Tenure Track Faculty Position

Mechanical Engineering Department

College of Engineering

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

 Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing that Cal Poly Pomona’s future as a university is linked to the success of its Black community. More information about our campus initiatives and our Principles of Community can be found on the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s website. 

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population. Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation for student diversity and economic mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2023, Cal Poly Pomona served more than 24,000 students and close to 2,000 graduate students, mostly residents of California. Over half of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70% receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The university enrolls 56% percent of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 53% Hispanic/Latinx, 22% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 3% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Forty-three percent of students enroll in our STEM majors and our top five enrolled programs across the university are mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, psychology, and finance, real estate, and law.

Inclusive Excellence and Student Success.  We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.

*As a part of the application for faculty positions, all candidates must submit a Student Success Statement that demonstrates their commitment and record of contributions to diversity and equity through their teaching, scholarship, or service by speaking to at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria below. 

Candidates should explain how they have engaged in the criteria below in their pedagogy, scholarship, and/or service, as well as the level to which these efforts have been consistently incorporated into their work.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria:

1. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups or other disadvantaged communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;
2. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;
3. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;
4. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;
5. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline and uses it to inform their work in specific ways;
6. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;
7. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;
8. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and
9. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

College of Engineering: The College of Engineering’s mission is to prepare students for industry and advanced studies by implementing an inclusive polytechnic philosophy through collaborative teamwork, innovation, entrepreneurship, and professional integrity. The College offers 12 ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees and 7 master’s degrees to over 7,100 students across seven academic departments that include: Aerospace Engineering, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The College is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report and currently ranks 9^th among undergraduate engineering programs in non-doctorate-granting public institutions. Additionally, it houses more than 40 student clubs that offer hands-on learning opportunities and have been recognized at several national competitions. We encourage a broad range of applicants who are committed to enhancing a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to an inclusive campus environment.

Department of Mechanical Engineering: The Mechanical Engineering program provides a quality, well-rounded education that is based on fundamental knowledge, skills in mathematics and pure science, as well as engineering science and design. The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME). A list of our core courses can be found at http://catalog.cpp.edu. A BSME Minor in Energy Engineering, which includes the study of all energy sources, energy conversion and transfer systems, efficient energy utilization and environmental implications, is available for interested undergraduate students. The Mechanical Engineering department has an outstanding record of student success, hands-on learning, and its graduates are in high demand by industry. The faculty and staff in the Mechanical Engineering department are very collegial to one another and embrace inclusivity within the university. We value faculty who can inspire students through their teaching and through mentorship in research. In particular, applicants with a commitment to diversity in higher education are encouraged to apply. 

Position Description: This position is a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level. Applicants with a specialization in the area of energy systems are preferred, but applicants with a specialization in other areas of mechanical engineering such as solid mechanics, machine design, control and robotics systems, and artificial intelligence are encouraged to apply as well. Responsibilities include:

• Teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in Mechanical Engineering.
• Advising undergraduate student projects.
• Advising master level graduate students with MS projects and theses.
• Maintaining scholarly work and a research program in the applicant’s area of expertise.
• Participating in the committees and activities at the department, college and university levels.
• Professional development such as attending workshops and training courses, publishing conference and journal papers.

 Minimum Requirements Include: 

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related area from an accredited university by the date of appointment.
• An ability to communicate complex subject matter to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Demonstrated commitment and ability to contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through teaching, scholarship, and service in an inclusive environment.
• Evidence of ongoing scholarly research in the applicant’s area of expertise.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence in engineering.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications: 

• A minimum of 1 year of relevant professional or teaching experience.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license.
• Experience and commitment to student advising and university service

Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of:

• A cover letter outlining the applicant's interest in the position, relevant experience, and how they meet the minimum and preferred qualifications, as well as the responsibilities listed in the Position Description.
• A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) that demonstrates the applicant’s commitment to student success and record of contributions to student success through their teaching, scholarship, and/or service. The statement must respond to the “Inclusive Excellence and Student Success” prompt above and address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed (please indicate the criteria numbers in your statement).
• Curriculum Vitae.
• List of courses the candidate is prepared to teach, courses the candidate can teach with some additional preparation, and courses the candidate would like to develop.
• The names, titles, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three individuals who can serve as references and speak to the candidate’s potential for success in this position.
• Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, official transcripts will be required of finalists).
• Student evaluations or other evidence of teaching excellence. May be included in cover letter.

Finalists for the position will be expected to: 

• Provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview
• Provide three letters of reference dated within the last two years
• Final candidates being interviewed are expected to make a presentation of creative work and a teaching demonstration to faculty and interact with students. 

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than December 1, 2024.

Salary Range for academic year, nine-month appointment: $104,000 - $108,990

Please direct inquiries to: mesearch@cpp.edu 

Equal Opportunity Employer
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The university seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The university hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university prepares a public annual security report.