Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering at University of Nevada, Reno

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or [email protected]. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778. 

The Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Nevada, Reno invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position to support the continued growth and excellence of the department.

This faculty role encompasses responsibilities in teaching, research, and service. In alignment with the University’s mission as a land-grant institution, the successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses, supervise graduate students, conduct impactful research in their area of expertise, and develop externally funded research programs.

Additional duties include contributing to university service and engaging in professional activities that advance the field of mechanical engineering. The department seeks individuals who are committed to fostering an inclusive academic environment and who demonstrate a strong potential for scholarly achievement and instructional excellence.

Required Qualifications

All applicants must have a Doctoral Degree in Mechanical Engineering or another closely related field.

Candidates whose specialization and interests complement existing research and instructional strengths in the department and affiliated programs will be preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with expertise in any area of mechanical engineering will receive full consideration. While expertise in solid mechanics and materials is desirable, any candidate who can demonstratively support major university initiatives such as Lithium infrastructure and battery technology, aligning with state priorities on alternative energy and local industry needs, is encouraged to apply

Compensation Grade

Assistant Professor – 9-month, tenure-track

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty (9- month). Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.

Remarkable Retirement!

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University.   With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow!  All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada. 

 Perks of Working at UNR!

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.  E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center

• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Several Diversity Committees and Affinity Groups focusing on campus-wide diversity initiatives to ensure we are working to create a diverse and welcoming campus climate. Diversity Groups

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Grants-in-Aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits but, in order to be eligible, children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner.  Faculty Grants-in-Aid

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Program

Department Information

Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic department within a rapidly growing R1 research university. The university recently completed a $14-million renovation of the Mechanical Engineering building in 2017, and the new $100-million William N. Pennington Engineering Building, which includes an ISO-5 (CLASS 100) cleanroom, in 2020. Departmental resources include access to the University’s High Performance Computing facility, and a 5700 sq. ft. Aerospace Engineering Experimental Station secured in support of the Department’s new aerospace engineering program. Reno is one of ten participants nationwide in the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program. UNR is in proximity to, and the ME department has existing relationships with NNSS, LLNL and PNNL.

College Information  

The College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno values its faculty and staff as key partners in the University’s mission to provide outstanding learning, discovery and engagement programs. Our dynamic, mid-sized college is interested in hiring faculty and staff whose goals are aligned with our mission to serve Nevada, the nation and the world by:

· Providing a state-of-the-art education

· Conducting high-quality fundamental and applied research

· Engaging in high-impact outreach activities; and

· Fostering a culture of respect, inclusiveness and diversity among students, faculty and staff

Our research faculty is supported by an Engineering Research Office that helped the college garner $33 million in research awards in CY 2023. The college also offers training, professional development opportunities and resources to ensure your success.

We offer multiple bachelor’s and graduate degrees and graduate certificates through our five departments:

· Chemical & Materials Engineering

· Civil & Environmental Engineering

· Computer Science & Engineering

· Electrical & Biomedical Engineering

· Mechanical Engineering

Each department has research focus areas; additionally, the College boasts several specialized research facilities supporting a wide range of innovative projects. Key facilities include the Center for Civil Engineering Earthquake Research (CCEER), which houses advanced earthquake simulation equipment like shake tables and a large-scale structures lab and the Cybersecurity Center, focusing on protecting information and communication technologies. Additionally, the Davidson Foundation Cleanroom supports research in nanotechnology and materials science. The Nevada Water Innovation Institute and the SOLARIS University Transportation Center are also notable, contributing to sustainable water management and transportation research. These facilities enable cutting-edge research and collaboration with industry partners, driving technological advancements and economic growth in Nevada and beyond.

We are strategically located in a growing tech and manufacturing area, 10 miles from the Tahoe-Regional Industrial Center, 12-mile industrial park housing facilities for such tech companies as Tesla, Panasonic, Blockchain, Google, Jet.com and Switch. Just north of Reno is the Nevada Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site, where researchers develop, test and deploy technology related to robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Nevada also is on the forefront of battery technology, aerospace and defense, water technologies, manufacturing and logistics operations as well as research into sustainable energy sources.

For more information, please visit https://www.unr.edu/engineering

Contact Information

Search Chair - Matteo Aureli, [email protected]

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at [email protected].

Attach the following attachments to your application

1) Resume/CV

2) Cover Letter with statement of qualifications

3) Contact Information for three professional references

4) Statement of research philosophy and future research plans

5) Statement of teaching philosophy and interests. Include description of the courses of the mechanical engineering curriculum interested in teaching and the development of any new courses.

Full Consideration

For full consideration, applications must be received by November 15, 2025.

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno