Aerospace Engineering (Aerospace Design and Systems Engineering), Assistant Professor

Aerospace Engineering (Aerospace Design and Systems
Engineering), Assistant Professor

Job No: 559195

Work Type: Instructional Faculty –
Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location: Pomona

Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association,
Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Engineering, On-site
(work in-person at business location)

Tenure Track Faculty Position

Assistant Professor of Aerospace Design and Systems
Engineering

Department of Aerospace Engineering

College of Engineering

Salary Range: $107,312 - 111,312

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites
applications for a tenure track faculty position in the Department
of Aerospace Engineering. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three
polytechnic universities in the 22-campus
California State University system and among 12 such
institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly
Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning
education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse
perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in
the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional
disciplines, the university is well known for its learn- by-doing
approach and
Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre
campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K.
Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the
territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who
are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university's
nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus's more
than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master's
degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a
doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No.
2 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional
universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value
college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a
Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native
American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national
leader in promoting social mobility, and was
placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding
bachelor's degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in
Higher Education. In 2022, the campus launched the Black Thriving Initiative recognizing
that Cal Poly Pomona's future as a university is linked to the
success of its Black community. More information about our
Principles of Community can be found here.

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of
downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange,
Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour's drive
of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about
the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty
life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population. Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic
university in the nation for student diversity and economic
mobility. Our caring and inclusive campus community is committed to
helping anyone who dreams of success achieve it. In Fall 2024, Cal
Poly Pomona served more than 25,000 students and close to 2,000
graduate students, mostly residents of California. Over half of Cal
Poly Pomona students are first-generation college students, 70%
receive financial aid, and 42% are low-income students. The
university enrolls 57% percent of historically underrepresented
students. Our diverse student body identifies as 54%
Hispanic/Latinx, 21% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3%
unknown, 2% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native
American. Forty-five percent of students enroll in our STEM majors
and our top five enrolled programs across the university include
mechanical engineering, computer science, civil engineering,
psychology, as well as finance, real estate, and law.

College of Engineering:

The College of Engineering's mission is to prepare students for
industry and advanced studies by implementing an inclusive
polytechnic philosophy through collaborative teamwork, innovation,
entrepreneurship, and professional integrity. The College offers 12
ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees and 7 Master's degrees to
over 6,300 students across seven academic departments that include:
Aerospace Engineering, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Civil
Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electromechanical
Engineering Technology, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,
and Mechanical Engineering. The College is nationally recognized by
U.S. News & World Report and currently ranks 5th among
undergraduate engineering programs in non-doctorate-granting public
institutions. Additionally, it houses more than 40 student clubs
that offer hands-on learning opportunities and have been recognized
at several national competitions. We encourage a broad range of
applicants who are committed to enhancing a culturally diverse
community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to an inclusive
campus environment.

Department of Aerospace Engineering:

The Aerospace Engineering Department at Cal Poly Pomona serves more
than 750 undergraduate and graduate students and offers a
comprehensive aerospace engineering education rooted in the
university's polytechnic, learn-by-doing tradition. The department
has a strong culture of hands-on teaching, student-centered
mentoring, and applied scholarship in areas that include
aerodynamics, aircraft and spacecraft structures, flight mechanics,
orbital mechanics, propulsion, systems engineering, autonomous
systems, and aerospace vehicle design. Students engage in
open-ended design problems, laboratory work, computational
analysis, senior projects, and national competitions that connect
classroom learning to real aerospace engineering practice. Faculty
support a wide range of student groups and project teams, including
AIAA design teams, student research groups, faculty research
groups, and other project-based efforts that reflect the technical
breadth and professional interests of our students.

The department provides a supportive environment for faculty who
value teaching excellence, student success, applied research, and
close interaction with students. Faculty and students have access
to well-equipped instructional and research laboratories, including
subsonic and supersonic wind tunnel laboratories, a UAV laboratory,
an aerospace structures laboratory, an astronautics laboratory, and
the Liquid Rocket Lab. The department is proud of the diversity of
its student body and is committed to creating an inclusive academic
environment in which students from different backgrounds can
succeed, contribute, and see themselves as aerospace engineers.
This commitment is reflected in faculty mentoring, team-based
design experiences, support for student organizations,
undergraduate research, senior projects, and efforts to provide
students with practical pathways into graduate study, industry, and
public-sector aerospace careers.

Position description:

The Aerospace Engineering Department at California State
Polytechnic University, Pomona, invites applications for one
tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning in Fall 2027.
We seek candidates with expertise in Aerospace Design and Systems
Engineering, with a particular interest in aircraft design and the
design of complex aerospace systems. The successful candidate will
teach lower-division, upper-division, and graduate courses in
aerospace engineering, with expected contributions to aircraft
design, spacecraft design, systems engineering, and other
design-oriented areas of the curriculum. The candidate will also
support the department's senior design sequence and other
project-based learning activities, develop new curriculum and
learning experiences in aerospace design and systems engineering,
and establish an active scholarly program in their area of
expertise. Additional responsibilities include mentoring
undergraduate and graduate students, pursuing external funding,
participating in department, college, and university service, and
supporting the department's polytechnic, hands-on educational
mission.

