Job description
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah (https://mech.utah.edu/) invites applications for a tenured or tenure-track faculty position, with a Fall Semester 2026 starting date. Candidates with exceptional background and experience in areas of robotics are strongly encouraged to apply.
All areas of robotics that emphasize mechanical-engineering concepts will be considered. Relevant areas of interest include: micro- and mesoscale robots; flapping- and morphing-wing flying robots; legged robots, including humanoids; surgical robots; and other new and challenging areas associated with robotic systems. Exceptional candidates will be considered at the level of associate or full professor with senior applicants with strong leadership in robotics research and education especially encouraged to apply.
Candidates will also be expected to be affiliated with the University of Utah Robotics Center (https://robotics.coe.utah.edu), which manages the Robotics Ph.D. and M.S. degree programs, as well as Robotics certificates and minors across three different departments in the College of Engineering.
Candidates must have a demonstrated track record of high-quality research as evidenced by scholarly publications, and they must exhibit strong potential (junior faculty) or an established record (senior faculty) of securing extramural funding with highly regarded scholarly publications. Successful candidates will be able to actively contribute to the Department’s growing research presence in their respective areas. Additionally, candidates are expected to develop and teach core courses and develop new courses that support the mechanical engineering and/or robotics graduate programs. Applicants are expected to have an earned Ph.D. or Sc.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related field.
The University of Utah is a research-focused institution that is home to more than 35,000 students, world-class faculty and researchers, a medical campus, and many start-up companies. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, fueled by the State of Utah’s Engineering Initiative, and currently houses more than 45 tenure-line faculty members, over 1,500 undergraduate and 250 graduate students (140 PhD students).
The University of Utah campus is situated in Salt Lake City, a growing, increasingly diverse, metropolitan city with a population of 1M nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. The greater SLC valley is an important economic hub of the mountain west and is home to a number of large technology and fortune 500 companies. SLC residents enjoy a highly accessible and walkable downtown with vibrant restaurants, sports, nightlife, and cultural events. Salt Lake City residents enjoy easy access to national parks (8 within a few hours’ drive), world-class skiing/snowboarding (7 resorts within 1 hour), hiking, fishing, biking, and rafting/kayaking. In addition, faculty members enjoy free access to public transportation and the convenience of an international airport located only 15 minutes from campus.
Department: 00068 – Mechanical Engineering
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Tenure Track
Close Date: 1/31/2026
Open Until Filled: No
Requisition Number: PRN01457CF
How to apply
To apply, visit https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu
