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Mechanical Engineering Professor Jobs in Arizona

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Mechanical Engineering Professor information

See Arizona salary details

$23.8K

$84.9K

$168K

How much do mechanical engineering professor jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for mechanical engineering professor in Arizona is $84,906.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,456.00 and $109,223.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a mechanical engineering professor?

Mechanical Engineering Professors are academic professionals who teach courses and conduct research in the field of mechanical engineering at colleges or universities. They develop and deliver lectures, mentor students, and often lead research projects in topics such as thermodynamics, materials science, and robotics. Additionally, they may publish scholarly articles, secure research funding, and participate in academic committees. Their work contributes both to the education of future engineers and to advancements in engineering knowledge.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a mechanical engineering professor?

To thrive as a Mechanical Engineering Professor, you need an advanced degree (typically a Ph.D.) in mechanical engineering or a related field, along with a strong background in research and teaching. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools like ANSYS or MATLAB, and learning management systems is commonly required. Excellent communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help in engaging students and collaborating with colleagues. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering high-quality education, advancing research, and fostering a positive learning environment.

What are some common challenges faced by mechanical engineering professors when balancing research and teaching responsibilities?

Mechanical Engineering Professors often juggle significant teaching loads alongside active research agendas. One of the main challenges is allocating sufficient time for both high-quality instruction and meaningful research progress, especially during peak academic periods. Balancing student mentorship, curriculum development, grant writing, and publishing can be demanding, requiring strong time-management and organizational skills. Collaborating with colleagues and leveraging support from teaching or research assistants can help manage these responsibilities effectively.

What is the difference between Mechanical Engineering Professor vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectMechanical Engineering ProfessorMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsDoctorate (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering or related fieldBachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering
Work EnvironmentUniversities, research institutions, academiaManufacturing, design firms, R&D departments
Employer & Industry UsageHigher education institutions, research grantsPrivate companies, government agencies, industry projects

Mechanical Engineering Professors primarily focus on teaching and research within academic settings, requiring advanced degrees. Mechanical Engineers work in industry, applying engineering principles to design, develop, and test mechanical systems. While both roles require a strong foundation in mechanical engineering, their work environments and responsibilities differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Mechanical Engineering Professor jobs in Arizona?

For Mechanical Engineering Professor jobs in Arizona, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Mechanical Engineering Professor jobs in Arizona look for?

The top searched job categories for Mechanical Engineering Professor jobs in Arizona are:

What cities in Arizona are hiring for Mechanical Engineering Professor jobs?

Cities in Arizona with the most Mechanical Engineering Professor job openings:

Mechanical Engineering Professor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Mechanical Engineering Professor job openings in Arizona as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 82% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,906 per year, or $40.8 per hour.

Assistant Teaching Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Teach undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering and robotics for degree programs including Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, and Robotics.

  • Provide mission-critical service to the Department, College, and University.

  • Engage in collaborative activities with faculty, staff, and students to facilitate learning and departmental goals.

Northern Arizona University rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 29 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

503rd of 631 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Special Information
  • This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
About the Department/College

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is known for its student-centered approach and strong emphasis on hands-on learning and research. It offers a full suite of degree programs—bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D – and is housed in the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering. The department fosters close faculty-student interaction, with a focus on mentoring and collaborative research. Faculty and students engage in cutting-edge work in areas like solid mechanics, thermal-fluids, energy systems, intelligent systems, robotics, and bioengineering. The department partners with local and national organizations to apply engineering solutions to real-world problems, especially those relevant to Arizona and the Southwest. The undergraduate Mechanical Engineering degree program is ABET-accredited, ensuring a rigorous and industry-aligned curriculum. The Department currently has over 700 students and 17 faculty, and blends academic rigor with a strong sense of community and purpose.

About the Position

The Mechanical Engineering Department from Steve Sanghi College of Engineering (SCE) at Northern Arizona University invites applications for a (non-tenure track) position at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor. The successful candidate will have a strong mechanical engineering background and prior university teaching experience. The Department is interested in applicants whose technical expertise is in thermal-fluids, solid-deformable body mechanics, machine design, manufacturing, robotics, control and/or mechatronics. The anticipated start date for this position is the beginning of the Fall 2026 semester located on the Flagstaff Mountain Campus.

Responsibilities Include
  • Teaching mechanical engineering and robotics undergraduate courses required for the Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics, and Multidisciplinary Engineering degree programs.
  • Provides mission critical service to the Department, College and University.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Completion of a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
  • A minimum of three years of College level teaching experience.
Preferred Qualifications
  • 3–5 years of teaching experience in undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering courses, ideally in an ABET-accredited program.
  • Experience developing and teaching experimental laboratory courses.
  • Experience developing courses for online delivery.
  • Online teaching experience.
  • Artificial Intelligence literacy.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

  • Knowledge of the needs related to public education.
  • Knowledge of effective supervisory and leadership practices.
  • Knowledge of thermal-fluids, solid-deformable body mechanics, machine design, manufacturing, robotics, control and/or mechatronics related topics.

Skills

  • Effective leadership and active listening skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Experimental work and prototyping experience.
  • Industry experience.
  • Computer programming skills (MATLAB, Python or similar).
  • Effective communication skills.

Abilities

  • Communicates effectively.
  • Develops and maintains good working relationships.
  • Facilitates learning in multiple modalities.
  • Teaches a wide variety of courses.
  • Engages with and leads collaborative multi- and inter-disciplinary teams.
  • Works in a collaborative environment with faculty, staff, and students.

Ability to integrate hands-on learning using facilities like machine shops or makerspaces

Compensation

Commensurate with experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

Vacancy will remain open until filled. Applications received before the deadline shown above will receive full consideration.
To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page.
Application must include (saved as PDF and/or Word documents):
1. a cover letter highlighting your particular qualifications for this position;
2. a curriculum vitae; and
3. names and contact information for three references.
Please do not include any other documents as they will not be considered.
If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

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