Geotechnical Engineering Faculty Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Assistant Professor
Fall 2027

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenuretrack Assistant Professor position in Geotechnical Engineering with an appointment to begin Fall 2027. Demonstrated laboratory-based teaching and research experience is desirable.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading public university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The university values teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation's leading authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from various disciplines who share the university's mission and core values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community.  

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Position
CSUF faculty are committed teacher/scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, studios, and individually mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of their departments, advise students, and serve on departmental and university-wide committees. The primary responsibilities of the person in this position will include the development and teaching of introductory and core courses in the discipline and the development of courses in their area(s) of specialization. Specific courses that this person will teach include undergraduate and graduate courses in geotechnical engineering and related civil engineering lecture and laboratory courses. This person will also be responsible for producing scholarly and creative work commensurate with the requirements for tenure. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader university and disciplinary communities.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in geotechnical engineering or a related field.
• Undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field.
• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses, including laboratory courses.
• Demonstrated commitment to and excellence in undergraduate teaching of a very diverse student population, including firstgeneration college students.
• Demonstrated potential for effective integration of technology into instruction.
• A strong record of scholarly accomplishments through high-quality peer-reviewed publications in the past five years. 
• High potential to develop and pursue an independent externally funded research program involving undergraduate and graduate students.
• Demonstrated laboratory-based research experience.
• Ability and willingness to promote undergraduate and graduate student success through research, mentorship, advising, cocurricular activities, and other high-impact practices.
• Ability to balance excellent teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Professional registration as a Civil Engineer or ability and willingness to get Professional Engineering (PE) licensure within five years of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• University-level teaching experience in Civil Engineering.
• Demonstrated experience pursuing externally funded research projects.
• Post-baccalaureate professional work experience in Civil Engineering.

Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html, choose full-time faculty, search for the position 561357, and provide the following required materials:

• Cover letter in which you respond to the required qualifications (Maximum 2 pages).
• Curriculum vitae.
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts (unofficial copies accepted until appointment, submitted as single PDF):
  • Transcripts are to be uploaded in the document upload section of the application under other documents.
• Research statement (Maximum 2 pages):
  • This statement should address recent and current research, possibilities of your research to catalyze innovation in the field, potential collaborations, potential funding that your research could bring to the department, and any laboratory equipment and/or space you will need.
• Teaching statement (Maximum 2 pages):
  • This statement should address all courses you have taught in the past if any, and future courses you would like to teach and develop. It should also briefly discuss your teaching philosophy.
• Candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (no more than 500 words):
  • Inclusive excellence is a strategic framework that recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving organizational success and high-quality learning and teaching. It's a way of thinking and acting that integrates these values into all aspects of an institution, from curriculum and pedagogy to recruitment and hiring. Essentially, it means that excellence is not just about achieving high standards, but also about ensuring that all members of the community have the opportunity to thrive and contribute (Williams et al., 2005).
  • With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about the applicant's perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, languages, religions, and sexual orientations.
  • Cal State Fullerton serves a student body that reflects the rich cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic mosaic of Southern California. Please provide concrete examples of how you, as a faculty member, will support our students in one or more of the following areas, which fall under the areas of awareness and understanding, experience and commitment, and future plans.
    1. Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding perspectives that are reflective of the student population into your teaching and/or scholarship.
    2. Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a diverse student population.
    3. Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom environment.
    4. Your experience integrating creative activities that are inclusive of the identities of our student body and communities.
• A list of three references with relevant contact information:
  • Finalistsmust submit three letters of recommendation. Please have these ready for thereferents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and emailaddresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. Atthe appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information onuploading the letter. You can verify that CSUF has received each letter by loggingback into your applicant portal.

Please direct all questions about the position to the search committee chair: Dr. David Naish at dnaish@fullerton.edu.

Application Deadline
Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2026, and will continue until the position has been filled. To ensure full consideration, all application materials must be received by November 15, 2026. The anticipated appointment date is August 18, 2027.

The College and Department
The College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community by increasing the number of historically underrepresented students in the college and recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff. We are home to more than 5,400 talented undergraduate and graduate students, with 35.9% Hispanic and 1.5% Black or African American students. Each year we award approximately 1,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering and the computer sciences. ECS is one of only two ABET-accredited engineering programs in Orange County, California. US News & World Report ranks ECS as one of the "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs" at schools where a doctorate is not offered. ECS is dedicated to educating and preparing professionals to harness the power and potential of the engineering sciences for the benefit of society. Additionally, the college of ECS is excited to announce the construction of a new engineering innovation hub which is going to be completed by 2027. This 28,000 usable square foot building will be dedicated to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary project collaboration, industry partnerships, community outreach efforts, and cutting-edge research in all fields of engineering. For more information about the college, please visit http://www.fullerton.edu/ecs/.

The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering offers a B.S. in Civil Engineering, an M.S. in Civil Engineering, and an online M.S. in Environmental Engineering. The B.S. in Civil Engineering program is ranked 8th in the nation among non-PhD granting institutions. The M.S. in Environmental Engineering is ranked 30th in the nation and 3rd in California among online engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report. For more information about the department, please visit http://cee.fullerton.edu.

Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $8,233 to $8,394 per month. 

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm). 

Summer research grants, moving expenses, startup funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent feewaiver; access to campus childcare; and a definedbenefit retirement through the state system and optional tax-sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a 10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

Additional Information
Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.

International Candidates
California State University, Fullerton, is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.

For tenure-track faculty positions, California State University, Fullerton is currently not sponsoring H-1B applicants subject to the $100,000 fee established by the "Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" issued on September 19, 2025. Individuals in the U.S. who hold a valid lawful nonimmigrant status visa can have a petition filed on their behalf to change their status to H-1B without be...