Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering Department

College of Engineering

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in the Aerospace Engineering Department. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-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 campus initiatives and our Principles of Community can be found on the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s website. 

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 24,000 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 56% percent of historically underrepresented students. Our diverse student body identifies as 53% Hispanic/Latinx, 22% Asian, 13% White, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown, 3% African American/Black, 2% International, less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. Forty-three 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.  

Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.

*As a part of the application for faculty positions, all candidates must submit a Student Success Statement that demonstrates their commitment and record of contributions to diversity and equity through their teaching, scholarship, or service by speaking to at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria below. 

Candidates should explain how they have engaged in the criteria below in their pedagogy, scholarship, and/or service, as well as the level to which these efforts have been consistently incorporated into their work.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria:

1. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups or other disadvantaged communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;
   
   
2. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;
    
3. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;
   
   
4. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;
   
   
5. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline and uses it to inform their work in specific ways;
   
   
6. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;
   
   
7. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;
   
   
8. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and
   
   
9. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

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 6,500 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

Aerospace Engineering Department:

The Department, which serves over 700 students majoring in Aerospace Engineering, provides a comprehensive education that includes in-depth instruction in aerodynamics, aircraft and spacecraft structures, flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, aerospace propulsion, systems engineering, and the design of aerospace vehicles. U.S. News and World Report ranked Cal Poly Pomona Aerospace Engineering Department 4th in the nation in 2020 (tied with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University--Prescott) among institutions offering BS and MS degrees in aerospace engineering. Currently, about half of our undergraduate enrollment is underrepresented minorities, with nineteen percent female students. The minoritized and female student population is above the national average in this field, and we are proud of our diverse and inclusive culture. 

The aerospace curriculum emphasizes analysis and problem-solving, computer applications, laboratory work, and exposure to open-ended problems and design issues while fostering teamwork, communication skills, and individual professionalism.  Our students participate in AIAA design competitions, where they have won over a dozen top honors in the last 10 years, and the national AUVSI competition. The Department also requires an undergraduate thesis (Senior Project), which is usually undertaken by teams of students. The Department has eleven laboratories, including well-equipped Subsonic and Supersonic Wind Tunnel Labs, a UAV Lab, an Aerospace Structures Lab, and an Astronautics Lab. The newest lab in the Department is the Liquid Rocket Lab.

Position Description:

The Aerospace Engineering Department is inviting applications for two tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant Professor level. The positions will begin in August 2025 – Fall semester. The responsibilities will include teaching a wide variety of courses in aerospace engineering, with a primary focus on teaching and conducting research in at least one of the following areas:

1. Aerodynamics: Both Low- and High-Speed Aerodynamics with special interest in candidates with experience in theoretical and experimental Hypersonics.
2. Aerospace Structures: With a special interest in candidates with experience in theoretical and experimental aerospace structures.

Minimum requirements include: 

• A Ph.D. in aerospace engineering or a closely aligned field from an accredited university by appointment date.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and equity. Evidence should be provided in a Student Success Statement that responds to the prompt above - “Inclusive Excellence and Student Success.”

Preferred/Desired Qualifications: 

• Strong interest in curriculum development, including computer-based modeling, analysis, aerospace design, and laboratory development in B.S. and M.S. programs,
• Strong interest in scholarly activities, pursuing grants, and supervising student research.
• Primary expertise in:
  1. Aerodynamics: Both Low- and High-Speed Aerodynamics with special interest in candidates with experience in theoretical and experimental Hypersonics.
  2. Aerospace Structures: With a special interest in candidates with experience in theoretical and experimental aerospace structures.
• A bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Industrial experience in aerospace engineering.
• Aerospace engineering teaching experience at an ABET-accredited program with demonstrated ability to provide effective hands-on education.
• Excellent communication skills.

Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of

1. A cover letter (limit to 2 pages) that describes the candidate’s teaching and research experience and interests that addresses the duties and qualifications articulated in this position description.
2. A curriculum vitae with three or more individual contact references: (a) names, (b) titles, (c) addresses (d) telephone numbers.
3. A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) that responds to the prompt above - “Inclusive Excellence and Student Success” and addresses at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed (please indicate the criteria numbers in your Statement).
4. Statements of teaching and research philosophy (limit to 2 pages each).
5. First, refer to the Cal Poly Pomona online catalog for the list of Aerospace courses for our BS and MS Programs. See: http://catalog.cpp.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=57&ent_oid=4957&
   Then prepare, from the list of Aerospace courses in the Cal Poly Pomona catalog, three lists: (a) courses the candidate is prepared to teach with minimal preparation, (b) courses they can teach with some additional preparation, and (c) new courses they would like to develop for the Department.
6. Unofficial transcripts showing the highest degree earned.

Finalists for the position will: 

• be required to provide official transcripts for the highest degree before the on-campus interview; 
• be required to provide three letters of reference dated within the last two years; 
• Final candidates being interviewed are expected to make a presentation of research and a teaching demonstration to faculty and interact with students. 

The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than November 17, 2024. 

Salary Range for academic year, nine-month appointment: $107,000 - $111,300.

Please direct inquiries to

Dr. Navid Nakhjiri

Faculty Search Committee

Phone: 909.869.2470

Email:  nnakhjiri@cpp.edu

Applications are accepted only via PageUp—online application portal—for University hires.

Equal Opportunity Employer
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. The university seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The university hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university prepares a public annual security report.