Assistant Professor/Associate Professor of Design Engineering

Salary:

Assistant Professor: £70,718 - £80,148 per annum
Associate Professor: Minimum starting salary of £82,969 per annum

Location: South Kensington Campus

About the role:

Do you want to change the world for the better, and do you believe this can be done through research and education? At the Dyson School of Design Engineering, our motto is “from making better things to making things better”. Consider joining an internationally leading institution, aiming to shape the future of engineering, at the interface between technology, people and society.

We are seeking to appoint a Faculty staff at Assistant Professor/Associate Professor level to conduct high impact research and to deliver outstanding teaching and student experience. The role is within Design Engineering, broadly.

What you would be doing:

Research – As a part of the Dyson School of Design Engineering, you will actively develop and lead your own research programme, in line with our research themes and vision. You will be expected to undertake high-quality research and to publish in recognised and high-impact journals/conferences in your field (commensurate with your level of appointment). You will be active in the pursuit of external funding to support your research, while enhancing the reputation of our institution through your external engagements. Since the School promotes a strong collaborative and inclusive research environment, you will be expected to initiate and expand research collaborations with colleagues at the School, at Imperial College London, and beyond.

Teaching – The Dyson School of Design Engineering provides exceptional learning experience and environment to our students, and is continuously recognised for it. As our new Faculty staff member, you will contribute to the School’s teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. You will also undertake supervision of undergraduate and MRes/MSc projects. And, in view of our new programmes and of our continuously evolving teaching portfolio, you may be expected to contribute, as appropriate, to the development of new teaching materials at all levels.

Administration – As part of a collegial and inclusive academic community, you will be expected to make a contribution to the day-to-day running of the School when required. This will translate to taking on School-wide administrative role(s) commensurate with the level of appointment. You will also attend School-wide meetings and contribute to student recruitment activities. You will support with promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. Eventually, you may be expected to undertake other duties appropriate to the grade as specified by the Head of School.

What we are looking for:

At the Dyson School of Design Engineering, we strive to bring a unique value proposition to our students, to our research and industry partners, and to society as a whole. Over the years, we have assembled a unique team of diverse talents who are at the forefront of their fields and who deliver excellent teaching. Our staff members and students have a strong focus on technology and the human, with a flair for entrepreneurship and innovation. This is a unique opportunity to join the youngest department at the Faculty of Engineering of Imperial College London and to make an impact globally. For an overview of the research and teaching at the School, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/design-engineering/.

We are looking to invest in future research and academic leaders who have the ambition to make a substantial impact. We invite applications from candidates across specific areas of relevance to the department, which broadly encompass, design, engineering and the social sciences, by prioritising the following (based on research and teaching developments at the School):

• Behavioural science.
• Human-centric design engineering.
• Entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Data, digital and post-digital futures.
• Sustainability and responsibility.
• Systems.
• Applications with healthcare, manufacturing, energy, space, etc.

Applications are also sought from outstanding scholars in areas such as Human Behaviour, Psychology, Ethics and Law, but who have a shown and demonstrated a strong interest in the study of socio-technical systems. We generally welcome applications from other areas of design engineering, which would allow to enhance (and broaden) our existing research and teaching portfolios. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a track-record of executing research a shared ethos to the School’s approach to societal challenges. Design engineers develop their research and teaching with the human at the centre. The research portfolio and vision should combine methodological contributions and focus on relevant application areas (e.g., healthcare, manufacturing, energy, space, etc.).

Besides these research-related considerations, we expect the successful candidate to be able to contribute to our teaching portfolio within e.g. human-centric design engineering, sustainable design engineering, futures and strategic engineering, entreprise roll-out, etc. We additionally expect the successful candidate to have a flair for entrepreneurship and innovation through, e.g., past or ongoing engagements with industry, spin-off companies, advising roles, etc.

What we can offer you:

The Dyson School of Design Engineering will 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.
• Being part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources designed to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

We offer an attractive sector-leading salary and remuneration package (with 41 days off a year), including a pension scheme with additional employer contribution and generous conditions of service with flexible and family-friendly working policies. The School and its members have an open-minded and diverse culture, based on a shared ambition, constructive feedback and respect. This is a rare opportunity for you to continue your career at a world-leading institution.

Further Information

This is a full-time, open-ended position.

Please apply online via the 'Apply' button above, uploading all the following supporting documents:

• Cover letter, detailing your motivations and suitability to join the School, as well as the level you are applying for (Assistant Professor/Associate Professor).
• A full CV, with degrees (including subject, universities and dates), past and present employment, teaching experience, a complete list of publications, past and current funding, supervision, contribution to the scientific community, public engagements, etc.
• A research proposal (2-3 pages), also detailing expected funding, as well as potentially necessary equipment and infrastructure.
• A teaching statement (2 pages) and evidence of quality of teaching (e.g., student evaluations). 
• An impact statement (1 page), highlighting the applicant’s 2 most important publications, and describing their impact within academia, industry and society.

Only complete applications will be considered.

All candidates will be contacted after the shortlisting is completed. 

For informal discussion about the post, please contact Professor Robert Shorten, Head of Dyson School of Design Engineering (r.shorten@imperial.ac.uk) or Professor Pierre Pinson, Deputy Head of School: p.pinson@imperial.ac.uk.

Should you have queries about the application process, please contact Maria Monteiro, Senior Appointments Manager, Email: m.monteiro@imperial.ac.uk; Telephone 0207 594 5498.

Interview Dates: 12-15 January 2026 

Start date: from 1st April 2026 onwards, but not later than 1st October 2026. 

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Disability Confident Leader and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you experience any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial.

Our culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination and creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity and innovation.