APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park campus, invites applications for full-time, tenure-track faculty position to start in Fall 2026. The position is intended for the rank of Assistant Professor, although exceptional applicants may also be considered for the higher rank. The College of Engineering and the Department seek to grow their capability for research and education in sustainable space operations to enable a more sustainable, robust, and enduring space ecosystem. This includes spacecraft propulsion enabling new missions and applications for spacecraft, repairing and refueling spacecraft, building structures in-orbit, and fabricating components in space as dictated by rapid emerging needs. The desired areas of expertise include (but not limited to): space propulsion, space robotics, deployable space structures, on-board sensing, autonomy and AI to support space operations.

The job duties at each rank include establishing an impactful research program, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, developing new courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, advising students and service to the institute and the profession, and contributing to a diverse and inclusive community of faculty, staff and students. Applicants must have an earned doctorate in aerospace engineering or a related field by the start date. Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Applicants should submit electronically a single pdf file that contains: a cover letter; a CV; a single (5 pages max) summary of their activities and interests; and the names and contact information for at least three references. Within their summary, applicants should articulate: their plans to establish a research program attracting outside research sponsorship, contributing to the aerospace industry in the sustainable space operations, and resulting in published research findings; their vision for collaborating with the disciplinary strengths already in place within the Department and around Penn State in support of cross-disciplinary research and teaching; reflecting Penn State’s commitment to our educational mission, candidates should articulate their interests and experience in supporting undergraduate and graduate programs through teaching and advising.

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