Unleash Your Potential With Us

As a next-generation public research institution, we are an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to shape the future and solve the world’s most challenging problems. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you become an integral part of our mission to become a university for the future. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with uniquely talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses and regional locations. That means greater challenges to tackle, more meaningful opportunities to grow, and rewarding experiences that go beyond a paycheck.

The Opportunity

As a national and world leader in space, aerospace, and hypersonics, the University of Central Florida (UCF) has established a center of excellence on this topic and is working to strengthen its research and education mission in this area.

As a part of this broad, university-wide strategic plan, the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) invite applicants for three (3) 9-month, full-time faculty positions at the rank of assistant professor (tenure track), associate professor (tenured), or professor (tenured) with core faculty status in the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER). As part of this mission-focused center, these faculty members will be able to be part of large application/mission-focused proposals or projects in this highly successful center. The positions and technical fields include, but are not limited to:

(1) Computational fluid dynamics in hypersonic reacting and aerodynamic compressible flows.

(2) Ultra high-temperature materials for hypersonics and space.

(3) Additive manufacturing for hypersonics, space, and lunar environments.

These positions have an anticipated start date of August 8, 2024. Each of these hires will strengthen MAE, MSE, and CATER, and may include a combination of joint and secondary joint appointments. Both individual/interdisciplinary infrastructure and startup support will be provided with these new positions. The positions will carry a rank commensurate with the candidate’s prior experience and record.

Each successful candidate will work at the intersection of the relevant research areas associated with the aforementioned themes. They will have research impact, as reflected in high-quality publications and the ability to build a funded and sustainable research program. We are looking for team players who can contribute to current campus efforts in hypersonics.

Central Florida has been known to be the center of space activities. With NASA Kennedy Space Center less than an hour away from Orlando, several well-known companies such as Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, and Lockheed Martin have their major headquarters in Orlando. Others such as Pratt & Whitney (Raytheon) and Northrop Grumman have their headquarters within easily drivable distances. All these companies share the same talent pools available in this region. UCF’s Orlando location also puts it at the center of the Florida High Tech Corridor. The corridor has an excellent industrial base that includes software, defense, space, simulation and training, and a world-renowned entertainment industry. Adjacent to UCF is a thriving research park that conducts over $2 billion in funded research, hosting more than 100 high-technology companies and UCF’s School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training. In response to this unique locational opportunity, CATER was founded to focus on student training and research on turbomachinery and associated energy systems for application in power generation, aviation, and space propulsion. CATER has 10 core faculty members at present, with a staff of 3 research faculty, 10 postdoctoral researchers, and 75 doctoral students. It collectively secured $10.5M of new external funding last year and graduates 13 doctoral students per year on average. CATER has identified several key thematic areas for further expansion and investment, most notably hypersonics.

UCF is one of the nation’s largest universities with a diverse student body of approximately 68,000 students and has grown substantially in size, quality, diversity, and reputation. Today, the university offers more than 240 degree programs. In 2019, UCF was officially recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, and a "Green College" by the Princeton Review for our efforts in sustainability and environmental responsibility. The Carnegie Foundation classifies UCF as an R1 Doctoral University for its high research activity and community engagement. For the fifth consecutive year, UCF has been recognized among the nation’s most innovative universities according to U.S. News & World Report, while Kiplinger’s and The Princeton Review have ranked UCF as one of the nation’s best values for a college education. UCF has been the #1 supplier of aerospace and defense engineers seven years in a row as published by Aviation Week.

UCF is an economic engine, attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. UCF also has an accredited medical school that was established in 2006 and is a neighbor to the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center. Great weather, easy access to the seashore, one of the largest convention centers in the nation, and one of the world’s best airports are just a few features that make Orlando an ideal location. We encourage you to learn more about UCF at http://www.ucf.edu/faculty.

Minimum Qualifications:

Doctoral degree from an accredited institution in an area appropriate to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering or Materials Science and Engineering at the time of appointment. Each selected candidate also must have a record of scholarly publications or sponsored research related to hypersonics.

To be eligible for appointment as a tenured associate professor or tenured professor upon hire, the selected candidate must have a demonstrated record of research, teaching, and service commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment at that rank.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have a record of sustainable external research funding in hypersonics and experience successfully leading large proposal teams. The ideal candidate will have a strong record of research productivity, publications in leading venues, experience mentoring students, collegial collaborations, and excellent written and oral English communication skills. The ideal candidate also will demonstrate a developed, focused plan for collaborative, transformative research in hypersonics.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/.? In addition to the online application, candidates should upload the following:

(1) A cover letter,

(2) A current curriculum vitae,

(3) A 3-4 page research statement,

(4) A 1-2 page teaching statement,

(5) A list with contact information for three (3) professional references, including email addresses.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later. 

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Screening of applications will begin on January 15, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to the committee at HypersonicsSearch@ucf.edu.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

N/A

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as ‘Open until filled’ may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position. 

Are Benefits Important to You? 

Working at UCF has its perks!? In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers: 

• Benefit packages including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, healthcare flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program. 
• Paid time off, including annual leave (12-month faculty) and sick leave and paid holidays. 
• Retirement savings options. 
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando area attractions. 
• Education assistance. 
• Flexible work environment. 

And more…For more benefits information, go to ‘Prospective Employees’ on the UCF Human Resources website (https://hr.ucf.edu/).  

Who Are We? 

Founded in 1963 to fuel the region’s talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our students and society. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger, and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university. UCF is one of 14 universities nationwide designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Research 1 university. With 13 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 240 degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete, online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s., certificates, and more. 

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins. 

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions 

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of higher education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela. 

The additional screening requirements only apply to employment in research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty positions (including employed visiting positions), graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral scholar positions, and undergraduate positions.

Department

Work Schedule

Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer including Disabled/Vets.  Click on UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement to view the President’s Statement.

The UCF affirmative action plans for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected Veterans are available for inspection in the Office of Institutional Equity, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., upon request.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request. 

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.