January 30, 2026

Tenure-Track Opportunity for your May and December Graduates (US Citizenship Req)

Position Type: Faculty
Priority: No
Degree Requirement: PhD, Post Doctorate
Tenure-Track Opportunity for your May and December Graduates (US Citizenship Req)
 
I am writing because the ECE Department at the U.S. Naval Academy has a rare off-cycle opening for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor to start in August 2026 or January 2027.
 
We are looking for that excellent PhD candidate in your pipeline who is defending this Spring or next Fall and seeking a tenure-track appointment. We offer a competitive federal salary, a 10-month contract, and a focus on undergraduate education combined with robust research support.
If you have a student finishing up who is a U.S. citizen and passionate about teaching, could you please forward them the job description below? We will begin reviewing applications on March 16, 2026.
 
 
Hatem ElBidweihy - hear my name
Professor and Department Chair
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
United States Naval Academy
________________________________
 
The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty appointment starting as early as Fall 2026 at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek candidates from all fields of electrical and computer engineering and related interdisciplinary topics, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, energy systems, photonics, and quantum engineering. USNA is a mission-focused community dedicated to excellence, impact, and teamwork. Our primary mission is to prepare midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically for commissioning as officers in the naval services. Successful candidates will demonstrate a passion for developing the "whole midshipman" for service in a technologically complex military environment.
 
For more information about this position and how to apply, please visit the USNA position announcement at:
 
 
Assistant Professor (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
 
LOCATION:
United States Naval Academy, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
 
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
This position does not have a specific application deadline. Review of applications will begin on March 16, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.
 
ABOUT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY:
The United States Naval Academy is a unique institution of higher learning located in Annapolis,  Maryland. As a service academy and premier undergraduate college, the United States Naval Academy  has its own distinctive niche amongst American higher education institutions. Our talented faculty and  staff are united by a common purpose--to develop the next generation of officers to be exceptional  leaders in our naval service. 
 
Every year more than one million people tour "the Yard" to experience what our employees already know  — the United States Naval Academy is a special place, with a special purpose. Employees will find  challenging and rewarding work; state-of-the-art facilities which inspire academic and athletic excellence;  the benefits of Federal employment; and exceptional quality-of-life.
 
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at the United States Naval Academy invites applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position to begin as early as the fall semester of 2026. USNA is a top-tier undergraduate institution with demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, mentoring, and scholarship. We seek candidates from all fields of electrical and computer engineering. We also strongly encourage applications from candidates in related and interdisciplinary areas, including but not limited to: machine learning, artificial intelligence, energy systems, materials science, photonics, and quantum engineering.
 
The ECE department is a mission-focused community dedicated to excellence, impact, and teamwork. We are seeking colleagues who view excellence in teaching and mentoring as their highest priority. Successful candidates will demonstrate a passion for the development of the 'whole midshipman' for service in a technologically-complex military, fostering ethical leadership, accountability, and resilience alongside technical mastery in a hands-on environment. Faculty are expected to teach core electrical and computer engineering courses and electives in their area of expertise.
 
Candidates must also commit to sustaining a high-quality scholarship program. We value a broad spectrum of scholarly activity, ranging from traditional research and interdisciplinary collaboration to applied innovation (such as patents, classified work, or technical standards) and rigorous pedagogical scholarship. Regardless of the area of focus, successful candidates are expected to demonstrate professional currency through a sustained record of peer-reviewed dissemination. The ECE Department is collegial and highly collaborative, and numerous opportunities exist for research and summer salary support from Navy and DoW agencies. 
 
The typical teaching load is two to three courses per semester with small section sizes (12-22 students) and one to three course preparations per year.
 
