Job ID: 264288

Assistant/ Associate Professor

New Mexico State University

  • Oct. 22, 2025
 
  • Assistant/ Associate Professor
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • New Mexico State University
    Las Cruces, NM
 
  • Dec. 19, 2025
  • Available immediately
  •  
 
  • Associate Professor
    Assistant Professor
  • Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautics
    Mechanical Engineering
 
 

Special Instructions to Applicants

The electronic application is the *official* document that will be used to qualify applicants. Paper/email documents will not be accepted. Required documents must be attached to this application.

EEO Statement
New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non-merit factor.

ENGINEERING

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate with qualifications

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  We are looking for someone whose research specialty is in the area of spacecraft GNC, Space trajectory optimization, autonomous space systems, and space robotics and in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. We seek exceptional candidates who can teach a variety of aerospace engineering courses including but not limited to, orbital mechanics, aerospace systems engineering, spacecraft dynamics and controls, statistical orbit determination, nonlinear optimal control, or policing at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The ability to teach in other areas that enhance and/or complement current departmental strengths is welcomed.

Classification Summary:
The New Mexico State University Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering program offers B.S., M.S., ME, and Ph.D. degrees. The NMSU Mechanical and Aerospace engineering faculty are dedicated to excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as in our research endeavors. Class sizes are often between 30 and 65 students. The faculty have active research programs in the general areas of energy, water, advanced materials, aerothermodynamics, controls, robotics, environmental engineering, and computer modeling and simulation.

Classification Standard Duties:
Successful applicants must demonstrate the ability to contribute to the mission of the Department in teaching, research, and service. The specific responsibilities of the position include teaching 9 credit hours per semester of some combination of undergraduate and graduate courses online and on-campus from existing curriculum and new courses created in an applicant’s specialty area, student advising/mentoring, conducting scholarship/research, participating in university and community service.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or closely related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The tenure-track candidates need to show potential to aggressively leverage opportunities at the state and federal levels, to develop and grow an impactful and sustainable research program. All candidates are expected to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses. The candidates should demonstrate a plan for successful collaborations with other faculty, both inside and outside NMSU, that fosters cross-disciplinary research.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities of an MAE Assistant/Associate Professor include:
- Developing an internationally-renowned, externally and competitively-funded, independent research program,
- Teaching and developing undergraduate and graduate-level courses,
- Advising students at undergraduate and graduate levels, and
- Participating in MAE shared governance processes and service activities.

Particular technical areas of interest include spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), spacetrajectory optimization; autonomy for space systems; space robotics and in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing; and spacecraft instrumentation and computing.

Please upload the following to online application:
Cover Letter, CV, Transcripts (Foreign Transcripts must be evaluated), Teaching Statement, Research Statement, References (3).

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications include
- PhD in aerospace or mechanical engineering or a closely related field,
- Proven capacity or clear potential to successfully secure competitive research funding,
- Demonstrated ability to produce scholarly archival publications,
- Expression of strong dedication to undergraduate and graduate-level teaching, and
- Commitment to inclusiveness for all students in teaching, learning and advising.

Special Requirements of the Position

Department Contact:  Young Lee, 575-646-7457, younglee@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: Light physical effort. Effort applies to no more than two (2) hours per day.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Recruitment Summary

We are New Mexico’s land-grant institution and a comprehensive research university dedicated to teaching, research public service and outreach at all levels. NMSU is a welcoming community of talented faculty, staff and students who are working together to make a difference. We are a NASA Space Grant College, a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), a minority-serving institution (MSI) and home to the first Honors College in New Mexico. We offer an accessible education that shapes bright futures. 

NMSU provides learning opportunities to a diverse population of students and community members at four campuses, Cooperative Extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, 12 research and science centers, and through distance education.


  • New Mexico State University, in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation, or protected veteran status in its programs and activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs and activities.  Inquiries may be directed to the Executive Director, Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, P.O. Box 30001, 1130 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM  88003; 575-646-3635; equity@nmsu.edu.

    NMSU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.  To request an accommodation, students should contact Student Accessibility Services on their campus or on Main Campus at Corbett Center Student Union, Room 2008, Las Cruces, NM  88003; 575-646-6840 or sas@nmsu.edu.  Employees requiring accommodation should contact the Office of Institutional Equity, O'Loughlin House, 1130 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM  88003; 575-646-3635 or equity@nmsu.edu. 


 
Please reference AcademicKeys.com in your cover letter when
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Contact Information

 
  • Young Lee
    Mechanical Engineering
    New Mexico State University
    1100 S Horseshoe
    Las Cruces, NM 88003
  •  
  • 5756467457
  • younglee@nmsu.edu

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