"Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering - Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center"

Job Details

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor

School/Department Name: Mechanical Engineering, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $102k - $126k

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: July 20th, 2026

Application Deadline: January 15th, 2026

Position Description

The Mechanical Engineering Department at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for assistant professor (tenure track) beginning in July 2026. We are seeking candidates with a strong academic background in mechanical engineering and wildfire science. A key aspect of this position is that the faculty member will actively collaborate the SJSU Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center (WIRC, a National Science Foundation, Industry-University Cooperative Research Center) to seek funding and conduct research related to wildfire science and management. The center is dedicated to developing strategies/technologies and science-based policies to manage wildfires and to better understand how wildfires will impact people and resources in the future. Specific areas of research interest include, but are not limited to: numerical modeling/CFD reactive flow; wildfire dynamics; wildland-urban interface fire spread; AI/ML for predictive/modeling/risk management; and combustion dynamics of wildland and urban fuels.

Providing high quality education is a top priority for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In addition to teaching engineering courses, faculty members in the department are expected to develop curricula and laboratories, and should plan to establish an independent research program via externally funded projects and peer-reviewed publications. Faculty members advise undergraduate and postgraduate students through project supervision and academic planning. They also serve on committees and task forces under shared governance to improve policies and resources to enhance education.

The Mechanical Engineering Department, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering, and San José State University value inclusive excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll nearly 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Inclusive Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Inclusive Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or relevant field by the time of the appointment
• Ability to teach & develop courses in the thermo-fluids area for Mechanical Engineering students at both undergrad and graduate levels.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

• Strong track records of publication.
• Experience and/or demonstrated interest in teaching and pedagogical methods.
• Experience/exposure to the funding acquisition process.
• Demonstrated interest in establishing industrial partnership in the Silicon Valley area.
• Project supervision experience with undergraduate or masters level students.
• Interdisciplinary project experience in a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• The candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering and other areas consistent with their professional interests. The instructional responsibilities also include preparation of classes, assessment of course learning outcomes, and development of pedagogical improvements.
• The candidate will conduct research in their area of expertise, publish results in reputable peer-reviewed journals, generate grants, and supervise student research
• The candidate will actively work with other faculty at SJSU Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center to seek funding and conduct research related to wildfire science and management.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• letter of interest (2 pages max)
• curriculum vitae
• inclusive excellence statement (dedicated statement or addressed in letter of interest, 2 pages max)
• statement of teaching interests/philosophy (2 pages max)
• research plans (2 pages max)
• Minimum of three references with contact information

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair or Search Committee Chair: Dr. Hohyun Lee (Hohyun.lee@sjsu.edu).