Assistant Professor - Tenure Track Industrial Systems

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Assistant Professor

The Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) Department in the College of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California (Cal Poly) is excited to invite applications for a full‑time, academic‑year, tenure‑track faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank beginning Fall 2026.

Cal Poly has a tradition of excellence in teaching and scholarship that supports a curriculum centered on a “Learn by Doing” philosophy and focused on preparing graduates to make a positive impact on their world day one. Cal Poly is committed to the teacher‑scholar model. As teachers, faculty are expected to exhibit strong pedagogic skills and to remain proficient and current in their disciplines.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and master’s level courses and support and expand curricular development in industrial engineering. As scholars, faculty should be engaged in scholarly work that is of very high quality as evidenced by external peer review. As colleagues, faculty are encouraged to perform service activities at all levels of the University.

We are seeking candidates with teaching and research interests in the design and analysis of industrial systems, especially related to information systems, management decision support, data analytics/AI, and/or quality and operations monitoring. Expected application areas include energy systems, manufacturing, transportation, computing/tech, and/or services such as healthcare, government, and education.

Salary will be commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Qualified candidates with industry experience are encouraged to apply. Anticipated hiring range: $106,000 – $117,000 per year.

As a premier comprehensive polytechnic university, Cal Poly is ranked as the best public master’s university in the western U.S., while its Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering program is also ranked as one of the best public master’s level programs in the United States. The program has a strong focus on undergraduate and master’s level education through a laboratory intensive, hands‑on curriculum.

The 30+ tenured, tenure‑track, and lecturer/adjunct faculty in the department are dedicated engineers with a passion for teaching, innovative applied research, interacting with students, and advising student club activities. Our “learn by doing” philosophy is emphasized in the curriculum by the large number of design‑centered laboratories, integrating design throughout the curriculum, and the senior project capstone design experience. These prepare graduates for careers in operations management, production planning and scheduling, facility design, human factors design, data analysis and decision‑making, quality control and reliability, economic and resource planning, and process improvement.

All positions are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.

Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209, and other applicable state and federal anti‑discrimination laws.

Cal Poly is a diverse community that fosters an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations, and…