Assistant Professor of Automotive Systems Engineering - Department of Mechanical Engineering #26-07

Tenure-Track Faculty Position Announcement

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Faculty Hire Number: #26-07

Rank: Assistant Professor

Effective Date of Appointment: August 19, 2026 (Subject to Budgetary Approval)

Anticipated Hiring Range: $105,000 - $110,000 (Dependent upon qualifications)

CSUN’s Commitment to You:

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning, and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community, and the encouragement of innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN is especially interested in candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

As a Hispanic-serving Institution (HSI), inclusiveness and diversity are integral to CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement. As of Fall 2025, CSUN enrolls 36,960 students, where 57.5% are Latinx, 18.4% are White, 8.5% are Asian-American, 5.5% are Black/African American, 0.1% are Native American, and 0.1% are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

About the College:

About the Department:

Position:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member in systems engineering at the rank of Assistant Professor. The department is particularly interested in candidates with expertise in automotive systems with emphasis in one or more of the following areas: vehicle dynamics, autonomous vehicles, electric/hybrid powertrains, advanced manufacturing, and/or vehicle controls.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses and have research interests in automotive and mobility systems engineering. Candidates must demonstrate a specialization in either experimental methodologies or computational analysis and simulation of complex models. They are expected to develop and lead an effective research program in areas such as advanced vehicle propulsion systems, the design and integration of complex automotive systems, or vehicle automation.

Teaching responsibilities include instructing, participating in, and supervising capstone student design projects. Candidates are expected to supervise MS theses and provide academic and professional advisement to both undergraduate and graduate students. Initiating and maintaining creative scholarly activities, as well as an externally funded research program, are also expected. Active and effective participation in curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, and other departmental activities, along with involvement in professional and student organizations (e.g., ASME, ASEE), is a normative expectation. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate experience or a willingness to pursue evidence-based approaches that promote the retention of students from culturally diverse backgrounds.

In addition to teaching, the position requires weekly office hours, attending faculty meetings, participation in assessment of student learning, and service to the department, college, and university. The successful candidate may be required to teach on weekdays, evenings, weekends, and/or online and will be held to the standards and requirements of the college and department in which he/she/they is/are housed for recommending tenure and promotion. Given CSUN’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and engagement in a diverse environment, the successful candidate will help the Department achieve equitable academic outcomes for all students through teaching, student mentorship, scholarship, and service.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a closely related field from an accredited institution (Doctorate must be completed by the date of appointment)
• An undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution
• College or University-level teaching experience in-person or online
• Demonstration of teaching at undergraduate and/or graduate levels in the area of automotive systems engineering, vehicle dynamics, machine design, manufacturing, and related fields
• Demonstration of research in automotive systems engineering, vehicle dynamics, machine design, manufacturing, and related fields
• Evidence of research publications in the areas mentioned in peer-reviewed journals and/or conference proceedings within the past three years

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of effective engagement OR potential to engage with a diverse student body
• Experience using culturally responsive pedagogy that leads to equitable outcomes for all students
• Experience creating a student-centered learning environment
• Research/Lab experience that includes working with students from diverse backgrounds
• Experience adopting inclusive approaches to mentoring
• Academic (teaching or research) experience at an ABET-accredited institution
• Post-doctoral or industry experience
• A record of receiving grant funding OR potential for receiving external funding from government agencies, private companies, and/or scientific societies

Application Deadline:

The preferred application deadline is December 5th, 2025, and applications received after this date may be considered on an as-needed basis. However, the position will remain open until filled.

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit a cover letter (up to 2 pages) through the application website, addressing:

• How would they make a unique contribution to the department
• A preliminary plan for establishing their independent research program
• Experience working with a diverse population
• Their motivation to work in academia, particularly at CSUN

The application must also include:

• Curriculum Vitae (up to 10 pages)
• Research Statement (research agenda relevant to the position; up to 5 pages)
• Teaching Statement (teaching philosophy and experiences relevant to the position; up to 5 Pages)
• Diversity Statement (past and future efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; up to 2 pages)
• Names, titles, addresses, and phone numbers of at least three referees who can speak to their teaching, research, and service qualifications

In later stages of the search process, applicants may be requested to provide additional supporting materials for verification.

At the time of appointment, the successful candidate, if not a U.S. citizen, must have authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work in the United States. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

Please note: California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is currently not sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment that are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee.