Open-Rank, Term Mechanical Engineering Faculty

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing

Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty

Job Category:Instructional Faculty

Job Type:Full-Time

Work Schedule:Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Prince William County, VA

Workplace Type:Hybrid Eligible

Salary:Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check:Yes

Works with Minors check:Yes

About the Department:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) strives to provide an outstanding education to our undergraduate and graduate students that emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior and integrity, and prepares them for successful careers and future academic work. Furthermore, the department fosters active, visible, and leading-edge research that advances the field of mechanical engineering.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Mason is a young department, established in 2015. With rapid growth, the department has a vibrant undergraduate program with over 500 students. In spring 2025, the Life Sciences and Engineering Building (LSEB) was opened in the SciTech campus. LSEB houses a number of ME laboratories and machine shop used for undergraduate teaching. The department offers a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, PhD in Robotics, and graduate certificates in Responsible AI, Naval Ship Design, and Microfabrication. The department has a significant presence at both the Fairfax and SciTech (Manassas) campuses. Term faculty are instructional faculty within the department and the appointments are renewable. With high value placed on innovation and excellence in instruction, term faculty are viewed as master educators within the department. Additional information about the department can be obtained by visiting its website .

About the Position:

The George Mason University Department of Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering and Computing invites applications for a term faculty position beginning Fall 2026. Senior candidates with established records of outstanding teaching and/or engineering design experience will be eligible for term associate professor or professor positions.Candidates with an MS degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering field may be considered at the rank of Instructor or Senior Instructor.

Responsibilities:

Candidates to this position will be expected to:

• Develop a comprehensive program of teaching undergraduate and graduate courses:
• Participate in university, college and departmental governance;
• Advise students;
• Professional and public service, and
• Perform related instructional assignments such as supervising senior projects.

Required Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have

• Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching;
• Candidates with a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field may be hired as an Instructor; and
• A PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is required for the rank of Assistant Professor and above.

Preferred Qualifications:

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking a versatile educator able to:

• Teach undergraduate courses in a wide range of mechanical engineering subdisciplines;
• Applicants in all areas of Mechanical Engineering will be given full consideration. The department has identified a particular need in the subdiscipline of mechanical engineering design; and
• Candidates who can build collaborations with other departments within the College and across the University will benefit from the strong support and encouragement for interdisciplinary collaboration with the College and the University.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Open-Rank, Term Mechanical Engineering Faculty at Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information; and upload a cover letter, complete CV with publications, statement of professional goals including your perspective on teaching (upload as Philosophy of Teaching), and unofficial copy of transcript of the highest degree earned.

Review of application will continue until the position is filled.

Posting Open Date:December 12, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:January 20, 2026

Open Until Filled:Yes

A Force for Innovation in the Heart of Northern Virginia's Technology Corridor

About the College:

The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the CEC enrolled more than 11,000 students in fall 2025. The college has 34 undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Of its 326 instructional faculty, 100 are tenured, 64 are tenure-track, 100 are term faculty, and 62 are research faculty. As part of a nationally ranked research university, CEC research teams expended $83.7 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and had projects with over $66.8 million in awards. The college stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more. The college encourages and supports multidisciplinary research and provides ample opportunities for faculty to work with other disciplines.

About the University and the Region:

George Mason University is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students studying in over 200 degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. It was classified as an R1 research institution in 2016 by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Education. The university has campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William counties. Its proximity to Washington, D.C. provides unmatched geographical access to federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. The region is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country and has an outstanding local public school system.

About the Future:

In conjunction with Amazon's decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing. As a result, George Mason has committed to accelerating its plans to grow its capacity in computing and high-tech fields. Among the university's exciting initiatives are the launch of the Institute for Digital Innovation-a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy-and the expansion of Mason Square home to its Arlington facilities. In 2025, Fuse a new 355,000 square foot building, opened to students, faculty, and research teams. This net-zero facility will house the Institute for Digital Innovation, state-of the-art classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces. It will also include retail space, and leasing opportunities for local businesses. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by George Mason that will rapidly elevate the university's already leading national position in computing and related areas.