Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering - Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center

Job no: 552002
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: San José
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Engineering, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Assistant Professor

Mechanical Engineering, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering

Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $102k – $126k.

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

July 20th, 2026

January 15th, 2026

The Mechanical Engineering Department at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for an assistant professor (tenure track) beginning in July 2026. We are seeking candidates with a strong academic background in mechanical engineering and wildfire science. A key aspect of this position is that the faculty member will actively collaborate with the SJSU Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center (WIRC, https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).

a National Science Foundation, Industry‑University Cooperative Research Center) to seek funding and conduct research related to wildfire science and management. The center is dedicated to developing strategies, technologies and science‑based policies to manage wildfires and to better understand how wildfires will impact people and resources in the future. Specific areas of research interest include, but are not limited to: numerical modeling/CFD reactive flow;

wildfire dynamics; wildland‑urban interface fire spread; AI/ML for predictive/modeling/risk management; and combustion dynamics of wildland and urban fuels.

Providing high‑quality education is a top priority for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In addition to teaching engineering courses, faculty members in the department are expected to develop curricula and laboratories, and to plan to establish an independent research program via externally funded projects and peer‑reviewed publications. Faculty members advise undergraduate and postgraduate students through project supervision and academic planning. They also serve on committees and task forces under shared governance to improve policies and resources to enhance education.

The Mechanical Engineering Department, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering, and San José State University value inclusive excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll nearly 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first‑generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).

SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher‑scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill‑building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Inclusive Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success and inclusive education. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or relevant field by the time of the appointment.
• Ability to teach & develop courses in the thermo‑fluids area for Mechanical Engineering students at both undergrad and graduate levels.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Applicants should demonstrate an…