineering at the University of Georgia invites applications for multiple positions with expertise in the areas of mechanical, aerospace, and manufacturing engineering. The College seeks qualified applicants to fill multiple open rank, 9-month tenured or tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. These positions will start on August 1, 2026, and will be academic-year appointments (9 months) with an opportunity to supplement salary during the summer.
Successful candidates are expected to develop strong research programs in the areas of artificial intelligence for manufacturing, advanced automation and controls, robotic systems, systems engineering, intelligent design, electric mobility, and computational fluid dynamics. These positions will be housed in the College of Engineering’s School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering (ECAM) and supervised by the ECAM School Chair. We seek innovative, inspirational scholars committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service.
The ideal candidate is expected to work collaboratively with existing faculty at the University of Georgia, including faculty in cross-cutting units such as the new Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture, the Advance Manufacturing Living Lab, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the Georgia Network for Electric Mobility, the University of Georgia Research Institute, among others. Applicants with strong background developing industry collaborations are encouraged to apply.
The new faculty member will be expected to develop a vigorous, high-impact, externally funded research program; work closely with other members recently hired to these research clusters and existing faculty; effectively mentor graduate students and postdoctoral scientists; and effectively support our teaching mission at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Faculty hired as part of this initiative will join a rapidly growing College of Engineering that combines interdisciplinary research and scholarship with excellent instruction and service. The UGA College of Engineering currently enrolls over 3,000 engineering majors and has 121 full-time engineering faculty across 15 degree programs. The college also jointly administers the School of Computing in collaboration with the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, an academic unit that comprises over 1800 computer science majors and 45 full-time faculty. The College of Engineering is comprised for four interdisciplinary schools: the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering; and School of Computing.
Significant investments in infrastructure have resulted in an expansion of laboratory facilities for research and scholarship and new classrooms and instructional labs. College of Engineering faculty have space in two major capital projects on campus to create interdisciplinary research facilities. Our main instructional facility, Driftmier Engineering Center, has also undergone a complete renovation to create flexible classrooms that enable a range of teaching modalities and the incorporation of interdisciplinary instructional labs. The common instructional facilities also foster collaboration by allowing faculty, staff, and students to interact and collaborate in a single facility.
Additional Requirements
Candidates considered for the associate professor rank must have qualifications and academic credentials commensurate with the promotion and tenure guidelines at the University of Georgia. For information about the requirements for each faculty rank, please see the UGA Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure.
To be eligible for tenure upon appointment, candidates must be appointed as an associate professor, have been tenured at a prior institution, and bring a demonstrable national reputation to the institution. Candidates must be approved for tenure upon appointment before hire.
Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, And/or Certification
A demonstrated record of research and scholarly achievement appropriate to rank (evidenced by peer-reviewed publications).
Is this a Position of Trust?:
No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?:
No
Does this position require a P-Card? :
No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :
No
Is driving a responsibility of this position?:
No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:
No
Does This Position Have Security Access (e.g., Public Safety, IT Security, Personnel Records, Patient Records, Or Access To Chemicals And Medications)
No
Credit And P-Card Policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.
F2581P
Working Title
Open Rank Faculty - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Department
ENGR-Env Civil Agr & Mech
About The University Of Georgia
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
About The College/Unit/Department
The College of Engineering already has significant expertise in basic and translational research that supports programs in intelligent manufacturing engineering, robotics and automation, and future mobility. Faculty with expertise in artificial intelligence for manufacturing, digital twins, advanced automation, controls, intelligent machines, robotic systems, systems engineering and intelligent design, lightweight materials, autonomous vehicles, environmental sustainability, cybersecurity, human-machine interactions, and computational mechanics with AI are found in all four Schools within the college. Expertise within the College is supported by an extensive network across campus in business, policy, law, and outreach.
The state of Georgia offers a unique environment for innovation and impact, with an extensive multi-modal transportation network that includes the busiest airport in the world – Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport – an expanding port in Savannah, and a robust interstate highway system that is a hub of the region. Examples of recent economic development successes in manufacturing include companies such as, SK Battery America, Hyundai Motor Group, Rivian Automotive, Ascend Elements, and Archer Aerospace. In addition, Georgia is currently home to over 7,900 manufacturing companies employing over 475,000 workers in a wide range of industries, including a large aerospace industry. Georgia is also the home of over $31 billion dollars in investments in electric mobility over the last 8 years, and growing. The University of Georgia is strategically positioned to take advantage of opportunities in smart manufacturing, robotics and automation, systems engineering, aerospace, and e-mobility research and innovation due to its comprehensive nature and its extensive network across the state.
