Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering - Mechatronics

Position Rank and Title: Tenure-track Assistant
Professor—Mechatronics

School/Department Name: Mechanical Engineering

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience,
and rank, in accordance with the
CSU
Salary Schedule . The anticipated annual salary range is 101,
000–124,000 .

Faculty benefits are competitive within higher education. See the

CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details.

Target Start Date: August 1, 2027

Application Deadline: December 31, 2026
(Applications will be accepted until the position is filled or the
search is closed.)

Position Description

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at San José State
University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant
Professor with expertise in mechatronics. Applicants must hold a
Ph.D. in mechanical engineering or a closely related field by the
time of appointment and demonstrate expertise in one or more areas
such as robotics, control systems, automation, physical AI,
sensors, embedded systems, or human–machine interfaces.

The successful candidate will demonstrate potential for excellence
in teaching undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and
hardware laboratory settings; developing an independent, externally
funded research agenda; publishing in peer-reviewed journal and
conference papers; and presenting at professional conferences. The
candidate must also have strong communication, teamwork, and
interpersonal skills; demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to
the educational goals of a diverse student population; and
contribute to the interdisciplinary strengths, infrastructure, and
industry partnerships of SJSU’s mechatronics programs.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SJSU Mechanical Engineering
provides an exceptional setting for teaching, research, and
collaboration. The department has strong programs in robotics and
mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, thermal and energy systems,
and mechanical design, supported by hands-on laboratories and
interdisciplinary research. Its proximity and connections to
Silicon Valley's technology, semiconductor, manufacturing, and
emerging engineering industries create opportunities for faculty to
develop industry partnerships, pursue applied research, and bring
real-world engineering challenges into the classroom.

The Mechanical Engineering Department and San José State University
value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing
equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than
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 Institutional
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. A guide to
writing this statement can be found at
SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines .

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in mechanical engineering or a closely related

engineering field by the time of appointment.

• Ability to teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses

in dynamics, robotics, mechatronics, and control systems.

• Demonstrated ability to conduct research in mechatronics or a

closely related field. .

• Awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a

socially, culturally, and economically diverse student population,
as demonstrated through cross-cultural study, training, teaching,
or comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the
following:

• Strong record of peer-reviewed publication.
• Experience or demonstrated interest in effective teaching and

pedagogical methods.

• Experience with extramural research funding proposals.
• Experience with industry collaboration, especially related to

mechatronics..

• Experience supervising undergraduate and/or graduate

students.

• Experience leading or contributing to interdisciplinary

projects in collaborative environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses in

mechatronics and related fields, including course preparation,
assessment of learning outcomes, and continuous improvement of
instructional methods.

• Conduct research, publish results in peer-reviewed venues,

pursue external funding, and supervise student research.

• Collaborate with SJSU faculty, other universities, and/or

industry partners on research and funding opportunities related to
robotics, mechatronics, and physical AI.

• Participate in shared governance and professional service at

the department, college, university, and professional levels.

• Organize courses and course materials in a

university-supported, learning management system (e.g., Canvas by
Instructure) and comply with all university-mandated accessibility
requirements.

• Support student success through inclusive course materials,

teaching strategies, advising, and mentorship that address the
needs of students with diverse backgrounds, abilities, identities,
and levels of academic preparation.

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered
mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect
Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set
forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide
policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus
Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act
training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the
institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned
and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA,
Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and
Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with
safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19
transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities
of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment
Application and submit the following materials:

• Letter of interest (maximum two pages).
• Curriculum vitae.

-
Institutional Excellence Statement , either as a separate
statement or incorporated into the letter of interest (maximum two
pages).

• Statement of teaching interests and philosophy (maximum two

pages).

• Research Interests and Future Plans (maximum two pages) .
• Contact information for at least three references.

Applicants are encouraged to include an Institutional Excellence
Statement, either separately or in the letter of interest,
describing how their lived and professional experiences would
contribute to the SJSU community, particularly student success. See
the
SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines for
guidance.

Questions may be directed to the Department Chair, Hohyun Lee, at
hohyun.lee@sjsu.edu
.

Pursuant to California 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.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the
State of California and requires establishing an on-campus
presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of
eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion
of background and reference checks (including criminal records and
prior employment) are required. SJSU will make a conditional offer
of employment, which may be rescinded if the background and
reference checks reveal disqualifying information, and/or it is
discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified
information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background and
reference checks may affect the continued employment of a current
employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public
University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative
regions in the world — San José State University is the
founding campus of the 22-campus California State University (CSU)
system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a
leading transformative educational institution, San José State is
an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and
social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California.
SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second
highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge
research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning,
diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU
to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good
locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of
Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender
Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status,
Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion,
Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and
Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State
University students, faculty, and staff as well as University
programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for
applicants
with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR)
is also now available for viewing at

https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf
. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy
statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information,
crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and
information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR
also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State
University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A
paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the
Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at
clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire
Safety Report (AFSR) is available at
https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf
. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires
that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the
three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety
policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A
paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the
Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Advertised: October 15, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight
Time

Applications close: