California State Polytechnic University- Pomona Hiring for Aerospace Engineering, Assistant Professor at Pomona, California Full Time

Tenure Track Faculty Position

Aerospace Engineering Department

College of Engineering

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty ASSISTANT PROFESSOR position in the Aerospace Engineering Department in an area related to the study and/or promotion of Aerospace 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 have participated 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. 3 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.  

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.  California residents comprise the majority (96%) of applicants to undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona – nearly half (49%) of new students were transfers in Fall 2020.  58% of Cal Poly Pomona students are first generation, 70% receive financial aid, and 44% qualify as Pell-eligible.  The university enrolls a diverse student body that identifies as 49% Latinx, 21% Asian, 15% White, 3% Black, 5% International, 3% two or more races, 3% unknown, and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander and less than 1% Native American Indigenous. 39% of the student body were STEM majors with the top enrolled programs including psychology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biology and computer science.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria.  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. 

Tenure track faculty hires will demonstrate a commitment and record of contributions through their teaching, scholarship, or service to these inclusive excellence criteria (a minimum of two must be addressed in the Student Success Statement):

1. Integrates the values of equity and inclusivity into their teaching, scholarship and/or service contributions with diverse student populations;

2. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups and communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;

3. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;

4. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;

5. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;

6. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline;

7. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;

8. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;

9. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and

10. 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 6,300 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 ranks 5th 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.

Aerospace Engineering Department:

The Department, which serves over 700 students majoring in Aerospace Engineering, provides a comprehensive education that includes in-depth instruction in aerodynamics, aircraft and spacecraft structures, flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, aerospace propulsion, systems engineering, and the design of aerospace vehicles. U.S. News and World Report ranked Cal Poly Pomona Aerospace Engineering Department 4th in the nation in 2020 (tied with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University–Prescott) among institutions offering BS and MS degrees in aerospace engineering. Currently, about half of our undergraduate enrollment is underrepresented minorities, with nineteen percent female students. The minority and female student population is above the national average in this field, and we are proud of our diverse and inclusive culture. 

The aerospace curriculum emphasizes analysis and problem solving, computer applications, laboratory work and exposure to open-ended problems and design issues while fostering teamwork, communication skills, and individual professionalism.  Our students participate in AIAA design competitions, where they have won over a dozen top honors in the last 10 years, and the national AUVSI competition. The Department also requires an undergraduate thesis (Senior Project), which is usually undertaken by teams of students. The Department has eleven laboratories, including well-equipped Subsonic and Supersonic Wind Tunnel Labs, a UAV Lab, an Aerospace Structures Lab, and an Astronautics Lab. The newest lab in the Department is the Liquid Rocket Lab.

Position description: The Aerospace Engineering Department invites applications at the Assistant Professor level for a tenure-track faculty position beginning August 2023/Fall semester to teach a broad range of courses in aerospace engineering with primary responsibility in one or more of the following areas: 1. Aerospace Structures; 2. Aerospace Vehicle Design including UAS and eVTOL; and 3. Aerospace Propulsion.

Minimum requirements include: 

• A Ph.D. in aerospace engineering or a closely aligned field from an accredited university by the date of appointment.
• Commitment and record of contributions to student success demonstrated through teaching, scholarship, and/or service. This should be described in the Student Success Statement,  which must address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above.
• Strong interest in curriculum development, computer-based modeling, analysis, aerospace design, and laboratory development in B.S. and M.S. programs; and pursuing grants and supervising student research.
• Demonstrated ability to provide hands-on education in a multidisciplinary and diverse environment.
• Excellent written communication skills.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications: 

• Primary expertise in one or more of these areas: 1. Aerospace Structures; 2. Aerospace Vehicle Design including UAS and eVTOL; and 3. Aerospace Propulsion.
• A bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Industrial experience in aerospace engineering.
• Aerospace engineering teaching experience at an ABET-accredited program.

Conditions of Employment:

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

The CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so. Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process should be prepared to comply with this requirement. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ . Questions regarding the policy may be sent to [email protected].

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of

1. A cover letter (limit to 2 pages) that describes the candidate’s teaching and research experience and interests that addresses the duties and qualifications articulated in this position description.
2. A curriculum vitae comprised of at least those elements specified on the application form and three or more individual contact references: (a) names, (b) titles, (c) addresses (d) telephone numbers.
3. A Student Success Statement that demonstrates your commitment and record of contributions through applicant’s teaching, scholarship, or service, by addressing at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above (limit to 2 pages).
4. Statements of teaching and research philosophy (limit to 2 pages each).
5. First, refer to the Cal Poly Pomona online catalog for the list of Aerospace courses for our BS and MS Programs. See: http://catalog.cpp.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=57&ent_oid=4957&
   Then prepare, from the list of Aerospace courses in the Cal Poly Pomona catalog, three lists: (a) courses the candidate is prepared to teach with minimal preparation, (b) courses they can teach with some additional preparation, and (c) new courses they would like to develop for the Department.
6. Unofficial transcripts showing highest degree earned.

Finalists for the position will: 

• be required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview; 
• be required to 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 Nov 30, 2022.  

Please direct inquiries to

Faculty Search Committee
c/o Dr. Navid Nakhjiri

Aerospace Engineering Department
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA 91768

Phone: 909.869.2470

Email:  [email protected]

Applications accepted only via PageUp – online application portal – for University hires.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action 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.