Associate Professor of Practice or Professor of Practice of Astronautical Engineering

The University of Southern California invites applications for a teaching faculty position in the Department of Astronautical Engineering (https://astronautics.usc.edu) in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.  We are looking for outstanding faculty candidates at the senior ranks of Associate Professor of Practice or full Professor of Practice.  This is a full-time, benefits-eligible faculty position on the non-tenure track.  Significant administrative work would also be required.  The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty and welcomes applications from women; individuals of African, Hispanic and Native American descent; veterans; and individuals with disabilities.

Ideal candidates will have the experience and knowledge necessary to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the primary areas of astronautical engineering. Candidates with appropriate qualifications may also be considered for an administrative appointment to serve as Director of the Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering program, in addition to teaching.  Responsibilities and duties of this administrative role include, but are not limited, to the following:  Overseeing of day-to-day operations of the program, including on-campus and online student recruitment and academic advisement; short-term and long-term class scheduling; overseeing recruitment, instruction, and advising of part-time instructors; and, in collaboration with the department’s full-time faculty and School leadership, defining the program's strategic goals and guiding the program’s development. The Director also is expected to advance the program’s reach to students and the R&D customer base in academia, industry, government centers, and other stakeholders in the space enterprise.

Applicants must have an earned doctoral degree in astronautical engineering, or a related field, and are expected to have a strong commitment, experience, and track record in teaching.  Applications must include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a teaching statement (up to 2 pages), and names of at least three professional/teaching references. Applicants are encouraged to include a succinct statement on fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion.  Applicants may optionally include a research statement.  These materials should be submitted electronically at https://astro.usc.edu/pp-position by January 15, 2025.  Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications submitted after January 15, 2025, may not be considered.

The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is among the top tier engineering schools in the world. It counts 213 full-time, tenure-track faculty members, and it is home to the Information Sciences Institute, the Institute for Creative Technologies, two previously awarded National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers, a Department of Energy EFRC (Energy Frontiers Research Center), and the Department of Homeland Security’s first University Center of Excellence, CREATE. The School is affiliated with the USC Stevens Center for Innovation. Research expenditures typically exceed $177 million annually.

The annual base salary range for the following faculty ranks in this posting are:

    • Associate Professor of Practice: $125,000 - $142,000

    • Professor of Practice: $147,000 - $184,000

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state.

The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is committed to enabling the success of dual career families and fosters a family-friendly environment.  USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance.