Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer/ Reader/ Chair (Professor) in Mechanical Engineering

Shape the future of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London.About the role

Imperial College London, consistently ranked in the world’s top ten universities, is recruiting six new academic staff positions in Mechanical Engineering to drive the next generation of leaders in research and teaching.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic, forward-thinking department at the forefront of engineering innovation, education and research. We are seeking exceptional candidates for Lecturer/Senior Lecturer positions; however, more senior appointments up to Professor level would also be considered.

Our research strategy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London is driven by a commitment to innovation, impact, and excellence. We tackle global challenges through fundamental discovery and transformative engineering. We foster multidisciplinary collaboration and industry partnerships to translate research into innovative engineering solutions. Our strategy is rooted in scientific rigour while being bold in ambition to continue to shape the future. You will be part of a thriving academic community of over 60 academic and teaching staff, more than 60 professional and technical staff, and more than 1,000 undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and research staff.

We welcome applicants in all areas of Mechanical Engineering; alignment with our strategic priorities would be an advantage:

• Future Transport
• Sustainable Energy
• Healthcare
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Advanced Engineering Materials
• Robotics
• Systems Engineering

Further details on our research strategy can be found on our website.

Join us and be part of a department ranked first in the UK for both research and teaching, where world-class academics collaborate to turn cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.

The post holders will join research groups that are already well equipped with leading infrastructure, experimental and computational facilities, with opportunities to extend these further for the research specialisms.

We have an active commitment to support and encourage equality, diversity and inclusivity in our recruitment and in all aspects of working lives in the Department.

What you would be doing

• Research. Successful applicants at Lecturer grade will have the academic record and potential to become international leaders. Successful applicants at higher grades will be established already with internationally leading track records; they will have research vision, industry and government contacts and leadership abilities to realise successful research from the outset.
• All academic staff contribute to our teaching programme with the same level of dedication and commitment we seek for their research. We are proud of our strong record in education, including leading multiple initiatives for the university, and an enviable record of student feedback. We will expect our new recruits to engage actively in our undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes.
• External engagement. You will build collaborations with other university researchers worldwide, also with learned societies, scientific bodies and industry.
• Actively contribute to the effective running of the department with a collaborative and professional approach, fostering a supportive and collegial environment.

Full information on duties, responsibilities and criteria for the post can be found in the Job Description.

What we are looking for

• A PhD in Mechanical Engineering or another closely-linked discipline.
• Research interests that will contribute to the strategy of the department. Relevant underpinning topics include: Automation, Design, Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Machine Learning (applied), Manufacturing, Robotics, Materials, Thermodynamics, Tribology, Ultrasound, Vibration, and more. We are particularly interested in the integration of complex systems throughout their lifecycle such as Systems Engineering.
• An outstanding academic record, strong in research publications. Candidates at Lecturer grade will demonstrate indicative achievements since their PhD, by post-doc, fellowship, or industrial work, demonstrating aptitude for their specialist research interest. Candidates above Lecturer grade will also demonstrate success in raising research funding and in other metrics of academic and applied research achievement.
• A clear vision and drive for research growth and leadership.
• Dedication towards the enthusiastic delivery of teaching, including a desire to create and improve the educational programme for taught course students.
• Ability to work with others, to inspire, encourage and nurture. To contribute to the departmental team goals while also pursuing the objectives of their own vision.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to grow your leadership in research and teaching at one of the World's top universities.
• The opportunity to connect within our urban campus in the middle of London with a huge network of world-leading researchers, groups and facilities.
• Opportunities to influence industry, policy and institutions worldwide, and for high profile engagement with leading external bodies including industry and government.
• Supported opportunities to develop technology transfer, via consultancy, licensing and spin-outs.
• A merit-based structure for promotion, with a wide range of opportunities for training and support.
• We offer an attractive salary package, including a pension scheme with additional employer contribution and generous conditions of service with flexible and family-friendly working policies. 

Further information

Interviews are expected to be held in July and September 2025.  

These posts are permanent, with an anticipated start date of September/ October 2025 and are subject to a probation period. We do not impose a tenure hurdle; they will be located at the Imperial College central campus in South Kensington.

Please see our further particulars for more information about the College and the benefits available to staff.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is an important part of the Department. Our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Culture (EDIC) Committee comprises individuals from all areas in the department and ensures equal opportunities and a progressive culture is embedded in our processes. The Department also holds a Silver Athena SWAN award for gender equality, and several of our staff are involved at higher College level discussions around equality, diversity, inclusion and culture. With a demographic of 53% international staff, we are a global department.

We especially welcome applications from under-represented groups within Engineering and Academia, such as women and candidates from a racially minoritised background.

If you require any further details on the role, please contact the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Resource team – me-hr.requests@imperial.ac.uk.

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