Chief Editor, Nature Mechanical Engineering

Title: Chief Editor, Nature Mechanical Engineering

Location(s): New York or Shanghai – Hybrid Working Model

Deadline: October 5, 2025

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit about.springernature.com and @SpringerNature. 

About the Brand

Nature Portfolio is a flagship portfolio of journals, products and services including Nature and the Nature-branded journals, dedicated to serving the scientific community. Visit Nature.com and follow @Nature / @NaturePortolfio.

Nature Portfolio is a world leader in publishing high-quality research. The Nature Portfolio journals include Nature, the Nature Research journals, the Nature Reviews journals, Nature Communications as well as the Communications journals and NPJ series.

Springer Nature, publisher of Nature, seeks a Chief Editor for Nature Mechanical Engineering, a new journal launching in January 2027.

Nature Mechanical Engineering will be a multidisciplinary journal at the intersection of applied sciences and engineering, highlighting advancements the design and engineering of materials, devices and structures for understanding, control, enhancement and/or exploitation of mechanical forces and effects. The journal will also publish fundamental research underpinning our understanding of mechanical forces and effects which have significant and immediate value for engineering. 

The journal will emphasize real-world, societal applications of mechanical engineering, publishing original research, reviews, commentary, and opinion pieces across this broad domain. Nature Mechanical Engineering will connect researchers, industry experts, innovators, policymakers, and the public and will champion multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. Topics will span a wide array of disciplines, including (but not limited to): aerospace engineering, acoustics, biomechanical engineering, dynamics and control systems, frugal engineering, fluid mechanics, geomechanical engineering, materials engineering for mechanical applications, mechanics of energy systems, mechanical engineering in manufacturing, among others. Applications of these technologies will cover areas such as energy, environment, health and medicine, research, infrastructure, robotics, and beyond.

About the Role

To lead this endeavor, we seek an ambitious and innovative Chief Editor to guide Nature Mechanical Engineering into becoming the premier publication for mechanical engineering research.

The Chief Editor will lead an editorial team, managing all aspects of the editorial process, from manuscript selection to commissioning and editing Reviews and News & Views articles, as well as writing for the journal. Engaging with the scientific community through lab visits and international conferences will be essential; thus, willingness to travel is required.

The role offers the opportunity to work within a vibrant editorial and publishing network, including Nature, Nature Chemical Engineering, Nature Electronics, Nature Energy and Nature Biomedical Engineering. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, communicative, and personable. Broad scientific knowledge, writing skills, and the capacity to understand emerging research areas are essential.

For this exciting role, the ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in a relevant field, a strong research background, and connections with the target research communities.
• Previous editorial experience; experience with line management would be beneficial.
• Broad knowledge of the topics covered by the journal.
• Excellent literary and verbal communication skills.
• Outstanding leadership qualities.
• A positive attitude to change.
• Innovative and creative ideas for the future development of the journal.

Application Closing Date: October 5th - Please note we will be reviewing candidate applications as they are submitted and so encourage you to apply as early as possible.

To Apply, please submit the following:

• Recent CV
• Cover letter explaining your in