Job Details

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is the main campus in Cullowhee, NC.

The College of Engineering and Technology (cet.wcu.edu) at Western Carolina University (WCU) is growing! The University has received substantial support from the North Carolina legislature to expand engineering to meet the rapidly growing needs of the region and state. Our engineering and engineering technology programs feature project-based learning embedded throughout the curricula, preparing our students for professional practice and advanced study. Industry engagement is a hallmark of our programs, and we pride ourselves as having faculty with significant industry experience. Our culture embraces faculty-student interaction through experiences such as undergraduate research. We are committed to changing the lives of our students and their families through a transformative experience at our rural main campus setting in the mountains of western North Carolina, and at sites in Asheville and across western NC. The colleges programs are instrumental to the economic vitality of the region, and are advancing the university to be one of the nations premier regional comprehensive institutions. We are creating leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs with the foundation and skills needed for transformative careers in engineering and beyond.

We are recruiting faculty for several positions in Engineering (or closely related fields) at the assistant, associate, and full professor ranks to join us as we enter this transformational time at WCU. Faculty are routinely expected to teach in multiple topical areas at undergraduate and graduate levels. Faculty candidates with teaching and research expertise in one or more of the following areas are highly encouraged to apply: First-Year Engineering Engineering Education General Engineering. The openings are nine-month tenure/tenure-track positions, with additional summer opportunities for research, teaching, and other professional endeavors. Rank will be determined at the point of hire. The anticipated start date is August 2026, but a January 2027 date would also be considered. Applicants with experience in more than one area of need will be reviewed favorably. Applicants with teaching experience at the college level, including lab courses, will also be reviewed favorably.

Successful candidates will be expected to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, advise students, be involved in extra-curricular student engagement activities, develop a sustainable program of research and scholarship, and be engaged in university and professional service. Faculty pursue scholarship and research with external partners and with clients through our nationally recognized Rapid Center. Applied research that engages students, especially undergraduate students, is a hallmark of our program.

For more information on the College of Engineering + Technology please visit cet.wcu.edu. Our Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Construction Management programs are accredited by ABETs EAC, ETAC, and ANSAC, respectively. The college has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top tier Undergraduate Engineering program for the past several years.

Successful candidates will be expected to support the Universitys external engagement mission. Applicants are encouraged to visit the WCU website www.wcu.edu to learn more about WCU.

Possess an earned PhD or equivalent terminal degree in engineering education, engineering, construction management, or closely related discipline from an accredited institution by August 1, 2026.

Preferred candidates will have one or more of the following:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include a current curriculum vitae, letter of application, statement of teaching and student engagement goals, statement of research and scholarship goals, a copy of unofficial transcripts* and a list of three professional references with full contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Gretchen Dietz, Director of Engineering Discovery at gdietz@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.