Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor - Wildfire Science and Engineering

SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT NAME: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $101,000 - $124,000.

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 1st, 2027

Application Deadline: November 1st, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Mechanical Engineering Department at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an assistant professor (tenure-track) with expertise in wildfire science research and teaching potential in thermo-fluids beginning in August 2027. We seek candidates with a strong engineering, computational, or physical-science background whose research directly addresses problems in wildfire or fire science and engineering. A key aspect of this position is that the faculty member will actively collaborate with the SJSU Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center (WIRC) to seek funding and conduct research related to wildfire science and management.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or closely related engineering, computational, or physical-science discipline by the time of appointment.
• Ability to teach & develop courses in the thermo-fluids area for Mechanical Engineering students at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Demonstrated research experience directly relevant to wildfire or fire science and engineering.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong track record 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.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents: letter of interest, curriculum vitae, institutional excellence statement, statement of teaching interests/philosophy, research plans, and minimum of three references with contact information.