Assistant Professor of the Practice (Advanced Rocketry Laboratory)

Job Title

Assistant Professor of the Practice (Advanced Rocketry Laboratory)

Agency

Prairie View A&M University

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Prairie View, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

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Important Immigration information:

A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Please be advised that Texas A&M University will NOT pay this fee. Therefore, if you need immigration sponsorship for your employment, we recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense to ascertain whether your current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Texas A&M University subject to this fee.

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbot issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate

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The salary is determined in accordance with the University’s compensation structure and will be commensurate with the candidates’ education and experience, within the assigned salary range for this position.

Prairie View A&M University seeks an Assistant Professor of Practice to lead and deliver an interdisciplinary, student-centered, design-build-test rocketry program anchored in the Advanced Rocketry Laboratory. A core expectation of the appointment is the ability to operate responsibly in controlled-technology environments, including practical experience with export compliance requirements such as ITAR/EAR and related controlled information frameworks.

This position is funded by a grant or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of grant or restricted funding.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership for an interdisciplinary, student-run rocketry program, including governance structures, mentorship models, and peer-teaching frameworks that scale.

  Build and sustain a laboratory culture emphasizing safety, documentation, accountability and professional conduct.

  Lead readiness for major lab milestones (test campaigns, design reviews, readiness reviews, learning reviews, etc.).

• Implement and maintain laboratory export-control practices aligned to ITAR and EAR.

  Partner with university compliance, safety, and research security administrative offices to ensure auditable, instruction-compatible compliant workflows.

  Establish practical training, documentation, and access control practices that enable student learning while protecting controlled information.

• Lead the technical design and instructional layout of the Advanced Rocketry Laboratory.

  Collaborate with faculty, Facilities, EHS, and Space Services to translate instructional requirements into buildable lab layouts and commissioning plans.

  Identify infrastructure requirements including power, networking, ventilation/exhaust, high-pressure systems, fire protection and emergency shutoffs, hazardous storage and access controls, and test area governance (blast, debris, and noise).

  Develop lab readiness documentation, including standard operating procedures, hazard analyses, training plans, and test conduct packages.

  Integrate quality, risk, and configuration management concepts into lab instruction and course materials, reflecting common aerospace practice.

• Develop and deliver hands-on instruction for advanced rocketry laboratories and associated lecture courses, with an emphasis on student-centered learning and applied training.

  Demonstrate the ability to teach complex technical content in high-consequence environments where rigor, verification, and procedural compliance are essential.

  Collaborate with faculty, and industry representatives to develop and refine rocketry-focused curriculum, including undergraduate, graduate, and interdisciplinary offerings and related content.

  Create and continuously improve lab-integrated courses, modules, and syllabi aligned with current industry standards, safety protocols, and accreditation expectations.

• Integrate lab experiences into department coursework through co-development with faculty.

  Train faculty and staff on laboratory operations, safety protocols, export-control-aware instructional practices, and test execution workflows.

  Serve as a technical resource supporting applied propulsion and launch systems instruction across programs.

• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students engaged in rocketry coursework, laboratories, and design projects.

  Advise student teams on propulsion system design, test planning, data analysis, and readiness reviews.

  Prepare students for careers in propulsion, launch systems, test engineering, and advanced manufacturing through applied, project-based learning.

• Support implementation milestones, reporting, and deliverables associated with the Space Innovation and Student Success Initiative.

  Contribute to sustainability and continuous improvement of the Advanced Rocketry Laboratory.

  Support external engagement and industry-informed practices related to propulsion and launch systems.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Four years of industry experience.

• Multiple years of experience leading student-driven rocketry laboratories or comparable hands-on engineering programs, including responsibility for lab operations, governance, safety culture, mentoring systems, and sustained design-build-test activities.

• Multiple years of experience developing and delivering safety-critical, high-consequence instruction, curriculum, and training, demonstrated through formal teaching, technical training, or operational instruction in environments where procedural rigor and readiness standards are required.

• Multiple years of experience in export compliance and controlled environments, including demonstrated working knowledge of ITAR/EAR and/or related controlled information frameworks, and experience implementing practical training, documentation, and access control practices.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver curriculum and hands-on learning experiences, including course/module development, lab-integrated instruction, and assessment methods aligned with workforce preparation.

• Proven ability to design, commission, and stand up laboratory and test operations using disciplined processes, including development of procedures, readiness reviews, training qualifications, documentation systems, and continuous improvement practices.

• Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder coordination skills, with experience partnering effectively across technical teams and institutional functions (for example: departments, facilities, EHS, compliance, operations, and external partners).

• Evidence of effective mentoring and workforce preparation outcomes, including coaching students or early-career engineers through applied projects, reviews, test campaigns, and professional development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.

• Experience with static fire testing, propulsion instrumentation, cryogenic or high-pressure systems, composites, and laboratory safety governance.

• Experience commissioning engineering laboratories or test facilities, including procedure development and readiness reviews.

• Several years of professional experience spanning multiple sectors (industry, government, and academia), demonstrating the ability to operate across the full aerospace ecosystem and interface effectively with varied partners, regulators, sponsors, and technical stakeholders.

• Working knowledge of industry quality and risk management standards such as ISO 9000, AS 9100, ISO 31000, etc.

Job Posting Close Date:  

• 03/03/2026

Required Attachments: 

Please attach all required documents listed below in the attachment box labeled as either “Resume/CV or Resume/Cover Letter” on the application. Multiple attachments may be included in the “Resume/CV” or Resume/Cover Letter” attachment box.  Any additional attachments provided outside of the required documents listed below are considered optional. 

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae 

• Cover Letter 

Application Submission Guidelines:  

All applicants are required to apply via our Career Site on or before the closing date indicated on the job posting. Applicant inquiries received via email and websites such as Indeed, HigherEdJobs, etc. will not be considered unless the individual has applied to the available position via the PVAMU Career site. 

The required documents listed in the above "Required Attachments" section must be attached to the application prior to the job closing date indicated to ensure full consideration for the application submitted. Please contact the Office of Human Resource on or before the closing date indicated above at 936-261-1730 or jobs@pvamu.edu should you need assistance with the online application process. 

Background Check Requirements: 

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.