Job Details

Associate or Full Professor, Tenure-Track, Aerospace Engineering

Position Number: 6425140
Location: Waco, TX
Position Type: Engineering - Aerospace

Associate or Full Professor, Tenure-Track, Aerospace Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Location: Waco, Texas
Open Date: Jul 23, 2025
Deadline: Mar 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description:
The Department of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Baylor University seeks to fill a tenure-eligible position at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor of Aerospace Engineering to start on or before August 1, 2026. Responsibilities include maintaining a funded research program, undergraduate and graduate teaching, course and curriculum development, and professional service.

This mid- or senior-level position is open to candidates in engineering with teaching and research expertise in either astronautics or aeronautics. On the astronautics side, this includes but is not limited to space propulsion systems, human space flight and space exploration, space environments, orbital mechanics, space autonomy, and spacecraft design. On the aeronautics side, this includes but is not limited to CFD, aerodynamics, aircraft propulsion, sustainable aviation, advanced air mobility, and hypersonics. The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a concentration in aerospace engineering within the ABET accredited B.S. in Mechanical Engineering program. As of the fall semester of 2025, the department is launching a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering program. The candidate selected for the position will be expected to assist in developing, delivering, and leading this new program, while maintaining a strong funded research program.

Baylor's Department of Mechanical Engineering currently has 19 tenured/tenure-track faculty members including the Kenneth and Celia Carlile Endowed Chair, two clinical faculty members, and five lecturer faculty members. The faculty are internationally recognized in research areas including Biomechanics, Biomedical Sensors, Additive and Advanced Materials, Ceramic and Polymeric Composites, Sustainable Energy and Power Systems, Combustion, Aerodynamics and Thermophysics, and Interfacial Fluid Mechanics. The department is housed within the Rogers Building and the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) (see www.baylor.edu/bric). The department offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Enrollment during AY 2024-2025 was 188 pre-engineering students, 223 ME undergraduates, and 45 full-time graduate students.

About Baylor University: Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas and is the oldest college in the state. It has a diverse student population of 21,000 and is recognized as one of the top universities in the nation, achieving R1 institution status by the Carnegie Classification in January 2022. Baylor also made it to the honor roll of "Great Colleges to Work For" from The Chronicle of Higher Education. It offers competitive salaries and benefits, allowing faculty and staff to live in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. Baylor's new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds, guides the University as it continues to fulfill its mission of educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.

Qualifications:
Required qualifications:

an earned doctorate in aerospace engineering or a closely related field
outstanding communication skills
a commitment to and record of teaching excellence in areas relevant to the position
demonstrated research achievement in areas releavent to the position, as evidenced by a record of funding, publication, and mentoring of graduate students
academic record commensurate with appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor

Preferred qualifications:

Potential for leadership role in the new Aerospace Engineering Program

Application Instructions:
To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/167862

Review of applications will begin on October 10, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received after March 15, 2026 cannot be considered. Applications must include:

a cover letter/letter of application
a current curriculum vita
an individualized statement of teaching interests
an individualized statement of research plans related to Baylor's programs
contact information for at least three professional references.
Transcripts of the highest degree earned (official transcripts required of candidates invited for interview).

Additionally, applicants must complete the Baylor University Religious Affiliation Form (RAF) in Interfolio to be considered for the position. Further information, including official transcripts of the highest degree earned, will be required of candidates invited for interviews.

Baylor University, a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, military service, genetic information, and disability. Baylor complies with statutory Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity requirements. Baylor's full official Notice of Non-Discrimination may be read online.