Entrylevel Artificial Intelligence Engineer Jobs in California

Position Title:
Assistant Teaching Professor of Artificial Intelligence
Position Type:
Fixed Term (Fixed Term)
Salary Range:
$104,375 - $116,021 per year
Purpose:
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering at Santa Clara University seeks applications for a full-time Assistant Teaching Professor (full-time, non-tenure track position with subsequent renewable three-year contracts) beginning in Fall 2026.
Santa Clara University and the School of Engineering have a long tradition of teaching excellence. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and related fields. The successful applicant is expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and by the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence (AI) program.
The position duties include teaching/advising (70%), service (15%), and professional development activity (15%). The expected teaching load is seven undergraduate and/or graduate courses over three academic quarters (Fall, Winter, and Spring). Assistant Teaching Professors are initially appointed for a three-year term. Reappointment to subsequent three-year terms depends on the availability of funds, the persistence of programmatic need, and evidence of superior teaching, service, and professional activity. Promotion to Associate Teaching Professor and then to Teaching Professor is possible under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Responsibilities of Assistant Teaching Professors:
Faculty responsibilities are specified by the Santa Clara University Faculty Handbook (sec. 3.6) and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Teaching and Advising (70%)
1. Teach a 7-course load equivalent per academic year.
2. Fulfill all responsibilities associated with assigned courses, including:

• Conducting and appearing at all assigned class meetings in a timely and prepared manner that demonstrates a command of the discipline and skill in presenting the concepts and methods effectively;
• Assigning and evaluating student work, projects, and exams that align with course or core learning objectives and providing timely feedback to students;
• Assigning and submitting student grades that are appropriate, accurate, and fair measures of student performance to the Office of the Registrar by the designated deadline;
• Providing weekly on-campus office hours for consultation outside of class;
• Being responsive to student concerns in a timely manner;
• Conducting and submitting course assessments as required by the School;

3. Develop or update courses that contribute to curriculum development in the Artificial Intelligence program.
4. Participate in the assessment of student learning for courses offered.
5. Provide advice and mentoring to students, as assigned by the Department Chair and Program Director of MS in AI.
6. Coordinate and supervise MS AI Practicum projects.
7. Fulfill other instructional or academic duties as may be assigned by the Dean, the Department Chair, or Program Director.
8. Demonstrate evidence of continuous improvement as an instructor.
Service (15%)
Assistant Teaching Professors are expected to also provide suitable service to the Department, University, profession, and/or community. The service expected of non-tenure-track faculty will be commensurate with their expertise and experience, which is expected to grow over time.
Service is work other than teaching and professional activity that fosters and advances the missions and goals of the department, the college or school, or the university. It may include peer observation performed for annual review, serving on committees, participating in professional organizations and activities, or providing support for department and campus events. It may also include service to the profession, such as participation on committees of a professional organization, and service to the community performed in virtue of a faculty member's professional expertise or association with the university.
Professional Activities (15%)
Professional activity for non-tenure track faculty on the Teaching Professor track refers to scholarly or creative work, professional practice, or other active engagement in a discipline or field that enables a faculty member to remain current in that area and vital as a teacher. Examples of professional activity include attending or presenting at conferences, publishing works that contribute to scholarship or pedagogy in the field, and practicing in a professional field. Faculty in the Teaching Professor ranks shall not be held to the same standards of scholarship as tenure-track faculty.
Required Qualifications:
The following is required of all candidates:

• A Master's degree or higher in computer science, computer engineering, informatics, or in a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability or potential for excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in artificial intelligence.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in computer science or in a closely related field.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness.
• Experience with innovative pedagogy (e.g., project-based learning, experiential learning, or industry collaboration).
• Familiarity with industry practices in machine learning, data mining, and artificial intelligence.

Application Procedure:
Interested applicants should fill out an application via the SCU hiring portal (at https://jobs.scu.edu/) and submit the following documents:

• Cover Letter of Application
• Teaching Statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Graduate transcripts (unofficial, with official due upon time of hire)
• Names of three persons able to produce letters of recommendation upon request
• Evidence of teaching excellence (small portfolio of sample syllabi, faculty evaluations, and/or three-year student teaching evaluations from most recent positions)

Search Timeline:
Complete application packets received by June 1, 2026 will receive full consideration. However, the position will remain open until filled.
Additional Information:
Please note that your employment is subject to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 ("Local 1021"; see https://www.scu.edu/provost/faculty-affairs/cba-ntt/).
Telecommute
Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.
EEO Statement
Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination
Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decisionmaking, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/.
Clery Notice of Availability
Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at hraccommodations@scu.edu or by phone at (408)554-5750. Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status, please contact hrservicedesk@scu.edu.
Work Authorization:
SCU does not sponsor any applicants for work visas for this position. The successful candidate must be able to provide evidence of identity and legal authorization to work in the United States.