Open-Rank Faculty Position in Aerospace Engineering

Open-Rank Faculty Position in Aerospace Engineering

   

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

   

Florida Polytechnic University invites applications for multiple faculty positions in Aerospace Engineering at the open rank level, with preference given to candidates at the associate professor rank. These positions support the launch of Florida Poly’s new Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, which will welcome its first students in Fall 2026.

Florida Poly is the only public university in Florida dedicated exclusively to STEM education. We are a young and rapidly growing institution with a bold plan to expand to 3,000 students by 2030. The Aerospace Engineering degree will reside within the Mechanical Engineering department, which currently enrolls nearly 600 undergraduates and offers a well-established Aerospace concentration. The new degree program will draw directly from this concentration, expanding both its scope and structure.

The curriculum will focus on propulsion, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aerospace structures, and control systems. Students will engage in project-based learning beginning in their first year and will participate in mission-oriented senior design projects. These efforts are supported by long-standing collaborations with NASA Kennedy Space Center and the Florida Space Institute. Florida Poly’s design sequence was recognized as a strength during the university’s most recent reaccreditation cycle.

This is an opportunity to join a new and growing degree program from the ground up. Faculty in these roles will help shape the curriculum, define the student experience, and lay the foundation for a high-impact program with long-lasting institutional value. Your contributions will influence not only the program’s direction but also its role in shaping Florida’s future aerospace workforce.

Florida Poly offers small class sizes, a hands-on and applied learning environment, and a culture centered on undergraduate teaching excellence. While the focus is on undergraduate education, the university also offers a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, providing opportunities for graduate-level research, mentorship, and student advising.

We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in propulsion, hypersonic, or human spaceflight, though applicants from all aerospace-related areas are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates will have a strong record of teaching, research, and student engagement, and will bring enthusiasm for building a distinctive academic program from the ground up.

These are tenure-track equivalent positions that offer long-term contracts, advancement opportunities, and post-tenure review, governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the United Faculty of Florida.
The anticipated start date is August 2026, with the possibility of earlier appointments for curriculum development. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

   

JOB DESCRIPTION

   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION:

• For the rank of Assistant Professor:
  • Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field earned before the start date
• For the rank of Associate Professor:
  • Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field earned before the start date
  • Currently hold rank of Associate Professor or eligible to apply for Associate Professor at current institution.
• For the rank of Full Professor:
  • Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field earned before the start date
  • 6 years of experience at the rank of Associate Professor or equivalent

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Evidence of effective teaching.
• Relevant research or industry experience. 
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent and interdisciplinary funded applied research. 
• Active participation in professional activities and organizations. 
• Experience with students’ academic advising and mentoring. 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively with a broad campus community. 

APPLICATION PROCESS: All Applicants are required to submit the following in PDF format to Florida Polytechnic during the application process.   

• A cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae with contact information of three professional references
• Statement of teaching philosophy
• Statement of research interests
• Unofficial copy of the Ph.D./M.Sc. transcript. Transcripts issued outside of the United States require an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Please visit Members – NACES for a list of current members who provide this service type This report must be submitted with the application.

ABOUT FLORIDA POLY:

Florida Polytechnic University opened for classes in 2014-15 and is the twelfth university in the Florida State University System.  The University was created as an exclusively STEM-focused public university that offers high-value undergraduate and graduate degrees and that has intentional industry connections with a focus on economic development of the high-tech I-4 corridor. Dedicated to preparing students for the competitive STEM workforce, Florida Polytechnic University blends traditional subject matter mastery with problem solving and laboratory experiences to provide students with learning opportunities applicable to both the workplace and a career of lifelong learning. The University delivers its courses in small class sizes, emphasizes a positive student to faculty experience, and is dedicated to both its teaching and research mission. 

Lakeland, home to Florida Polytechnic University’s ultra-modern campus, is located along the I-4 High Tech Corridor halfway between Tampa and Orlando. Our central Florida community combines small town comfort with big-city culture. Florida’s High-Tech Corridor is home to 11,000 high-tech businesses, and Polk County alone has more than 600,000 residents, four universities and one state college. Lakeland is just a 45-minute drive from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, professional sports teams, and thriving performing art centers. With no income tax in Florida, and a high standard of living, Lakeland and Central Florida continue to rise among the best places to live and work.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution. It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information. Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. An appointment is not final until proof is provided.

FLORIDA POLY BENEFITS INFORMATION

Florida Poly qualified employees have the opportunity to take advantage of a variety of health benefits (through the State of Florida) to help meet their specific needs, as well as the needs of their family. This comprehensive coverage includes flexible spending accounts, medical and life insurance, and worker's compensation.

Health benefits are administered through People First, on behalf of the State of Florida, as pre-tax insurance plans. People First handles all new hire enrollments, coverage changes, premium administration, and dependent eligibility. Their Service Center is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. EST, at 1-866-663-4735.

RETIREMENT

Florida Poly offers great options for retirement. From the required selection of a state plan to additional voluntary retirement plans, our employees have many opportunities to save and prepare for their future. Click here for more information. 

FLORIDA POLY BENEFITS

• Perks and Discounts
• Annual Leave
  • To help promote work-life balance, Florida Poly provides a generous leave program, which includes paid time off and paid holidays. Qualified employees may accrue 22 days of annual leave. In addition, the University observes the holidays listed in our University Holidays policy FPU-1.008.
• Sick Leave
  • Qualified employees may also accrue 12 days of annual sick leave and participate in our Sick Pool Program.
• Employee Assistant Program (EAP)

EXPLORE LAKELAND FLORIDA

Conveniently located along I-4 between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is home to Florida Polytechnic University and many other businesses and attractions. Click here to explore Lakeland, Florida.

 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ATTACHMENTS:

 

Required attachments are listed on each posting.   Please be sure to attach all required documents in the Resume/CV field before continuing through the application. Once your application has been submitted, no changes may be made and additional attachments will not be considered. 

 

An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process. For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire. 

 

Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline.

 

All document(s) must be received on or before the closing date of the job announcements.  

  

  

This position requires a background check, which may include a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute §435.04.