RIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking applicants for a non-tenure track lecturer position. Based on candidate qualifications and interests this may be at the rank of Visiting Lecturer or Permanent Lecturer. Visiting Lecturers are hired on one year appointments that can renewed two times. Permanent Lecturers at RIT are hired on renewable, long-term contracts with a pathway for promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer to Principal Lecturer. Applicants are expected to have a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field. Candidates with extensive collegiate instructional experience may be considered for hire at higher rank (e.g., senior lecturer or principal lecturer). Responsibilities include teaching courses across the entire mechanical engineering curriculum. Successful candidates will have demonstrated evidence of instructional excellence. Prior engagement in innovative teaching methodologies is highly desired. We are specifically seeking student-focused scholars who are committed to the discovery, advancement and implementation of novel and emerging pedagogical approaches to support the quickly evolving landscape of engineering education. Other responsibilities may include advising and mentoring students, supervising co-curricular activities, developing courses and lab modules, participating in / leading K-12 and industry outreach, managing lab facilities, serving on department committees, etc. We are seeking an individual who has the ability and interest in contributing to a community committed to student centeredness; professional development and scholarship; integrity and ethics; respect, diversity and pluralism; innovation and flexibility; and teamwork and collaboration. Select to view links to RIT's core values (https://www.rit.edu/policies/p040) , honor code (https://www.rit.edu/policies/p030) .
For full consideration, candidates should submit their application by Friday, March 13, 2026. Questions for the search committee should be directed to Dr. Marca Lam (mjleme@rit.edu).
Department/College Description:
The Mechanical Engineering Department has over 1,100 undergraduates and more than 100 graduate students supported by 23 tenured/tenure-track faculty, 18 lecturers, and 11 staff. It is currently undergoing an ambitious plan of growth to increase enrollment by more than 30%. Hallmarks of the undergraduate experience include one full year of cooperative education, an innovative multidisciplinary senior design program, and an impressive variety of well-supported student teams and clubs. The inception of a Ph.D. program in 2014 has led to a rapid expansion of research engagement with signature areas that include renewable energy and battery technologies, micro- and nano-systems and devices, advanced manufacturing and biofluid dynamics.
The Kate Gleason College of Engineering | RIT (https://www.rit.edu/engineering/) offers bachelor's and master's in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, and microelectronics engineering as well as four Ph.D. degrees in biomedical and chemical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical and industrial engineering, and microsystems engineering and additional master's programs in engineering management and leadership. Serving over 2600 undergraduates and 400 graduate students, the college is committed to growing its research profile while maintaining a strong commitment to undergraduate education. Major college-wide research themes include advanced manufacturing; biomedical and healthcare engineering; artificial intelligence and machine learning; cyber-physical systems; micro- and nanoscale systems devices and materials; energy and environment; and data analysis modeling and simulation.
THE UNIVERSITY AND ROCHESTER COMMUNITY:
Rochester Institute of Technology (http://www.rit.edu/) is home to leading creators, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers. The university enrolls 18,140 undergraduates and 3,176 graduate students in more than 200 programs, and across nine academic colleges, five international campuses , (https://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/global/) as well as other degree-granting units, placing it among some of the largest private universities in the U.S. RIT is internationally recognized and ranked (https://www.rit.edu/overview/rankings-and-recognition) for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability, and fine and applied arts. RIT is also home to the National Technical Institute (https://www.rit.edu/ntid/) for the Deaf , the world's first and largest technological college for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. With more than 900 students from around the world, NTID offers unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT's cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. The university revised its 2025 strategic plan, Greatness Through Difference , (https://www.rit.edu/strategicplan/) in the fall of 2018. The plan leverages RIT's unique history with a renewed focus on using the interdisciplinary power of technology, the arts, and design (https://www.rit.edu/provost/initiatives/tad-intersection) to shape the future and the world.
In 2019, RIT moved into the high research activity institution or "R2" category under the updated Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning, ranking it among the top six percent of colleges and universities in the nation for research activity. U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) ranks RIT in the top 100 in its "National Universities" category, and No. 51 and No. 69 for Best Undergraduate and Graduate Engineering Programs, respectively. The publication also ranks RIT No. 6 in the U.S. for co-op or internship programs, and No. 41 among best-value s chools. Sponsored research awards totaled $103 million in the fiscal year 2024, up from $78 million in 2018. Today, RIT counts nearly 145,000 alumni around the world. Its endowment is currently valued at $1.3 billion, and the university benefits from sound financial management.
Always on the cutting edge, RIT's educational programs continue to evolve to meet the needs of today's students. Building on its legacy of excellence across STEM and the arts and its commitment to developing creative thinkers, RIT launched the Performing Arts Scholars (https://www.rit.edu/performingarts/academics/performing-arts-scholarship) program in 2019. In support of this programming, RIT is unveiling the Student Hall for Exploration (https://www.rit.edu/buildingthefuture/theshed) and Development (SHED) in the fall of 2023, with major facilities for the performing arts, and new classrooms, surrounding an enormous multi-story core of maker spaces.
QUALIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED:
Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field
Demonstrated commitment and ability to teach effectively and advise undergraduate students
Demonstrated interest in course and curricular development
Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the university's continuing commitment to cultural diversity, pluralism and individual differences.
Interest and ability to work in a collaborative, collegial environment and support departmental initiatives
Faculty Tenure, Rank, Discipline
JC_1244 - Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering
Work Location
On Campus
Compensation
$78,500-$88,500
Application Materials
When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information. This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.
Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume, Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Anticipated Start Date
August 12, 2026
Additional Details
In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.
If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
