The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah (
https://mech.utah.edu/) invite applications for a tenured or tenure-track faculty position, with a Fall Semester 2026 starting date. Candidates with exceptional background and experience in areas of
aerospace engineering with a thermal-fluid emphasis are strongly encouraged to apply.
While all areas of aerospace that emphasize thermal-fluid systems will be considered, preference will be given to individuals focused on experimental studies. Relevant areas of interest include: hypersonics; advanced propulsion; internal and external compressible flow; fluid structure interactions; aerodynamic system design; fixed-wing or flapping-wing systems; unsteady aerodynamics; and other new and challenging areas associated with aerospace thermal-fluid systems. Exceptional candidates will be considered at the level of associate or full professor with senior applicants with strong leadership in aerospace research and education especially encouraged to apply.
Candidates must have a demonstrated track record of high-quality research as evidenced by scholarly publications, and they must exhibit strong potential (junior faculty) or an established record (senior faculty) of securing extramural funding with highly regarded scholarly publications. Successful candidates will be able to actively contribute to the Department’s growing research presence in their respective areas. Additionally, candidates are expected to develop and teach core courses and develop new courses that support the mechanical engineering graduate program. Applicants are expected to have an earned Ph.D. or Sc.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.
The University of Utah is a research-focused institution that is home to more than 35,000 students, world-class faculty and researchers, a medical campus, and many start-up companies. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, fueled by the State of Utah’s Engineering Initiative, and currently houses more than 45 tenure-line faculty members, over 1,500 undergraduate and 250 graduate students (140 PhD students).
The University of Utah campus is situated in Salt Lake City, a growing, increasingly diverse, metropolitan city with a population of 1M nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. The greater SLC valley is an important economic hub of the mountain west and is home to a number of large technology and fortune 500 companies. SLC residents enjoy a highly accessible and walkable downtown with vibrant restaurants, sports, nightlife, and cultural events. Salt Lake City residents enjoy easy access to national parks (8 within a few hours’ drive), world-class skiing/snowboarding (7 resorts within 1 hour), hiking, fishing, biking, and rafting/kayaking. In addition, faculty members enjoy free access to public transportation and the convenience of an international airport located only 15 minutes from campus.
All applications received by January 15, 2026 will receive full consideration. Applications must be submitted electronically and should include: a cover letter highlighting the applicant’s qualifications and relevance to this search, current curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and plans (2 pages), a statement of teaching interests (2 pages), and contact information three to five references.
