Capstone Industry Liaison

Capstone Industry Liaison

Company:
Virginia Tech

Job Location:
Blacksburg, 24061

Category:
Career Development and Services

Type:
Full-Time

Job Description

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking a person to serve as an instructor and industry liaison for the senior design capstone program in close collaboration with the department's industry relations manager and capstone instructors. The successful candidate will pursue opportunities for industry and academia to collaborate via sponsored capstone projects. Responsibilities will include marketing the program (via industry trade shows, alumni events, etc), site visits to existing and prospective sponsors, statement of work development, outreach/lead generation, and ultimately securing capstone sponsorship agreements each year for the department. Additional responsibilities will include serving as the faculty advisor for approximately 5 capstone student teams each academic year, where the faculty advisor functions as the mentor/engineering manager/subject matter expert for the teams they advise.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Work experience in industry (engineering or related field)
• Experience with business development such as lead generation, managing client communications, and cultivating industry partnerships in an engineering field
• Work history showing proficiency with common office computer programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) experience
• Evidence of a strong desire to teach students the practical aspects of engineering design
• Experience working effectively with faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds
• Industry design work experience
• Technical sales experience
• Experience managing others or leading a team of students
• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type
Restricted

Salary Information
75,000 - Commensurate with experience

Hours per week
40

Review Date
May 18, 2026

Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.