Northwestern College seeks a motivated and collaborative engineering educator to join its developing undergraduate engineering program in August 2027. This position will teach civil engineering courses such as Engineering Materials with Lab, Geomatics, and Design of Concrete Structures, as well as foundational engineering courses such as Statics. The ideal candidate will have expertise in a civil engineering specialty or closely related field, a commitment to excellent undergraduate teaching,…
and enthusiasm for mentoring future engineers. Candidates at various stages of their academic careers are encouraged to apply, including those beginning their faculty careers.
The full-time teaching load is 24 credit hours per academic year. In addition to teaching, the successful candidate will participate in scholarship and service appropriate to their experience and career stage. These activities may include student-engaged research, senior design projects, work toward ABET accreditation and other contributions to the program, college or engineering profession. Faculty members also participate in recruiting and advising engineering students, with these responsibilities developing as they gain experience at Northwestern.
Northwestern enjoys a strong reputation in the sciences based on the accomplishments of our faculty and graduates and on the college’s commitment to courageous and confident inquiry, exploration and discovery of God’s truth as revealed in Scripture and the natural world. Our new health and natural sciences building testifies to this investment in the sciences. The expansion of our academic offerings to include engineering extends that commitment by preparing graduates to influence our world in faithful and courageous obedience to God’s calling in their lives. New facilities were recently constructed as the first of our anticipated engineering learning spaces.
Required Qualifications
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in civil engineering, structural engineering or a closely related field to be considered for a tenure-track position. Candidates with a master’s degree and professional experience may be considered for instructor or professor-of-practice appointments.
Candidates should demonstrate effective teaching or teaching potential, an interest in mentoring undergraduate students, and a commitment to continued growth as an engineering educator. Evidence of scholarly activity or the potential for meaningful scholarly engagement is expected.
Candidates will exhibit a love of Christ, an embrace of the Gospel, and support the college’s mission & values, including our Reformed, evangelical and ecumenical identity as stated in our Christian Identity Statement, Mission Statement, Vision for Learning and Vision for Diversity. We view these statements as complementary and draw from each in fulfilling our mission. We seek faculty invested in teaching, a program of scholarly activity, and the mission of excellence in the liberal arts, as a vital expression of commitment to Christ’s redemptive work in the world.
In sum, successful candidates will:
- Offer evidence of a growing Christian faith and commitment to Scripture.
- Understand engineering as a vocation through which Christians love God and their neighbors by serving others and stewarding God’s creation.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in personal, teaching and professional development.
- Contribute to a collegial and collaborative faculty community, working constructively with colleagues across the engineering program and the broader college.
- Bring enthusiasm and initiative to the development of a new and innovative academic program.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred candidates will have a Professional Engineer (P.E.) license and experience in engineering education or professional practice relevant to foundational courses, including areas such as geomatics/surveying, engineering materials, fluid mechanics and mechanics of solids. Research interests conducive to undergraduate student involvement are particularly desirable.
Experience with engineering accreditation, assessment or program development is also desirable. Northwestern College intends to pursue accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), and candidates interested in contributing to the development of an excellent, student-centered engineering program are especially encouraged to apply.
Candidates should be prepared to grow into the responsibilities of engineering faculty life, including teaching, scholarship, service, student mentoring, recruiting and advising.
Apply online and send a letter of interest in which you (1) describe your teaching experience and (2) scholarly trajectory; and (3) discuss how the following statements would inform and shape your teaching and scholarship: our Statement of Christian Identity, Vision for Learning and Vision for Diversity. Include a current curriculum vitae/resume and send to vpaa@nwciowa.edu.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.