Department Head

Department Head Position

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Utah State University (USU) invites applicants for a full-time Department Head with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. The MAE Department Head is responsible for strategic and visionary leadership to support USU's land- and space-grant mission including leadership of teaching, research, and service activities in a dynamic and ambitious department within the College of Engineering. The successful candidate will be an experienced leader with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, research, mentoring, and service. MAE seeks a Department Head that can broaden the department's engagements with USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory (a University Affiliated Research Center), national labs and other federal and industrial partners; collaborate with other departments and colleges; and interact collegially with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and the community. This is a 12-month tenured position that reports to the Dean of the College of Engineering.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field. Candidate experience should be commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor in MAE at USU. Applicants need to have demonstrated expertise in a relevant area of mechanical and aerospace engineering including but not limited to fluid dynamics, combustion and propulsion, flight mechanics, advanced air mobility, space dynamics, hypersonic flow, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials including composites, nuclear materials characterization, thermal hydraulics, controls, systems engineering, and computational modeling. Candidates should have a strong track record of research funding, teaching, service, mentorship, peer-reviewed publications or other research outputs, engagement with a broad array of partners, and a background in strong core fundamentals that allow them to work across multidisciplinary areas.

Responsibilities :

• Promote an ambitious vision and mission for the department consistent with the vision and mission of the College and University.
• Mentor the department's faculty members in their teaching, research, and service activities.
• Oversee curriculum development and delivery, assess educational outcomes, and accreditation.
• Monitor the administrative, financial, and space management components of the department.
• Raise extramural funds in support of the department's teaching, research, and service activities, and promote the development of research centers.
• Engage productively with academic, industrial, and government partners to advance an ambitious and impactful research and training programs.
• Enhance recognition of the department on national and international stages.
• Lead new faculty recruitment efforts and facilitate processes related to recruitment.

USU recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the university's academic mission of learning, discovery, and engagement. USU is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any of its programs and activities based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity / expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or local, state, or federal law.