Minimum requirements include:

• A Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or a closely aligned field

from an accredited university. The degree must be conferred by the
start date of the position.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Academic experience or strength in Aerospace Design and Systems

Engineering, with particular interest in:

• Aircraft design
• design of complex aerospace systems
• Systems engineering
• Model based systems engineering (MBSE).
• Demonstrated ability or potential for teaching undergraduate

and graduate aerospace engineering courses and developing
design-oriented curriculum.

• Demonstrated ability or potential for authoring peer-reviewed

publications, securing external funding, and mentoring
undergraduate and graduate student research.

• Industrial, government, or professional experience in aerospace

engineering, aircraft design, systems engineering, or related
areas.

• A bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from an

ABET-accredited program.

• Strong communication skills.

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of:

• Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the

position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and
preferred qualifications;

• Curriculum vitae;
• Teaching Philosophy statement (2-page max) that addresses Cal

Poly Pomona's commitment to excellence in education (see
above).

• Research Statement (2-page max);
• The names and contact information for at least three

individuals that can serve as references;

• Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, official

transcripts will be required of finalists)

• Applicants should review the list of undergraduate and graduate

Aerospace Engineering courses in the Cal Poly Pomona University
Catalog:
https://catalog.cpp.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=78&ent_oid=6316.
Based on this course list, applicants should submit a brief
statement or table identifying: (a) courses they are prepared to
teach with minimal preparation, (b) courses they would be able to
teach with some additional preparation, and (c) new courses they
would be interested in developing for the Department.

Finalists for the position will be required to:

• Provide official transcripts for the highest degree before the

on-campus interview.

• Provide three letters of reference dated within the last two

years.

• Create a presentation showcasing scholarly work and a teaching

demonstration for faculty and students.

First consideration will be given to completed applications
received by October 15, 2026. Applications received after the
deadline will be reviewed at the discretion of the search
committee. Applications accepted only via
PageUp.-online application portal-for University hires.

Please direct inquiries to:

Faculty Search Committee Chair

Dr. Navid Nakhjiri

Aerospace Engineering Department

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Email: nnakhjiri@cpp.edu

Disclosures

Education Code 89521 Requirements:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=89521."
href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=89521.">Pursuant
to Education Code 89521 applicants will be required to
disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision
or final judicial decision determining that they have committed
sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a
determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for
the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.
Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process
must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of
information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to
the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of
misconduct.

Background Check:

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be
satisfactorily completed. Offers of employment are conditional and
may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying
information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly
withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily
complete the background check may affect the continued employment
of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the
position.

Out of State Employment:

In accordance with the California State University (CSU)
Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose
business operations reside within the State of California and
prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of
California. It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus
presence to fulfill their responsibilities.

Mandated Reporter:

The person holding this position is considered a "mandated
reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in
CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

International Candidates:

On September 19, 2025, a $100,000 Fee for H-1B employment petitions
was established by the "Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on
Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers." Due to a pending lawsuit
and interim federal court decision, the Fee is currently
unenforceable and cannot be charged. As a result, for tenure-track
faculty positions, Cal Poly Pomona is currently able to consider
sponsoring applicants for H-1B employment. However, a future court
decision or governmental action could at any time change and
reverse the Fee's status. For that reason, whether Cal Poly Pomona
is able and willing to serve as a sponsor will depend on the actual
status of the Fee at the time an eligible candidate is selected. As
previously noted, Cal Poly Pomona will not sponsor applicants for
H-1B employment who are subject to the Fee. For faculty already in
the United States who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa (such as F-1,
J-1, or O-1), Cal Poly Pomona is able to consider filing a petition
to change their status to H-1B based on the current determination
that the fee does not apply. For questions, please contact the
Office of Faculty Affairs at avpfa@cpp.edu. We strongly recommend
that faculty review their individual circumstances carefully with
their personal immigration legal counsel.

Clery Act:

In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus
security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act,
California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education
Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona's Annual Security Report
and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at Cal Poly
Pomona's Annual Security Report and
Cal Poly Pomona's Annual Fire Safety Report.

EEO Statement:

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex,
color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law
and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal
opportunity in education and employment without unlawful
discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color,
ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity
means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the
resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a
university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona
complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California
Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art.
I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable
state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's
Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential
treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status,
and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all
university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly Pomona is a diverse community of individuals who represent
many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering
an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment.
We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and
belonging to support educational excellence and student success.
Through academic programs, student organizations and activities,
faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage
meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher
education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and
empowering individuals to reach their full potential by
prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff
training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs.
At Cal Poly Pomona, excellence is built on talent, merit,
diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Reasonable Accommodation:

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees
with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or
requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the
application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by
email at ADACoordinator@cpp.edu. For
more information, go to
Employment Notices.

Other Notices:

For other important employment notices, we invite you to visit

Cal Poly Pomona's Employment Notices web page.

Advertised: June 11, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight
Time

Applications close: Open Until Filled

To apply, visit https://careers.pageuppeople.com/873/po/en-us/job/559195/aerospace-engineering-aerospace-design-and-systems-engineering-assistant-professor

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