- Where
- Penn State University Park
- Level
- Mid
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POSITION SPECIFICS
The National Security Institute (NSI) and the Department of Aerospace Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University in Uiversity Park, PA, invite applications for a full-time tenure-line faculty position in Autonomous and Resilient Space Operations. The successful candidate’s academic and tenure home will be the Department of Aerospace Engineering, and the faculty member will be expected to contribute actively in NSI’s research pillar on Aeronautics, Hypersonics, and Space. The position supports Penn State’s growing efforts in next-generation space technologies spanning advanced sensing, autonomous and AI-enabled systems, resilient space architectures, and in-space operations in complex and contested environments.
We seek candidates whose research advances the future of autonomous and resilient space operations. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, distributed spacecraft systems and coordination; space domain awareness across Earth-orbit and cislunar environments; onboard perception, navigation, guidance, and control for rendezvous and proximity operations; resilient spacecraft autonomy and decision-making; space robotics; and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM). Particular interest is in researchers developing integrated approaches that combine robotics, sensing, onboard intelligence, spacecraft systems, and mission design to enable sustained orbital and cislunar operations.
The successful candidate is expected to establish an externally funded, internationally recognized research program; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in aerospace engineering; develop new courses where appropriate; advise undergraduate and graduate students; contribute service to the Department, NSI, University, and profession; and contribute to an inclusive community of faculty, staff, and students. The candidate will contribute to Penn State’s broader vision of building interdisciplinary research and workforce-development programs spanning space technologies, autonomous systems, and national security applications. Research that connects foundational science and computational methods with experimental validation and operationally relevant engineering is especially encouraged.
Penn State offers a highly collaborative environment with strong institutional capabilities across the Department of Aerospace Engineering, the College of Engineering, NSI, the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), and other interdisciplinary research institutes and centers. The position is expected to play a foundational role in shaping Penn State’s long-term leadership in space domain awareness, autonomous and resilient space systems, future space infrastructure, and sustained operations beyond Earth orbit.
Qualifications
Candidates at each rank should have an earned doctorate in aerospace engineering or a closely related field by the start date. The assistant professor must have demonstrated ability as a teacher or research worker; and must have shown definite evidence of growth in scholarly, artistic, or professional achievement. The associate professor should possess the same qualifications as the assistant professor, but must also provide evidence…