Department Head of Systems Engineering

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) invites applications or nominations for the position of Head of the Department of Systems Engineering ( SYSE) starting fall 2025. The ideal candidate will be an accomplished leader with a broad and inclusive vision to meet the department's bold goals in the areas of education, discovery and outreach. He or she will have a distinguished record of scholarship and administrative leadership. They must have academic credentials that merit appointment as a tenured full professor, including a comprehensive academic record in teaching, research and service. The successful candidate should have a proven record to lead a complex organization and to leverage growth opportunities. The Department Head is expected to foster an environment in which faculty, staff and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. Equally importantly, the candidate must effectively represent the department across the university, as well as foster strong relationships with industry representatives, government and community leaders, donors and alumni.

The appointment commences for the fall 2025 semester.

Minimum Education and Experience: A PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline and a track record of outstanding research, teaching and service commensurate with appointment at the rank of full Professor. Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, engaging, and dynamic environment comprised of individuals with a range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. We are seeking candidates able to produce research and scholarly or creative achievements that enhance the program and the discipline, and able to deliver high quality teaching using evidence-based practices to effectively engage students from a range of backgrounds and experiences.

The SYSE Department at UT Dallas is at a crossroads in its evolution, having begun in 2011 with a single graduate degree program and complementary focus in research. The next two years will see the development of a new, multidisciplinary undergraduate degree program in Systems Engineering, representing an exciting opportunity for the next Department Head. The department currently has 9 tenured/tenure-track, lecturer, and research faculty members, and approximately 100 graduate students. Faculty members typically hold affiliate positions in other engineering departments and advise doctoral students in those departments. SYSE currently offers an M.S. degree in Systems Engineering and Management, a joint program with the Jindal School of Management. The program has run successfully since 2010, and consists of two tracks: Traditional track, with the majority of students, for the traditional graduate student, and the Professional track for the working professional with three or more years of experience (courses taught in an executive education style). The vision for the planned undergraduate curriculum is expressly tailored to meet the needs of the modern systems engineer, providing pathways for students to select a secondary field in another discipline, such as mechanical, electrical, bioengineering or computer science. To support growth and expansion to the planned undergraduate degree program, UT Dallas has committed to expanding the SYSE faculty where needed. The Department Head will be an integral part of the hiring and expansion process, with a start date for the degree program anticipated in 2025.

SYSE at UT Dallas is committed to interdisciplinary research. Led by faculty members with industry experience and innovative research programs, the focus is on the following fields: high-precision mechatronic systems with applications in atomic-scale lithography for fabrication of solid-state quantum devices, atomically precise manufacturing and high-speed scanning probe microscopy; robotic systems and control in a variety of multidisciplinary applications; modeling, analysis and control of multiagent systems in complex networks; graph machine learning for network control applications, resilience and security in networked multiagent systems, transportation systems management and operation strategies, mathematical methods for complex networks and engineering applications; functional safety systems with applications in machine learning and energy storage systems. Funding is derived from a variety of government agencies and industrial partners, and each of these areas falls within the newly defined research thrust areas in the UT Dallas Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. As the SYSE faculty grows, the breadth of these focus areas will expand. Of the tenured faculty, four (out of five) are Fellows in one or more professional societies and hold endowed Chair positions in the department. Each of these senior SYSE faculty members holds one or more of several national and international awards, including the ASME Rufus Oldenburger Medal, the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Pioneer Award, the IFAC Nichols Medal, the ASME Nyquist Lecture Prize, the American Automatic Control Council John R. Ragazzini Award, and the IEEE Third Millennium Medal.

The Jonsson School, home to six dynamic departments (biomedical, computer science, electrical and computer, materials science, mechanical, and systems), is one of the most rigorous, technologically advanced and diverse programs in the country. Close connections exist between all of these departments and local industry giving our students exceptional internship and employment opportunities. We serve as an economic engine of growth and innovation for North Texas with our focus on industry-relevant research and education. To that end, teams from our corporate-sponsored capstone program, UTDesign, have taken top honors at national competitions in recent years, as well as founded startups. The Jonsson School has a legacy of inclusion, ranking in the top in the nation for the number of degrees awarded to women in our oldest programs - computer science and electrical engineering.

Applicants should upload the following via the online application:

* Full curriculum vitae and cover letter summarizing their interests and qualifications for the position.

* Statement of teaching philosophy describing their conceptualizations of teaching and learning, and teaching and assessment methods, and how their teaching practices will engage students from a range of backgrounds and experiences.

* Research statement describing past, present, and future research, including how they mentor (or will mentor) student researchers and foster (or will foster) collaborative research environments.

* Statement of administrative philosophy and accomplishments.

* Full contact information for at least five academic or professional references.

The posting will close on 01/03/2025 and application reviews will begin on 01/10/2025. Reviews will continue until the position is filled.

UT Dallas is a top public research university located in one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan regions. Our seven schools offer more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs, plus professional certificates and fast-track programs. Our student body is 30,000 strong, reflecting students from over 100 countries and a multiplicity of identities and experiences. Over 65% of our undergraduate students receive some form of need- or merit-based financial aid; and 66% of graduating seniors have no student debt compared to 48% in Texas and 32% in the nation (2021 TICAS report).

UT Dallas is committed to graduating well-rounded members of the global community whose education has prepared them for rewarding lives and productive careers in a constantly changing world. A diversity of people, ideas, and perspectives is crucial to our vision and mission. UT Dallas is a place where members of the community from all backgrounds are welcomed, treated fairly, and encouraged in their pursuit of excellence.

The University has a variety of programs and initiatives to support engagement and success for all members of the campus community. Employee benefits include a range of physical and mental wellness resources. "LilyPad" lactation facilities are located throughout the campus. There are several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) comprised of individuals who share common interests to help build community among UT Dallas faculty and staff (e.g., Universal Access ERG, Military and Veteran ERG, UT Dallas Young Professionals).

Rich with visual and performing arts venues, museum districts, professional and semi-professional athletics teams, botanical gardens, accessible trails and so much more, the Dallas-Fort Worth ( DFW) metroplex has something for everyone to explore. UT Dallas partners with regional higher education institutions and school districts and with the Richardson Innovation Quarter (Richardson IQ), a major hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and educational activities.

The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. The University prohibits unlawful discrimination against a person because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status.

The University of Texas at Dallas is an equal opportunity/affirmative action university.

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished leader with a broad and inclusive vision to meet the department's bold goals in the areas of education, discovery and outreach. He or she will have a distinguished record of scholarship and administrative leadership. They must have academic credentials that merit appointment as a tenured full professor, including a comprehensive academic record in teaching, research and service. The successful candidate should have a proven record to lead a complex organization and to leverage growth opportunities. The Department Head is expected to foster an environment in which faculty, staff and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. Equally importantly, the candidate must effectively represent the department across the University, as well as foster strong relationships with industry representatives, government and community leaders, donors and alumni.

Demonstrate a commitment to teaching excellence.
Prepare and teach undergraduate and/or graduate classes.
Contribute assessment information and data as requested.
Mentor and/or advise undergraduate and/or graduate students.
Establish and/or continue an independent line of research.
Continue to expand professional influence in the academic discipline through research and/or publication.
Engage in service within the academic unit, the university, and the profession as appropriate based on teaching and research constraints.

1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public.

2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. EOE, including disability/veterans. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator . For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.