Professor of Practice (Open Rank) - Mechanical Engineering

Professor of Practice (Open Rank) - Mechanical
Engineering

Job Class Code:

FLSA:

Posting Number: FRGV2083

Location: Brownsville, Texas

Division/Organization: Provost - Academic Affairs

Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position: 3 years

Tenure Status: Non Tenure Track

FTE: 1.0

Scope of Job:

We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's student body as a
Professor of Practice of Mechanical Engineering beginning in the
2026-2027 academic year based at the Brownsville campus.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas
Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invites applications for an Open-Rank
Professor of Practice position (Assistant/Associate/Full depending
on qualifications and experience), beginning Fall 2027, to support
the department's continued growth and increasing student
enrollment. The department currently serves over 1400 undergraduate
and graduate students and includes 27 full-time faculty members
dedicated to delivering high-quality education, impactful research,
and meaningful student engagement through its ABET-accredited
program. Before Fall 2026, the department only offered the first
two years of undergraduate courses at the Brownsville campus. These
positions are part of a strategic plan to expand to the delivery of
the full four-year curriculum at the Brownsville campus. The
successful candidate(s) will have the opportunity to help lead this
expansion. They will be responsible for teaching undergraduate
courses across multiple mechanical engineering disciplines at the
Brownsville campus. Additional responsibilities include advising
and mentoring students, supporting outreach and recruitment
initiatives, and building collaborations with local schools,
community colleges, and industry partners. Applicants should
possess industry experience, strong communication and interpersonal
skills, and a commitment to practical, application-oriented
teaching. UTRGV is a Hispanic-Serving Institution dedicated to
serving a diverse student population. The successful candidate will
shape the growth of a young, dynamic mechanical engineering program
at a high-impact public university, contribute to the Brownsville
campus expansion, a cornerstone of UTRGV's regional development
strategy, inspire a diverse new generation of engineers and leaders
in South Texas, one of the nation's most rapidly developing
regions, and collaborate with strong industry and government
partners to design applied learning ecosystems that reflect
real-world practice.For priority consideration, applications must
be received by December 31, 2026.Applications will continue to be
reviewed until positions are filled. A complete application will
include the following required documents: Curriculum Vitae,
Unofficial Transcripts, List of 3 References, Letter of Interest,
Research Statement (including highlights of major project, industry
collaborations), and Teaching Philosophy (including how you
incorporate applied/industry-relevant learning and
mentoring).

About UTRGV: UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley
and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education
dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading
research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we
support sustainable development, community engagement, and
well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is
committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and
talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do,
including teaching, research, and service.Drawing on our unique
identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual
and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and
success by building from strength in education and creating a
vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate
transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving
meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding
access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering
authentic community engagement and integration. UTRGV is a
distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and
multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the
entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students
enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top
3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students.
For additional information, please visit UTRGV
website.

College Background: The College of Engineering and
Computer Science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
(UTRGV) hosts an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in materials
science and engineering, and a Ph.D. program in computer science
with interdisciplinary applications. The research centers in the
college include the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation
and Cyber Systems (CAMICS), the Center for Nanotechnology, the
Center for Aerospace Research, Industrial Assessment Center, the
NSF Center for Multidisciplinary Research Excellence in
Cyber-Physical Infrastructure Systems (MECIS), and the University
Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS). For further
information regarding the College, please visit our websites
athttps://www.utrgv.edu/cecs/.

Department Background:The Department of Mechanical
Engineering at UTRGV has an enrollment of almost 1400 undergraduate
and 100+ graduate students. The Department offers an ABET-
accredited Bachelor of Science, Master of Science degree in
Mechanical Engineering, and along with the college, a Master of
Science degree in Biomedical Engineering as well as a PhD degree in
Material Science & Engineering. For further information
regarding UTRGV and the Mechanical Engineering Department, please
visit our websites at https://www.utrgv.edu/mece/.

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must have an earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a
related field from an accredited university (at least conferred
before the start date of September 1, 2027). Prospective candidates
in all mechanical engineering areas are strongly encouraged to
apply.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications:

Candidates at the Assistant Professor of Practice level
(non-tenure-track) position will be considered based on
demonstrated potential to enhance the teaching, service, and
capabilities of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Preferred Qualification:

Experienced in teaching a broad range of undergraduate mechanical
engineering courses, from lower to upper-level, encompassing
thermal-fluids, mechanics, and design (e.g., thermal fluids
sequence, computer aided design and engineering design
sequence).

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and
Experience

License or Certification Required?: No

Number of Vacancies: 3

Desired Start Date: 09/01/2027

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to
promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all
individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex,
age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In
accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is
committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures
non-discrimination in its education programs and activities,
including employment. We encourage women, minorities and
differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of
interest.

Open Date: 10/21/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All applications must be submitted via the UTRGV application portal
at https://careers.utrgv.edu. Complete
all sections on the application. If you are applying for the first
time, please complete all biographical information including
address, email and phone number. You may update this at any time by
selecting to edit your profile in the application. Incomplete
applications will not be considered.

Security sensitive: All UTRGV employees are required to have a
criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all
candidates invited for an on-campus interview.

Additional Information:

UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the
position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the
Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office
environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby
subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The
retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of
Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per
week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option
to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS,
subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135
days in length.

Please Note:

Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not
English todemonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a
satisfactory paper-basedtest score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or
internet-based of 61) on the Test ofEnglish as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on theInternational
English Language Testing System (IELTS). Incomplete applications
will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget
approval.

To apply, visit https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/52897
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