Instructor

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is looking for a person to serve as a faculty advisor for several senior design capstone teams, specifically the ME 4015-4016 capstone series. The successful candidate must enjoy interacting with students and have good organizational and management skills. Responsibilities will include serving as a faculty advisor for approximately 15 senior design capstone teams (with 5-7 students per team) each academic year, recruiting of industry sponsored capstone projects, and occasional opportunities to lecture on the practical elements of engineering design. Senior design faculty advisors function as the mentor, engineering manager, subject matter expert, and liaison to an industry sponsor for the teams they advise. This position may involve other duties as assigned, including oversight of lab spaces for the design teams, oversight of team budgets, and occasional travel to visit industry sponsor sites. The position does not include a research component, but there may be opportunities to publish material related to the work product of the design teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Full-time engineering work experience in designing, building, and testing mechanical and/or electromechanical systems.
• Evidence of a strong working history showing a desire to teach students the practical aspects of engineering design
• Experience managing others or leading a team

• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Work history showing work as a subject matter expertise in robotics, mechanical systems, acoustics, automotive engineering, thermal-fluid systems, controls, manufacturing, or energy conversion systems.

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

65,000 - Commensurate with Experience

40

May 18, 2026

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.