Contract Professor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This position is not eligible for NEW sponsorship.

Position Information

Announcement Number

Announcement Number FAC - VA - 26032

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Working Title Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Brief Position Overview

The Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (M&IE) Department at Montana State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The primary responsibilities include teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses focused in mechanical engineering, developing a sustained, commendable, distinguished, and externally-funded research program, and participating in professional/service activities.

Faculty Tenure Track

Faculty Tenure Track Yes

Faculty Rank

Faculty Rank Assistant/Associate Professor

Position Number

Position Number 4A5308

Department

Division

Division College of Engineering

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Faculty

Contract Term

Contract Term Academic Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible

Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

Contract Type MUS

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

General Statement

The Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department at Montana State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor with primary responsibilities in teaching, scholarship, and service/outreach. The successful candidate will become an integral part of the program. Duties will include teaching courses focused in mechanical engineering, working on curriculum development, demonstrating excellence in scholarship, research, and participating in professional/service activities. Candidates for the rank of Assistant Professor must have an outstanding record of teaching, research, and service.
We seek individuals who work professionally and effectively with people from all backgrounds, possess strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, and contribute positively to the academic success of students and the mission of Montana State University.
Montana State University values all perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building a whole community, which includes people of many backgrounds. We hope to attract applicants who can teach in a University community and have demonstrated ability in helping students from all backgrounds to succeed.

Duties and Responsibilities

The new faculty member will be expected to:

• Contribute to excellence in both undergraduate and graduate teaching in the Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department.
• Develop a sustained, commendable, distinguished, and externally funded scholarly program in an appropriate focus area.
• Produce scholarly works and collaborate with MSU’s research centers and regional partners.

Other responsibilities include:

• Advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
• Participating in accreditation activities and committee assignments.
• Providing service to the University, State, and profession.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science Engineering, or a closely related field by start date.
• Record of quality peer-reviewed or other scholarly publications.
• Excellent potential for effective undergraduate and graduate teaching in M&IE.
• Excellent potential for developing a sustained, commendable, distinguished, and externally-funded scholarly program in an appropriate focus area.

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Academic and/or professional experience in aerospace engineering and supporting disciplines, to include aerospace dynamics & controls, aerospace structures/high-performance materials, advanced mechanics and AI/ML guidance.
• A research program that complements and expands current M&IE Department research programs and directions

The Successful Candidate Will

• Have a broad understanding of the topics found in mechanical engineering.
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Have the ability to mentor and inspire students from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Have the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, students, and the engineering industry.
• Have the potential to provide leadership and to assume responsibility for organizational and program activities.
• Have an appreciation for all constituencies and enhance the intellectual breadth of the department.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

Required Application Documents:

• Teaching Statement (max 2 pages)
• Research Statement (max 2 pages)

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

Work is predominantly performed in an office, classroom, and laboratory setting.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The Program

Founded in 1893 as a Land Grant University, Montana State University ( MSU ) is composed of eight academic colleges and a graduate school and boasts a friendly, supportive faculty and campus environment. Currently, the University hosts an enrollment of over 17,000 students, including around 2,000 graduate students. MSU is designated as a Carnegie Foundation R1 university for its research activity and is one of only two universities with an extremely high undergraduate enrollment profile to achieve this designation.
Bozeman is an extended community of about 75,000 nestled in the Rocky Mountains in southwest Montana. In addition to providing access to an extraordinary ecosystem for teaching and research programs, Bozeman is renowned for year-round recreational and cultural opportunities including access to world class ski areas, three blue-ribbon trout rivers and the Gallatin National Forest. The city boasts high quality medical facilities, a low crime rate, many fine restaurants, acclaimed public and private schools, a symphony orchestra and choir, an annual opera, and nationally known cultural and recreational events. The K-12 educational system, growing reputation of Montana State University, and pristine natural environment of the area combine to make Bozeman one of America’s most desirable university towns. The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is served by eight national airlines and is the busiest airport in the state.

The Department

The M&IE Department offers ABET accredited BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial & Management Systems Engineering, and Financial Engineering, serving over 1300 undergraduate and 75 graduate students. Graduate offerings include MS degrees in Industrial & Management Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial and Management Systems Engineering. The Department is strong in both traditional and emerging areas of each discipline, with substantial laboratory facilities supporting instructional and research missions. M&IE Department faculty actively collaborate in research across disciplines, to include collaborations with MSU’s Energy Research Institute, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Imaging and Chemical Analysis Laboratory, Magnetic Resonance Lab, Subzero Science and Engineering Research Facility, Montana Microfabrication Facility, Western Transportation Institute, Wind Application Center, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Thermal Biology Institute, and Center for Bio-Inspired Nano-Materials (Biomechanics, Mechanobiology).

The College

The College of Engineering comprises five academic departments – Chemical & Biological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Gianforte School of Computing, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, and is home to the Center for Biofilm Engineering ( CBE ), Western Transportation Institute ( WTI ), Montana Microfabrication Facility ( MMF ), Subzero Science and Engineering Research Facility, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center ( MMEC ), and Army and Air Force ROTC Units. The College enrolls approximately 3,400 students with more than 250 studying in graduate degree programs. Doctoral degree programs include a Ph.D. in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
With a wide array of research programs in progress, MSU engineering faculty and students have garnered an impressive number of awards. In recent years, MSU engineering students have been recognized with a number of prestigious awards, including two Rhodes Scholarships, a Marshall Fellowship, a Gates-Cambridge Fellowship, as well as four Goldwater scholarships and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. MSU is proud to have a strong track record of undergraduate excellence in research. Campus resources are available to encourage and facilitate undergraduate research opportunities.

Number of Vacancies

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date

Desired Start Date January 2027

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on September 28, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for NEW sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

FLSA Status

FLSA Status Exempt

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Teaching Statement
• Research Statement
• Resume OR Curriculum Vitae

Optional Documents

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).