Assistant / Associate Professor – Mechatronics, Controls, and Design

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 3 days ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 12 May 2024

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Assistant / Associate Professor – Mechatronics, Controls, and Design
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Posting Number 202400076F
Proposed Annual Salary Range $80,000-$100,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
  • Review our detailed benefits information here.
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  • Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in !
Position Type Faculty
Work Hours/Week 40
Description of Work Unit
As one of the nation’s top public research universities, Colorado State University is a land-grant institution with an enrollment of more than 34,000 students. CSU offers 76 undergraduate degree programs, 114 graduate degree programs, 21 professional master’s degree programs, and a Professional Veterinary Medicine program. CSU’s world-class research and scholarship attract more than $370 million in research funding every year, ranking second nationally in federal research funding for universities without a medical school.
Fort Collins is an attractive community of approximately 170,000 located along the Colorado Front Range at the base of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver. The city is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It consistently ranks high on quality-of-life measures by numerous publications; see https://www.fcgov.com/visitor/awards for the complete list. The Front Range has developed into a high-tech hub with companies such as Woodward, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM, Intel, Keysight Technologies, Broadcomm, AMD, Xilinx, Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman located in or near Fort Collins. The city offers a pleasant climate, excellent schools, and abundant cultural and recreational opportunities nearby. For more information on Fort Collins, check out the City’s website: www.visitftcollins.com .
The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MECH) at Colorado State University (CSU) offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience. Made up of 47 faculty members, 14 staff members, 1,100 undergraduate students, and 150 graduate students, MECH is one of the largest departments on CSU’s campus. State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students conceptualize industry environments, and $7.5M in annual research funding provide groundbreaking opportunities focusing on health, materials, and energy, for graduate students to enhance their educational concentrations. Award-winning faculty offer industry and academic perspective and equip each graduate with the tools needed to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. The Mechanical Engineering program at CSU includes majors in both Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering-Mechanical Engineering; both curricula combine classroom learning with engineering practice. Our goal is to give our graduates the engineering skills they need to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. Our students are integral members of our research groups, and their thesis and dissertation topics focus on cutting-edge research. Further information about the Department can be found at www.engr.colostate.edu/me/ .
Diversity and inclusion are paramount values for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The department is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse community, integrating these principles into both education and research. Faculty members actively contribute to this mission, emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in the curriculum and broader scientific community.
Tenure/Tenure Track? No
% Research 0%
% Teaching 90%
% Service 10%
% Administration 0%
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 05/12/2024
Number of Vacancies
Desired Start Date 08/16/2024
Position End Date
Position Summary
With almost 1,200 undergraduate students, the Department of Mechanical Engineering is the third largest major at Colorado State University. In support of this growth, the Department invites applications for a full-time Non-Tenure Track Faculty (NTTF) member to teach second, third, and fourth-year Mechanical Engineering courses, including MECH 201: Engineering Design I, MECH 202: Engineering Design II, MECH 231: Engineering Experimentation, MECH 307: Mechatronics & Measurement Systems and MECH 417: Control Systems. We are seeking an energetic and enthusiastic individual who loves teaching and shares our dedication to excellence in undergraduate education.
The person selected for this position will be slotted into one of two NTTF working titles (Assistant Professor or Associate Professor) based on experience. Specifically, the selected individual who has a PhD and < 5 years of academic teaching experience will have a working title of Assistant Professor and the selected individual who has a PhD and > 5 years of academic teaching experience will have a working title of Associate Professor.
This position supports the educational mission of the Department and its commitment to provide high-quality educational opportunities. The Assistant / Associate Professor may be given responsibility for one or more undergraduate laboratories; responsible for the quality, efficacy and learning outcomes of experiments, and modification and change consistent with the Department’s goals. The successful candidate will be given the opportunity to develop and teach new courses consistent with the academic goals of the Department and its students.
We are seeking individuals passionate about contributing to the department’s educational offerings and providing meaningful service to the university and the broader community. The role involves teaching and mentoring at various academic levels, from undergraduates to Ph.D. candidates, and actively shaping the future generation of engineers. Candidates with dedication to innovative teaching methodologies are highly encouraged.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Required Job Qualifications
  • Assistant Professor: PhD and <5 years academic teaching experience or Associate Professor: PhD and >5 years academic teaching experience 
  • Completed PhD (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field by the desired start date;
  • Previous research, teaching, and /or industrial experience related to mechatronics and controls;
  • Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in Engineering; and
  • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Four years of industry engineering experience or four years of experience teaching undergraduate Mechanical Engineering courses (or similar);
  • Experience teaching the specific courses listed in the Position Summary in an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering (or closely related) program;
  • Evidence of teaching effectiveness; and
  • Effective management, communication, mentoring, and organizational skills.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, which addresses how education and professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current resume or CV, a statement of teaching interests (including evidence of teaching effectiveness), and the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Diversity Statement
Ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, teaching and outreach with relevant programs, goals and activities.
Search Contact Marco Ciarcia, [email protected]

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Teaching
Duty/Responsibility
  • Taking full responsibility for teaching three courses per semester, the majority of which will be required undergraduate courses in the Mechanical Engineering program of study;
  • Communicating with students and grading students in a timely, equitable, and professional manner;
  • Abiding by all University faculty requirements and responsibilities; and
  • Regularly assessing one’s own courses and incorporating appropriate improvements.
Percentage Of Time 90%
Job Duty Category Service
Duty/Responsibility
  • Participating with the Department faculty in curricular assessment and change commensurate with our ABET accreditation; and
  • Service to the Department, College, and University through committee work.
Percentage Of Time 10%

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