Head Researcher Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Overview
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Utah State University (USU) invites applicants for a full-time Department Head with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. The MAE Department Head is responsible for strategic and visionary leadership to support USU's land- and space-grant mission including leadership of teaching, research, and service activities in a dynamic and ambitious department within the College of Engineering. The successful candidate will be an experienced leader with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, mentoring, and service. MAE seeks a Department Head that can broaden the department's engagements with USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory (a University Affiliated Research Center), national labs and other federal and industrial partners; collaborate with other departments and colleges; and interact collegially with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and the community. This is a 12-month tenured position that reports to the Dean of the College of Engineering.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field. Candidate experience should be commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor in MAE at USU. Applicants need to have demonstrated expertise in a relevant area of mechanical and aerospace engineering including but not limited to fluid dynamics, combustion and propulsion, flight mechanics, advanced air mobility, space dynamics, hypersonic flow, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials including composites, nuclear materials characterization, thermal hydraulics, controls, systems engineering, and computational modeling. Candidates should have a strong track record of research funding, teaching, service, mentorship, peer-reviewed publications or other research outputs, engagement with a broad array of partners, and a background in strong core fundamentals that allow them to work across multidisciplinary areas.
For full consideration, applications should be submitted no later than January 2, 2026.
Responsibilities

• Promote an ambitious vision and mission for the department consistent with the vision and mission of the College and University.
• Mentor the department's faculty members in their teaching, research, and service activities.
• Oversee curriculum development and delivery, assess educational outcomes, and accreditation.
• Monitor the administrative, financial, and space management components of the department.
• Raise extramural funds in support of the department's teaching, research, and service activities, and promote the development of research centers.
• Engage productively with academic, industrial, and government partners to advance an ambitious and impactful research and training programs.
• Enhance recognition of the department on national and international stages.
• Lead new faculty recruitment efforts and facilitate processes related to recruitment, promotion, and tenure.
• Actively participate in assigned college, university, and external duties.
• Serve as a catalyst for attracting and supporting undergraduate and graduate students.
• Participate in interdisciplinary efforts with other departments and initiatives at USU.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or closely related fields.
• Demonstrated achievements appropriate for appointment at the Full Professor level.
• A strong background in engineering fundamentals.
• Evidence of success as a Principal Investigator or leader of an independent research program.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications in high-quality journals or other measures of research outcomes.
• Ability to engage industry partners and connect curriculum to the practice of engineering in the field.
• Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including demonstrated ability to teach, inspire, and mentor faculty and students.
• Ability to obtain a United States DoD Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active United States DoD or DoE Security Clearance
• Positive experience in research with demonstrated success in program development and leadership.
• Extensive experience in higher education and a commitment to the education mission of the college.
• Demonstrated ability to engage productively with external research, training, and service partners
• Experience working on multi-disciplinary research teams.
• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Experience in developing high-impact experiential learning curricula.
• Record of involvement in seeking extramural funding.
• Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam or earned a Professional Engineering license.

Job offer will be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
Required Documents
Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"
2. Cover Letter describing your qualifications for the position and our vision of the role to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Documents 1-10"
3. Contact information for 3 professional references to be added to your Candidate Profile

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
Advertised Salary
Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits
ADA
Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.
College/Department Highlights
The MAE department has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with enrollments of approximately 800 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, and is the largest department in the College of Engineering. The department offers a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering; MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Composite Materials & Structures, and Space Systems Engineering; and PhD degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. The department currently has 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 4 professors of practice, with additional part-time instructors from local industry and research institutions. Annual department research expenditures are approximately $3M. Successful applicants may have opportunities to work closely with scientists and engineers from the USU Research Foundation Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), one of 14 Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC). Further, USU faculty also have access to the University of Utah Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC) facilities and the Utah Water Research Laboratory. USU is the nearest PhD-granting institution in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering to the Idaho National Laboratory, and is also in close proximity to Hill Air Force Base and other defense-related organizations.
The College of Engineering at Utah State University is a regional leader in teaching and research. The college currently has 95 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, with additional professors of practice and part-time instructors from local industry and research institutions. We are home to the world-famous Utah Water Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation-funded ASPIRE Engineering Research Center for sustainable electrified transportation. Each year, our college welcomes an average of 2,000 undergraduate and 300 graduate students from around the globe. The college offers five ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees and 15 graduate degree programs. In 2023-24, the college generated $40 million in research expenditures. Our award-winning faculty regularly secure competitive funding, and our students excel at national design and scholarships challenges. USU is in close proximity to the Idaho National Laboratory, Hill Air Force Base, and other energy- and defense-related organizations. For more information, please visit: https://engineering.usu.edu/
University Highlights
Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah's premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.
USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.
Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, officially joining on July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.
Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.
The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university's ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.
*updated 07/2026
Notice of Non-discrimination
In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.
Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.
Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.
In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.
The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU's non-discrimination policies:
Civil Rights & Title IX Office
Old Main Room 405
1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322
titleix@usu.edu
(435) 797-1266
For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:
U.S. Department of Education
Denver Regional Office
303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
800-421-3481 | OCR@ed.gov
*updated 08/2026