College/Unit/Department Website
engr.uga.edu/schools/ecam
Posting Type
External
Retirement Plan
TRS or ORP
Employment Type
Employee
Benefits Eligibility
Benefits Eligible
Anticipated Start Date
08/01/2026
Job Posting Date
11/21/2025
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions To Applicants
Applicants are asked to submit the following information along with their application:
- A detailed curriculum vita.
- A cover letter (not to exceed one page) addressing the candidate’s experience relative to the responsibilities of the position.
- A teaching statement not to exceed 2 pages.
- A research statement not to exceed 2 pages.
- The names, titles, and contact information for three professional references.
Selected applicants will be required to submit transcripts and a background investigation demonstrating eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia.
Location of Vacancy:
Athens Area
EEO Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Classification Title
Open Rank
Faculty Rank
Open Rank
Contract Type
Academic (9 mo.)
Tenure Status
Tenure Track or Tenured
Minimum Qualifications
All candidates must have a Ph.D. in engineering, computer science, or a related discipline.
Position Summary
The College of Engineering at the University of Georgia invites applications for multiple positions with expertise in the areas of mechanical, aerospace, and manufacturing engineering. The College seeks qualified applicants to fill multiple open rank, 9-month tenured or tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. These positions will start on August 1, 2026, and will be academic-year appointments (9 months) with an opportunity to supplement salary during the summer.
Successful candidates are expected to develop strong research programs in the areas of artificial intelligence for manufacturing, advanced automation and controls, robotic systems, systems engineering, intelligent design, electric mobility, and computational fluid dynamics. These positions will be housed in the College of Engineering’s School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering (ECAM) and supervised by the ECAM School Chair. We seek innovative, inspirational scholars committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service.
The ideal candidate is expected to work collaboratively with existing faculty at the University of Georgia, including faculty in cross-cutting units such as the new Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture, the Advance Manufacturing Living Lab, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the Georgia Network for Electric Mobility, the University of Georgia Research Institute, among others. Applicants with strong background developing industry collaborations are encouraged to apply.
The new faculty member will be expected to develop a vigorous, high-impact, externally funded research program; work closely with other members recently hired to these research clusters and existing faculty; effectively mentor graduate students and postdoctoral scientists; and effectively support our teaching mission at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Faculty hired as part of this initiative will join a rapidly growing College of Engineering that combines interdisciplinary research and scholarship with excellent instruction and service. The UGA College of Engineering currently enrolls over 3,000 engineering majors and has 121 full-time engineering faculty across 15 degree programs. The college also jointly administers the School of Computing in collaboration with the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, an academic unit that comprises over 1800 computer science majors and 45 full-time faculty. The College of Engineering is comprised for four interdisciplinary schools: the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering; and School of Computing.
Significant investments in infrastructure have resulted in an expansion of laboratory facilities for research and scholarship and new classrooms and instructional labs. College of Engineering faculty have space in two major capital projects on campus to create interdisciplinary research facilities. Our main instructional facility, Driftmier Engineering Center, has also undergone a complete renovation to create flexible classrooms that enable a range of teaching modalities and the incorporation of interdisciplinary instructional labs. The common instructional facilities also foster collaboration by allowing faculty, staff, and students to interact and collaborate in a single facility.
Additional Requirements
Candidates considered for the associate professor rank must have qualifications and academic credentials commensurate with the promotion and tenure guidelines at the University of Georgia. For information about the requirements for each faculty rank, please see the UGA Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure.
To be eligible for tenure upon appointment, candidates must be appointed as an associate professor, have been tenured at a prior institution, and bring a demonstrable national reputation to the institution. Candidates must be approved for tenure upon appointment before hire.
Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, And/or Certification
A demonstrated record of research and scholarly achievement appropriate to rank (evidenced by peer-reviewed publications).
Is this a Position of Trust?:
No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?:
No
Does this position require a P-Card? :
No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :
No
Is driving a responsibility of this position?:
No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:
No
Does This Position Have Security Access (e.g., Public Safety, IT Security, Personnel Records, Patient Records, Or Access To Chemicals And Medications)
No
Credit And P-Card Policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.