"Professor, Department Chair – Aviation and Technology"

Job Details

Position Rank and Title: Professor, Department Chair – Aviation and Technology

School/Department Name: College of Engineering/ Department of Aviation and Technology

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary: $140,000 - $176,400

Department Chairs receive additional compensation proportional to their Chair appointment time base (60% for this position). Anticipated additional compensation: $26,400 - $32,808

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: August 2026

Application Deadline: January 12, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering at San Jose State University (SJSU) is pleased to announce a search for the position of Department Chair for the Department of Aviation and Technology. The Department has an enrollment of over 900 students in its aviation and technology programs and has a strong relationship with local industry through continuous support of its Industry Advisory Boards. The Department Chair will provide visionary leadership for the department and must have a substantive record of published research, teaching effectiveness, and professional achievements. The Department Chair will provide academic and administrative leadership, promote excellence in research and teaching, and manage and secure resources for the department.

The Department of Aviation and Technology offers a BS degree program in Aviation, a BS degree program and a MS degree program in Technology. The BS degree program in Aviation has four options: 1) Professional Flight, 2) Airline Operations, 3) Aviation Management, and 4) Maintenance Management. Our Aviation Program is ranked #1 on the West Coast of the US and is ranked #4 nationally. The BS degree program in Technology has two concentrations: 1) Computer Network System Management (CNSM) and 2) Manufacturing Systems. The Computer Network System Management prepares students to meet the demand by industry in recruiting graduates with knowledge, skills, and experience in Computer Network Systems. The Manufacturing Systems prepares students with modern tools related to Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and data analytics in Advance Factory Operation and Modern Manufacturing Ecosystem. The Department of Aviation and Technology website is at https://www.sjsu.edu/avtech/index.php

The Department of Aviation and Technology 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

• A Doctorate degree in an engineering/science/technology related field such as aeronautics, aviation, electrical, electronics, computer, networking, software, etc.
• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching, scholarly achievement, and service (both academically and professionally), at a level qualifying for appointment as a (Full) Professor per SJSU Policy S15-8.
• 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:

• Prior experience in university academic administrative positions (such as Department Chair or similar positions).
• Experience with project management, strategic planning, and budgeting.
• Experience with developing and maintaining strong relations with industry, alumni, and more (e.g., civic leaders, department chairs at other universities).
• A minimum of five years of teaching experience.

Key Responsibilities

• The Department Chair is responsible for the following: developing and implementing strategic vision and goals, ensuring high-quality educational programs, improving student learning experience, supporting faculty and staff development, ensuring the effective and efficient operations of the department, promoting the department while contributing to the community, and complying with governing policies (e.g., federal, state, California State University (CSU), SJSU Academic Senate, College of Engineering, CFA Bargaining Agreement).
• Faculty 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.