Robotics and Automation - Open Rank - Assistant/Associate/Professor

Anticipated Hiring Range: Commensurate with education and experience

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

Job Location: Raleigh, NC

Department : Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

About the Department:

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) is the largest in the state and among the largest and most prominent in the nation. The department offers Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) degrees in both Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Aerospace Engineering (AE). The department also offers an accelerated BS/MS degrees in both mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering.

The strengths of the department include the thermal sciences, particularly thermal fluids, fluid mechanics, and combustion; mechanical sciences, including manufacturing mechanics, structural dynamics, materials, and controls; and the aerospace sciences, particularly aerodynamics, aircraft design, hypersonics, propulsion, flight research using UAVs, and computational fluid dynamics.The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has an enrollment of approximately 1000 undergraduate students, 400 graduate students, and highly recognized faculty. Our vision is to place NC State University at the forefront of mechanical and aerospace engineering education, research and outreach programs. For more information, please visit http://www.mae.ncsu.edu.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits:

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties:

The Department invites applications from dynamic researchers and educators committed to advancing technologies that improve lives and strengthen industry partnerships across the Research Triangle and beyond. In this role you will, contribute significantly to the department’s mission through a balanced portfolio of research, teaching, and service.

Key responsibilities include:

• Research Leadership: Develop and maintain a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in robotics and automation. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Autonomous systems and intelligent robotics
  • Soft and bio-inspired robotics
  • Wearable and assistive robotics for healthcare
  • Human–robot interaction and collaborative robotics
  • Robotic manipulation and locomotion
  • Mechatronics, sensing, and control
  • Manufacturing robotics and systems integration
  • AI and machine learning applications in robotics
• Teaching Excellence: Deliver high-quality instruction in mechanical and/or aerospace engineering courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Engage students through innovative teaching methods and contribute to curriculum development.
• Academic Service: Participate in departmental, college, and university service activities. This includes committee work, student advising, and contributing to the academic community through outreach and collaboration.
• Mentorship and Leadership (for Associate or Full Professor candidates): Provide mentorship to junior faculty and graduate students. Demonstrate leadership within the department and contribute to its strategic growth in robotics and automation.
• Collaboration and Engagement: Foster interdisciplinary collaborations within NC State and with external partners, including those in Research Triangle Park and neighboring institutions such as UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, completed before the start date.
• Demonstrated excellence and potential in research, teaching, and service.

Other Required Qualifications:

n/a

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated track record of scholarship, a creative vision for research, an active interest in engineering education, and strong communication skills.

For applications at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, an emphasis will be placed on the strength and caliber of the candidate’s existing research program and their ability to provide mentorship and leadership within an enthusiastic and rapidly growing department.

Required License(s) or Certification(s):

n/a

Valid NC Driver's License required:

No

Commercial Driver's License required:

No

Job Open Date:

11/06/2025

Anticipated Close Date:

Open Until Filled

Position Number:

00000664

Position Type:

Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week):

1.0

Appointment:

9 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather:

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events:

Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID:

140901 - Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

• No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
• No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
• Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
• Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city

With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.