Assistant Professor, Tenure Track - Robotics in Mechanical Engineering
Position Overview
Organization: Mechanical Engineering
Title: Assistant Professor, Tenure Track - Robotics in Mechanical Engineering
Position Details
Position Description
The Department of Mechanical Engineering, within the College of Engineering, at the University of Washington, Seattle, invites outstanding faculty candidates to apply for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty position. This position is on a 9-month service period with an anticipated start date of September 16, 2026.
This position is aimed at recruiting exceptional candidates in any of the subdisciplines of Mechanical Engineering, with a particular focus on Robotics. The UW Mechanical Engineering Department has achieved international prominence in additive and advanced manufacturing, including composite materials manufacturing, biomechanics and biomedical engineering sciences, physics-based machine learning and artificial intelligence modeling and controls, energy storage and electrification, renewable energy and thermal and fluid sciences. The successful candidates will be expected to develop a strong research program on the fundamentals of Robotics, with applications to one or many of the areas of impact for which Mechanical Engineering is well-known. The successful candidate will also be expected to strengthen some of these key areas and to open new subfields with high promise at the national level and in collaboration with industry.
The successful applicants will be expected to develop an internationally recognized extramurally funded research program and to provide innovative, high-quality teaching. The candidates will also be expected to contribute to a learning environment that welcomes and values all lived experiences and points of view, collaborate with members of the department, as well as other researchers within the University and affiliated institutions, participate in the department’s teaching in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs, and contribute to the mentoring, and training of graduate students in the department’s Masters and/or Ph.D. programs. Candidates are expected to propose and implement new initiatives in the undergraduate curriculum, and graduate courses in their areas of expertise, as well as activities to involve students from all backgrounds in research.
The ME Department at the University of Washington is in a significant and sustained growth period and seeks to build on existing strengths while expanding its impact. Candidates with a strong background in any area of Mechanical Engineering are encouraged to apply. We want to emphasize that the individual’s excellence in research, as clearly identified by a record of publication in archival journals and presentations at top international conferences, is more important than the specific area of sub-specialization.
The University of Washington, located in Seattle, Washington, the heart of the high-tech Pacific Northwest, is one of the world’s leading universities, ranking No. 8 in Best Global Universities in 2025 by U.S. News & World Report (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings). The College of Engineering and the ME Department foster a highly collegial and collaborative culture. Applications from women, underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans are strongly encouraged. We are committed to creating innovative and high-quality research and teaching programs that contribute to a diverse and inclusive campus environment.
The Mechanical Engineering department’s research and teaching portfolio covers all aspects in the broad field of mechanical engineering. The department currently has 45 tenured, tenure track, research and teaching faculty, over700 undergraduates, 250 Master’s students, 160 PhD students and 30 postdoctoral researchers, and continues to grow. More information about the ME department is available at http://www.me.washington.edu.
The base salary range for this position will be $12,000-$17,000 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. The successful applicant will be expected to provide innovative, high-quality teaching; to develop a vigorous, externally-funded research program; and to contribute to the goals and missions of the department, college, and university.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a PhD or foreign equivalent doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
Instructions
Applications should include: 1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) statements of research plans and educational experience and philosophy, and 4) a statement of how they have contributed to diversity, equity and inclusion at the previous institutions they have been affiliated with and how they plan to contribute to the UW’s efforts and goals in DEI. The applicant should also provide the names and contact information for at least three references and copies of their three most significant publications.
Applications can be submitted at: https://apply.interfolio.com/175651. Review of applications will begin Dec 15, 2025, with applications accepted until the position is filled. Additional questions may be addressed to MEChair@uw.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
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Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.