Career Center

Faculty Positions in Mechanical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA seeks candidates for faculty positions starting July 1, 2026 or on a mutually agreed date thereafter. We seek candidates who will provide excellence and leadership in research, make substantial contributions to undergraduate and graduate education, and contribute to the growth of the MechE community. The search is for candidates to be hired at the assistant professor level; however, under special circumstances an untenured associate professor or senior faculty appointment is possible, commensurate with experience.

We are particularly interested in candidates whose research accomplishments and proposed work lies in one or more of the following areas. We also list representative topics of interest within each area.

• Controls, Instrumentation, and Robotics: Nonlinear control systems; learning and control of physical systems; bioinspired robotics; therapeutic/assistive robotics and human neuro-motor control; contact robotics and human-robot physical interaction; foundational theory of robotics; physics-informed robot learning; mechatronics.
• Manufacturing: process design and development; production equipment and automation; manufacturing systems; digital manufacturing; sustainable manufacturing; semiconductor manufacturing; biomanufacturing.
• Ocean Science and Engineering: AI-based ship design and shipbuilding; computational/experimental hydrodynamics; autonomy, intelligence and sensing for marine systems; ocean acoustics; marine power systems; ocean resources and sustainability.

Faculty duties include conducting original scholarly research, developing course materials and teaching courses in Mechanical Engineering and related subjects at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and student advising.

Candidates must hold an earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field by the start date of their faculty employment. Candidates with full-time industry experience along with an accomplished scholarly record are encouraged to apply.

Applications must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research interests (3 pages maximum), and a teaching and mentoring plan (1-2 pages). The teaching plan should highlight the candidate’s background and interests as related to core subjects in the MechE undergraduate curriculum. In addition, candidates should provide a broader impact statement (1-2 pages). The broader impact statement can cover topics including (but not limited to) service, contributions to the university and broader community, or other means of supporting the educational environment.

Candidates should also include copies of no more than three publications and arrange for four individuals to submit letters of recommendation on their behalf. This information must be entered electronically at the following site: https://school-of-engineering-faculty-search.mit.edu/meche/register.tcl. Early applications are encouraged, and applications must be received by January 15, 2026.

The pay range for a 9-month academic appointment at the entry-level Assistant Professor rank (excluding summer salary) is $140,000 – $150,000. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements. This pay range represents base pay only and does not include any other benefits or compensation.

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive equitable consideration for employment based on their experience and qualifications and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin. See MIT’s full policy on nondiscrimination: https://policies.mit.edu/policies-procedures/90-relations-and-responsibilities-within-mit-community/93-nondiscrimination. Know your rights: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/EEOC_KnowYourRights_screen_reader_10_20.pdf.

Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check, including possible verification of any findings of misconduct (or pending investigations) from prior employers.