What are the responsibilities and job description for the Capstone Industry Liaison position at Virginia Tech?
Job Description
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking a person to serve as an instructor and industry liaison for the senior design capstone program in close collaboration with the department’s industry relations manager and capstone instructors. The successful candidate will pursue opportunities for industry and academia to collaborate via sponsored capstone projects. Responsibilities will include marketing the program (via industry trade shows, alumni events, etc), site visits to existing and prospective sponsors, statement of work development, outreach/lead generation, and ultimately securing capstone sponsorship agreements each year for the department. Additional responsibilities will include serving as the faculty advisor for approximately 5 capstone student teams each academic year, where the faculty advisor functions as the mentor/engineering manager/subject matter expert for the teams they advise.
Required Qualifications
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
75,000 - Commensurate with experience
Hours per week
40
Review Date
May 18, 2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Amanda Collins at mandamcg@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking a person to serve as an instructor and industry liaison for the senior design capstone program in close collaboration with the department’s industry relations manager and capstone instructors. The successful candidate will pursue opportunities for industry and academia to collaborate via sponsored capstone projects. Responsibilities will include marketing the program (via industry trade shows, alumni events, etc), site visits to existing and prospective sponsors, statement of work development, outreach/lead generation, and ultimately securing capstone sponsorship agreements each year for the department. Additional responsibilities will include serving as the faculty advisor for approximately 5 capstone student teams each academic year, where the faculty advisor functions as the mentor/engineering manager/subject matter expert for the teams they advise.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Work experience in industry (engineering or related field)
- Experience with business development such as lead generation, managing client communications, and cultivating industry partnerships in an engineering field
- Work history showing proficiency with common office computer programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) experience
- Evidence of a strong desire to teach students the practical aspects of engineering design
- Experience working effectively with faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds
- Industry design work experience
- Technical sales experience
- Experience managing others or leading a team of students
- Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
75,000 - Commensurate with experience
Hours per week
40
Review Date
May 18, 2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Amanda Collins at mandamcg@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.