Duties and responsibilities: 
  • Teaching: Deliver engaging lectures, supervise laboratory activities, develop curriculum, and guide students through the hands-on capstone design sequence.
  • Mentorship: Develop future officer-leaders by actively modeling professionalism and ethical leadership, sponsoring and leading midshipmen on experiential educational and operational opportunities, and reinforcing standards of accountability and conduct.
  • Scholarship: Maintain a strong, sustained program of scholarship, with an emphasis on relevance to national security and technological advancement. Faculty must involve midshipmen in these scholarly efforts as appropriate and maintain currency in their field through regular peer-reviewed dissemination.
  • Service: Contribute to the institutional and departmental mission through active service characterized by collegiality, civility, and productive citizenship.
This is an onsite, 10-month compensation model, excepted service federal faculty position with a 3-year renewable appointment, a highly competitive salary, and full federal benefits.
 
Salary Details:  
  • Pay Band: AD-03
  • Approximate Starting Salary: $125,000
    • Based on 10-month compensation model
  • Final Salary Will be determined based on:
    • Experience and qualifications of the selected candidate
MINIMUM AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Minimum Qualifications:
  • A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or other related engineering/science disciplines is required. (Anticipated completion of Ph.D. no later than June 2026 for an August 2026 start or November 2026 for a January 2027 start is acceptable).
FINAL SELECTION FOR POSITION WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING ASSESSMENTS: 
  • Teaching Demonstration 
  • Research/Scholarship Talk
  • On-Campus Engagement with Faculty & Staff
  • Executive-Level Interview
HOW TO APPLY FOR POSITION:
Interested candidates should send application packages to ECE Search Committee, at ece-positions-2026-group@usna.edu.
 
  • Application Packages need to contain:
    • Cover Letter: Must specifically address your interest in working at the United States Naval Academy and how you see your role contributing to the moral, mental, and physical development of midshipmen. In addition, please clearly indicate your status as a U.S. citizen in the cover letter, as this is required for the position.
    • 2-page Resume (we can only accept resumes up to two pages in length)
      • This document must be sufficient on its own to assess whether the applicant meets all “Required Minimum Qualifications.”
    • Supplemental materials
      • Full Curriculum Vitae. Include a comprehensive record of publications and scholarship output.
      • Teaching and Mentorship Statement. A statement outlining your teaching philosophy and your approach to student development and advising.
      • Scholarship/Research Plan. A statement describing a viable scholarship agenda that can be sustained in an undergraduate-only environment. 
      • Professional References. The names and complete contact information for three professional references who can address your teaching abilities, scholarship potential, and professional character.
Candidates should also submit a response to the narrative questions found here. Please note you will need to include the announcement number listed at the bottom of this announcement.
 
Please note: This position does not have a specific application deadline. Review of applications will begin on March 16, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.  The ability to fill this position is contingent upon the availability of funding.
 
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Two-year trial period will typically be required.
  • All civilian positions at USNA are subject to a background investigation. The selected candidate will be subject to a security investigation leading to successful completion of a background investigation with a favorable adjudication. The selectee's failure to meet this requirement will be grounds for termination. More information about the background investigation  process can be found at the Academic Dean and Provost’s website, https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Faculty-Information/Background-Investigation-Info.php. 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
NOTICE TO VETERANS: If you are a veteran, you are encouraged to clearly identify your Veterans’ status in your cover letter or elsewhere in your application materials. Please DO NOT provide official documentation, such as a DD-214 or any personally identifiable information, at this time.
 
NOTICE TO CURRENT ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Separating service members will be eligible for employment to an excepted service position within 120 days of discharge given a Statement of Service can be provided.  If selected, you will be required to submit a Statement of Service indicating your branch of service, rate/rank, all dates of service, your expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) The statement of service must be printed on command letterhead and signed by your command. 
 
NOTICE TO RETIRING MILITARY: Retired service members cannot be appointed to DOD civilian positions within 180 days of retiring. As such, they must observe a 180 day waiting period starting from their date of retirement. USNA does not waive this waiting period requirement for excepted service positions.
 
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  
 
The Department of the Navy provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities.  Applicants with disabilities who believe they require reasonable accommodation should contact our Human Resource Office to ensure that the Department of the Navy can consider such requests.  The decision to grant an accommodation will be made on a case by case basis.
 
 --
 
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
 
Announcement: ECE-25-26-1
 
The U.S. Naval Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer