Assistant Professor of Mechatronics and Engineering

Classification:  Academic Year Faculty
Priority Screening Date:  January 1, 2027
Recruitment Status:  Open Until Filled
Appointment Date:  Fall 2027 

Employment with the California State University System

ABOUT CSUMB

The newly created Department of Mechatronics Engineering within the College of Science offers a tremendous opportunity for student-focused faculty who will shape the new Mechatronics Engineering degree. The department  started accepting students in Fall 2024. This academic year position begins in Fall 2027.

The program is currently working towards ABET accreditation. This new program builds on existing strengths in the College of Science and is designed to meet the needs of regional industries emphasizing agriculture technology, with additional applications in marine robotics and aviation.

Known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” the Salinas Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, and with proximity to Silicon Valley in the north, has become a hub for the AgTech industry. Ideal candidates will recognize the unique nature of the local agricultural industry and the extraordinary opportunity it affords. As a member campus of the CSU Agricultural Research Institute, the campus receives annual funding to support applied agricultural research.

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year. 

With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

The university’s Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

As one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The successful candidate will help with the growth of the Mechatronics Engineering degree program, including hiring new faculty and staff.
• Develop and teach lower and upper division undergraduate courses (12 units/semester) in Mechatronics Engineering courses, including the associated laboratories.
• Engage in independent, publishable research and scholarly activities in field of specialization.
• Solicit funds to private and government entities to sustain research activities.
• Supervise student research and capstone projects.
• Advise and mentor students in research, academics, capstone projects, internships and post-degree options.
• Provide professionally related service to the department, college, university, and community through participation at faculty meetings and committees.
• Develop professional relationships with the regional industry, educational partners, research institutions, schools and/or other stakeholders.
• Involvement in enrollment strategies to recruit and retain a diverse student population.
• Support the new program through the ABET accreditation process by doing assessment and writing parts the self-study report.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• The successful candidate will hold an earned doctorate in Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering (or a related field) by the beginning of the appointment.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching undergraduates from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and academic backgrounds, including first-generation students.
• Be able to engage students in undergraduate research.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated effectiveness in undergraduate teaching of courses and laboratory sessions that integrates theory, applications, and design principles. 
• Obtained a BS in Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to the ABET accreditation process.
• Capable of teaching some of the following courses: ENGR 260 Circuit Analysis, ENGR 310 Mechatronics, ENGR 340 Signals, ENGR 370 Digital Logic Design, ENGR 375 Feedback Control Systems, and ENGR 380 Embedded Systems.
• Areas of scholarship or teaching that include, but are not limited to mechatronics, automation, agricultural engineering, marine robotics, unmanned aerial system (UAS), control systems, robotics, precision agriculture, sensor applications, automated systems for crop production and harvesting, artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision for agricultural applications.
• Experience in acquiring grants, contracts, and sponsorships.
• Experience cultivating community relationships, especially with industry partners.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).

The person holding this position will have a duty to report to the Campus Title IX Officer information pertaining to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order EO 1095, EO 1096, and EO 1097 as a condition of employment. 

The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083  as a condition of employment. 

The incumbent is required to maintain confidentiality as outlined in the Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy and California’s Educational Code Chapter 13 regarding sensitive student issues.

Working in the State of California is a condition of employment.

COMPENSATION:  

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range:  $8,652 to $9,167* mo ($103,830 to $110,004 annual) 

CSU Salary Schedule
*CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.

BENEFITS:

CSUMB offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding health, dental & vision plans; a fee waiver education program; and membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).  For more information, visit: Employee Benefits Summary.  The University Corporation at Monterey Bay also provides access to affordable housing near main campus. The allocation of housing is subject to several factors, including availability, eligibility criteria, and specific program guidelines. For more information, visit: https://csumb.edu/corporation/employee-housing

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

For full consideration, applicants must complete the required online application and submit required documents by the priority screening date listed on the Careers at CSUMB website. Application submissions received after this date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University. Materials submitted become the property of CSUMB and will not be returned.

Please submit the following documents, along with the online application:

• cover letter detailing candidate’s qualifications and experience relative to the position description,
• statement of teaching philosophy (one page),research statement,
• curriculum vitae including list of references
• unofficial transcripts

Official transcripts and three letters of recommendation will be requested of applicants being seriously considered.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Human Resources at (831) 582-3389 or

humanresources@csumb.edu

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

GENERALINFORMATION:

CSUMB is not a sponsoring agency for faculty positions. 

Cal State Monterey Bay is currently not sponsoring H-1B employment visas which are subject to the $100,000 fee established by the “Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025. Applicants are responsible for determining the applicability of the fee.

CSUMB hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States and is an E-Verify employer. In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the Cal State University, Monterey Bay Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at:  https://csumb.edu/security-report/

The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. While on campus, students, faculty, staff, and the community will be expected to follow all campus safety mandates.  

CSUMB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

CSUMB is an Equal Opportunity employer seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value and celebrate diversity in all its forms and strive to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. We consider qualified applicants for employment for their anticipated contributions and without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or disability.