Space Systems Engineering, Assistant or Associate or Professor

Overview

The ECE Department invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in space systems engineering, with emphasis in one or more of the following areas:(a) Space-based electro-optical (EO) and/or RF sensor systems, (b) Space-weather sensor systems and instrumentation, and/or (c) Spacecraft systems engineering (smallsats/Cube Sats, spacecraft instrumentation, mission design, integration, and operations).

Facilities, Testbeds, and Research Support The position includes dedicated lab space and access to shared university facilities and partner testbeds. Facilities support for space hardware programs includes electronics prototyping, RF/microwave measurement, optical/EO characterization, mechanical fabrication resources, and equipment and pathways for environmental qualification (e.g., thermal-vacuum/vibration) via shared or partner resources.

Startup and Mentoring Support

USU offers a competitive startup package commensurate with rank and program needs. For hardware-intensive programs, departments frequently assemble startup support that can include equipment, lab build-out, and graduate student support.

New faculty receive structured mentoring support (e.g., mentoring committee, teaching support, and proposal development resources).

This is an academic year (9 month) funded position. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2026.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

* Build a high-impact, externally funded research program; publish in peer-reviewed venues; and mentor graduate students.

* Teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses aligned with departmental needs and their expertise.

* Contribute to departmental, college, and university service and demonstrate professional engagement and leadership.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Aerospace, or a closely related field by the start date. Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the focus areas above and the ability to teach in the aligned curriculum. Ability to obtain a United States DoD Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Applicants are especially encouraged to highlight evidence of mission/hardware readiness, such as:

Flight or proto-flight hardware contributions (payloads, sensors, avionics, RF/EO subsystems), integration/test artifacts, or mission operations roles. Competitive funding trajectory (PI/co-PI history, proposal leadership, or a fundable near-term plan).

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

* Curriculum Vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV".

The docments listed below to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under "Documents 1-10"

* Cover letter summarizing motivation, qualifications, experience, and career goals.

* Names and contact information of at least three professional references (we will only solicit reference letters from final candidates).

* A concise statement of up to three pages that conveys your vision of how your proposed research program will:
1) address specific topical areas in your research area,
2) complement existing ECE Department research, and
3) integrate with other interdisciplinary research/faculty collaborators at USU.

* A teaching statement (two pages maximum) that explains your approach to teaching and briefly describes existing or new courses you would like to teach or develop.

* Your most relevant peer-reviewed publications.

Document size may not exceed 10 MB.

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.

College/Department Highlights

The ECE Department has current enrollments of approximately 300 undergraduate and 75 Masters and PhD graduate students. The department offers MS degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Space Systems Engineering, and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering. The department currently has 20 tenured/tenure-track faculty members and 2 professors of practice, with research expenditures of about $10M annually. USU is located in a spectacular Rocky Mountain valley that offers year-round recreation and is 80 miles north of Salt Lake City.

Formal evaluation of the applications will begin on November 1, 2024 and the search will continue until the position is filled.

Further inquiries should be made to:

Scott Budge Search Committee Chair Email: scott.budge

For additional information on USU or the department, please consult:http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..edu

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah's premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global…