"Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering"

The Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences (APSS) at the Florida Institute of Technology invites applications for multiple full-time tenure track Assistant Professor positions in the Aerospace Engineering program with the start date of August 2026.

Successful candidates must have a commitment to teaching excellence at undergraduate and graduate levels, develop a nationally recognized externally funded research program, and contribute to the institution and profession through service. A Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field is required for consideration. We seek candidates with research interests and expertise in (I) Aerospace Composite Structures, (II) Aerodynamics & Flight Mechanics, (III) Space Instrumentation, and (IV) Digital Engineering of Aerospace Systems. Both theoretical and/or experimental background are suitable for these positions. Candidates with exceptional strength in other areas of aerospace engineering would also be considered.

The current aerospace engineering faculty has research strengths in multiple areas such as: space vehicle dynamics & control, intelligent machines and autonomous aerospace systems, mechanics of advanced composites and cellular structures, composite structural health monitoring, high-fidelity numerical flow simulations, and modeling advanced energetic materials for solid propellants. Florida Tech has recently committed over $14 million to enhance engineering and science research infrastructure. These include research lab renovations, composites manufacturing and testing (autoclave, walk-in oven, ultrasonic C-scan, multi-axial load frame), materials characterization (SEM, TEM, AFM, micro-CT scanner), and spacecraft manufacturing (ISO6 clean rooms, thermal vacuum testing chambers, Sun simulator, vibration shaker, satellite ADCS test stand with air bearing & Helmholtz Cage).

Information about the Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, as well as the College of Engineering and Science, can be found at http://www.fit.edu/apss/. The Department has 34 faculty members representing a broad range of fields, including aerospace engineering, physics, astrophysics, astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary sciences. The APSS Department currently serves over 800 students, of which approximately 500 undergraduate and 70 graduate students are aerospace engineering majors, making the Aerospace Engineering program one of the largest on campus.

Florida Tech is a national, private, not-for-profit, technological, co-educational, doctoral-granting, research-intensive university. The university is ranked Top 100 Best Value University (U.S. News & World Report), 17th in U.S. Graduate Employability (Global Employability University Ranking), and Top 6% Best Return on Investment (Payscale). The University consists of four colleges: College of Aeronautics, College of Business, College of Engineering and Science and College of Psychology and Liberal Arts. Florida Tech offers more than 200 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs, as well as Ed.S. and certificate programs. Florida Tech has over 9,200 students including Melbourne campus, off-campus sites, and online programs and 424 faculty members. More than 70,000 students from more than 120 countries have earned degrees from Florida Tech. Notable alumni include five space shuttle astronauts, the first female four-star general in U.S. military history, and a National Teacher of the Year. Located on 130 subtropical acres in the City of Melbourne on Florida's "Space Coast," Florida Tech’s campus is an Arbor Day Foundation-designated "Tree Campus USA." The Florida Tech campus is about 2 miles from Melbourne Airport, 6 miles from the nearest beach, 45 miles to the NASA Kennedy Space Center, and 75 miles to the Orlando area. The Milken Institute ranks the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida, USA the No. 25 best-performing large city in the U.S.

All applications must be submitted through https://www.fit.edu/employment/ (Florida Tech Employment webpage). Candidates should submit a single PDF document containing: 1. Cover letter, 2. Curriculum Vitae, 3. Statement of research experience and interests, 4. Statement of teaching experience and philosophy, and 5. Contact information for at least three references. Applications received by January 15, 2026 will be given full consideration, but the position will remain open until filled.

Florida Tech is an equal opportunity employer. The Department is building a team of faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Donald Platt, Department Head, Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, via dplatt@fit.edu

Official transcripts

Official transcripts of all collegiate work must be sent directly from the attended institutions to the Human Resources Office prior to the first day of employment. All international degrees must have a course-by-course official evaluation and translation sent to the Human Resources Office directly from an evaluation company affiliated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES).