Assistant Professor in Aerospace Engineering

The successful candidate will be based at our Edinburgh UK campus. Reporting to the Global Head of Mechanical Engineering, responsibilities include: 

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  Delivery of taught content of the Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering programmes (lectures, tutorials, workshops and laboratories) as directed by the Global Head of the Mechanical Engineering Discipline, and this may include topics across all aerospace/mechanical engineering subjects as well as the job holder’s specialist area. 

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  Act as personal tutor to assigned tutees. 

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  Supporting undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and other relevant areas by carrying out assessment and moderation of coursework and examination marking as required. 

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  Further developing existing learning materials in aerospace/mechanical engineering related subjects. This may include, but is not limited to, course notes, video podcasts and course assessments. 

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  Engaging in administrative tasks within the School’s teaching ambitions and initiatives.

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.

Essential

1. A good first degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline. 

2. Expertise in either Aerodynamics, Flight mechanics and aerospace control systems, or Space systems and/or space propulsion.

3. Ability to communicate engineering concepts clearly to various audience profiles.

4. Experience in teaching and assessment of undergraduate and graduate engineering students in aerospace engineering topics.

5. Excellent oral and written communication, team working and organisational skills.

6. Commitment to adopting principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Desirable

1. A higher degree (PhD/MSc) in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.

2. Chartered Engineer and Member of the IMechE – or equivalent engineering institution.

3. Experience of developing/delivering training/teaching material.

4. Relevant industrial experience, or evidence of engagement with industry. 

5. A Postgraduate certificate in teaching in higher education.

6. Familiarity with online communication tools such as Teams, Canvas and/or Blackboard.

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV

Applications can be submitted until 23:55 on Friday 20^th November 2026.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application promptly.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.