Professor (all ranks) in Spaceflight Mechanics and Astrodynamics

as part of a community of experts. Particular areas of interest include but are not limited to, Electric and Advanced Propulsion, Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation and Control (SGNC); Cislunar Astrodynamics; Satellite Constellations; Space Domain Awareness; Autonomous Systems; Orbital Debris and Space Environment; In-space Assembly, Manufacturing, and Space Robotics; and Interplanetary Trajectory and Mission Design.

We search for applicants who will contribute to our academic programs, promote transdisciplinary teaching and research, and help the university to achieve its aspirations, including enabling student success, transforming society, valuing entrepreneurship, and conducting use-inspired research. Faculty members in the Fulton Schools are expected to develop an internationally recognized and externally funded research program, adopt effective pedagogical practices in the development and delivery of undergraduate and graduate courses, advise both undergraduate and graduate student research and projects, and undertake service activities. 

The Aerospace Engineering program, ranked by USNWR in the top 20 universities for undergraduate and the top 20 public universities for graduate programs in aerospace engineering, plans to establish new BS/MS program in Space Engineering, which provides a pathway for development of SEMTE student and faculty interaction with the space-domain research initiatives at ASU, including: the MILO Space Science Institute; the New Space Initiative; ASU-led NASA programs such as Psyche and SPARCS; and satellite fabrication facilities such as the Interplanetary Cubesat Lab.

Appointment will be at the Assistant/Associate/(full) Professor rank, commensurate with the candidate’s experience and accomplishments, beginning August 2027. 

Essential Functions

• Contribute to curriculum development.
• Deliver instruction in-person and/or online.
• Supervise honors, master’s, and doctoral students.
• Conduct research publishable in top-tier journals and/or conferences in the discipline.
• Develop grant proposals for external funding as PI or co-PI.
• Participate in professional and internal service.

Required qualifications

• Earned doctorate in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment.
• Evidence of excellence in research, as appropriate to the candidate’s rank.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching, as appropriate to the candidate’s rank.

Desired qualifications  

• Demonstrated commitment to a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach to research and teaching.
• Demonstrated excellence in high-quality publications in top-tier journals and/or conferences in the area of Dynamics, Controls, Spaceflight Mechanics, and Astrodynamics.

Application Instructions

The application deadline is November 13, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. To apply, visit https://hiring.engineering.asu.edu/ and select “apply now” next to the corresponding position. Candidates will be asked to create or use an existing Interfolio Dossier to submit the following:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement describing research interests (four pages maximum)
• Statement describing teaching interests and philosophy (two pages maximum)
• Contact information for three references

The ASU Charter states, “ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.” The Fulton Schools of Engineering is dedicated to cultivating excellence, delivering innovation that matters, encouraging bold thinking, fostering a community of learning and collaboration, and building a foundation for all to be successful. Applicants are encouraged to address how their past, current, and future activities align with the ASU Charter and Fulton Schools of Engineering values in their application materials.

For additional information regarding position specifics, please contact the search committee chair, Matthew Peet via email at mpeet@asu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

A background check is required for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

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