Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, Sustainable Energy Systems

The Opportunity  
Energy is one of the most important topics for a sustainable future that the entire humanity is facing. The world continues to move towards a low-carbon economy, with more than 110 countries and 200 of the world’s largest companies pledging to achieve net zero carbon by 2050. One thing is clear: the energy transition must be clean, affordable, accessible, and reliable. A transition of this size requires collaboration across the government, public and private sectors, academia, NGOs, and communities around the world. As a leader in Sustainable Energy System (SES), the University of Central Florida (UCF) has committed to the challenge of shaping this transition through the SES initiative  

As part of this broad, university-wide strategic initiative, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), invites applicants for a 9-month, full-time assistant professor (tenure track) or associate professor (tenured) faculty position, with core faculty status in the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER). The position and the technical fields include, but are not limited to: 

• Rotordynamics and vibration, 

• Bearings of high-speed rotors. 

The ideal candidates will work at the intersection of the relevant research areas associated with the aforementioned themes. They are expected to have research impact, as reflected in high-quality publications, and the ability to build a funded and sustainable research program and strengthen development of new collaboration and partnership paradigms to launch and scale research and business ventures. Such ventures should enable UCF to address the new challenges of rapid and disruptive innovation towards sustainable energy systems. We are looking for team players with a multi-disciplinary outlook who can help bring together current campus efforts in energy systems research. Prior experiences as a full-time researcher at a national lab or large interdisciplinary research center are preferred.   

This position has an anticipated start date of August 8, 2026. This hire will strengthen MAE and CATER. Both individual/interdisciplinary infrastructure and startup support will be provided with this new position. The position will carry a rank commensurate with the candidate’s experience and record. 

UCF is one of the nation’s largest universities with a diverse student body of nearly 70,0000 students and has grown substantially in size, quality, 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. UCF has been also 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 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’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. 

UCF's students represent all 50 states and over 120 countries. UCF is in a centralized location that is 30 minutes to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando and 60 minutes to the beach. UCF has 16 sports teams, including football, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and over 600 cultural, academic and social student clubs and organizations all led by faculty mentors.  

UCF houses 4 distinct energy-related research centers or clusters: Resilient, Intelligent and Sustainable Energy Systems (RISES), Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformation (REACT), and Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), and CATER (Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research).  

Central Florida has been also home to several global energy companies. Orlando hosts major engineering firms, including Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, Lockheed Martin, and Navy NAWCTSD. UCF is also close to other major engineering centers, including NASA Kennedy Space Center (<1 hour), L3 Harris (<1 hour), Pratt & Whitney (Raytheon, <2 hours), and Northrop Grumman (<1 hour). All these engineering centers share the same talent pools available in this region. In response to this unique locational opportunity, The Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (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 9 core faculty members at present, with a staff of 5 research faculty, 15 postdoctoral researchers, and 97 doctoral students. It collectively secured $20.3M of new external funding in FY 24-25 and graduates 13 doctoral students per year on average.  

Minimum Qualifications: 

• An earned doctoral degree or foreign degree equivalent from an accredited institution in an appropriate area related to mechanical or aerospace engineering by the time of appointment.  

•  The selected candidate must also have a record of high impact research in related areas, demonstrated by a strong scholarly record. 

•  To be eligible for appointment as a tenured associate 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: 

• Proven track record in securing externally funded research grants in relevant disciplinary areas. 

• Extensive experience as a full-time researcher in national laboratories, industry, or large interdisciplinary research centers, demonstrating applied research expertise and collaborative engagement. 

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, including leadership roles in cross-functional research initiatives. 

• Significant post-doctoral research experience, contributing meaningfully to the advancement of the field. 

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, interested candidates should upload the following: 

• A curriculum vitae. 

• A letter of interest describing qualifications for the position, such as research agenda and teaching experience/interest. 

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be attached at that time. 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. 

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Diana Perez, Administrative Assistant III, at diana.perez@ucf.edu.  

Special Instructions to the Applicants: 

Sponsorship for employment-based visas will only be considered under exceptional circumstances and is not guaranteed. Preference will be given to candidates who are currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States.  

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 you ready to unleash YOUR potential?  

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck. 

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers: 

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.   

• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.  

• Retirement savings options.   

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.   

• Education assistance.  

• Flexible work environment.   

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here. 

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 education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela. 

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.