Faculty Positions in Mechanical Engineering

FACULTY POSITIONS in Mechanical Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) seeks candidates for faculty positions starting July 1, 2027, or on a mutually agreed date thereafter. We seek candidates who will provide excellence and leadership in research, translate intellectual contributions into impact on society and industry, make substantial contributions to undergraduate and graduate education, and contribute to the growth of the MechE community. The search is for candidates to be hired at the assistant professor level; however, under special circumstances, an untenured associate professor or senior faculty appointment is possible, commensurate with experience.

We are interested in candidates whose research accomplishments and proposed work lies in any of the following three areas:

• Design Engineering, including but not limited to mechanical design, product design, machine design, design methodology, design for manufacturing, design for and with AI, and sustainable design.
• Ocean Science and Engineering, including but not limited to ship design and advanced shipbuilding; computational and experimental hydrodynamics; marine robotics; autonomy, artificial intelligence, and sensing systems; ocean acoustics and underwater communications; marine structures and materials; marine power and ocean energy systems; ocean resource development and sustainability.
• Thermal/Energy Engineering, including, but not limited to nano-to-systems scale heat and mass transfer, coupling of thermal to other forms of energy, molecular- to system-level thermal modeling, design and optimization of hardware, devices, and systems for transformative applications, cooling and heat pumping, data center/computing energy management, clean water technology, heat intensive industrial applications (e.g., cement, steel, aluminum), electrification of heat, climate resilience and adaptation, battery thermal management, electrochemical systems involving heat transfer (e.g., isothermal compression, refrigeration), energy conversion and storage engineering as applied to power and propulsion systems, and high temperature thermochemical systems. Innovative research directions that advance the broader field of thermal and energy engineering are also encouraged.

Faculty duties include conducting original scholarly research, developing course materials and teaching courses in Mechanical Engineering and related subjects at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and student advising.

Candidates must hold an earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field by the start date of their faculty employment. Candidates with full-time industry experience along with an accomplished scholarly record are encouraged to apply.

Applications must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research interests (3 pages maximum), and a teaching and mentoring plan (1-2 pages). The teaching plan should highlight the candidate’s background and interests as related to core subjects in the MechE undergraduate curriculum. In addition, candidates should provide a broader impact statement (1-2 pages). The broader impact statement can cover topics including (but not limited to) service, contributions to the university and broader community, or other means of supporting the educational environment.

Candidates should also include copies of no more than three publications and arrange for four individuals to submit letters of recommendation on their behalf. This information must be entered electronically at the following site: https://school-of-engineering-faculty-search.mit.edu/meche/register.tcl. Early applications are encouraged, and applications must be received by December 1, 2026. Contact MechEFacSearch@mit.edu with questions about the search.

The pay range for a 9-month academic appointment at the entry-level Assistant Professor rank (excluding summer salary) is $143,000–$147,000. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation. Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including possible verification of any findings of misconduct (or pending investigations) from prior employers.

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. See MIT’s full policy on nondiscrimination: https://policies.mit.edu/policies-procedures/90-relations-and-responsibilities-within-mit-community/93-nondiscrimination. Know your rights: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf.

Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including possible verification of any findings of misconduct (or pending investigations) from prior employers.