Are you looking for academic jobs in the Engineering and Technology sector?
You may be an experienced engineer working in industry who is looking to transfer your skills to a lecturing post. Or perhaps you’re just finishing your PhD and are interested in postdoctoral roles in a university or research institute.
A recent HE recruitment trend report carried out by jobs.ac.uk found that the Engineering and Technology sector is one of our top categories for academic jobs advertised.
This series of posts takes a detailed look at academic jobs in the Engineering and Technology sector, showcasing lecturing, research and senior-level academic jobs in a range of related disciplines, from mechanical engineering to maritime technology.
Engineering and Technology graduates are among some of the most in-demand in the UK and internationally. Higher education is tasked with meeting industry needs by training a multi-skilled workforce as well as leading cutting-edge engineering and technology research. Therefore, universities are looking to attract highly-qualified lecturers, researchers and engineers with industry experience who can inspire the next generation and enhance research collaboration.
An academic career in the Engineering and Technology sector is as diverse as it is rewarding. One day you may be teaching or engaging with employers to monitor students on degree apprenticeships, the next you could be contributing to international research projects in partnership with government and industry.
Here we look at how the sector is structured, the jobs available, qualifications and experience required, salaries and opportunities for progression.
- Aerospace Engineering Jobs
- Biotechnology Jobs
- Chemical Engineering Jobs
- Civil Engineering Jobs
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Jobs
- Maritime Technology Jobs
- Mechanical Engineering Jobs
- Metallurgy and Minerals Technology Jobs
- Production Engineering and Manufacturing Jobs
Aerospace Engineering Jobs
From satellites to spacecraft, aerospace engineers have contributed to some of the world’s most ground-breaking inventions.
To keep pace with this rapidly changing industry, universities are keen to attract experienced aerospace engineers to push the boundaries of aeronautical research and provide high-quality teaching and training.
You’ll find academic, teaching and research opportunities in aerospace engineering fields such as:
- Astronautics and spacecraft engineering
- Aerodynamics
- Aircraft and Systems design
- Flight mechanics
- Materials and structures
For a closer look at the types of academic jobs available in aerospace engineering, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Aerospace Engineering
Research jobs in Aerospace Engineering
Senior-level academic jobs in Aerospace Engineering
Biotechnology Jobs
Biotechnologists focus on the development of technology which is rooted in biology. A hugely diverse academic discipline, biotechnology combines natural sciences and engineering to design and develop products used in medicine, agriculture, industry and the environment.
Biotechnology academics teach undergraduate and postgraduate students across a wide range of disciplines, such as biomedicine or chemistry. Their research is focused on the five categories of biotechnology: human, environmental, industrial, animal and plant and includes areas such as:
- Genetics and DNA sequencing
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular biology
- Protein research
- Bacteriology
For more information about the different types of academic biotechnology jobs, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Biotechnology
Research jobs in Biotechnology
Senior-level academic jobs in Biotechnology
Chemical Engineering Jobs
Chemical engineering applies chemistry, physics, biology and maths to design and create a vast range of products, while also providing solutions to human problems. Whether it’s oil and gas production or waste management, a team of chemical engineers will be involved.
Graduates of chemical engineering are among the most sought-after and highest paid globally. To meet this demand, universities work in partnership with research institutes, government and industry to train aspiring chemical engineers and carry out research into the latest technologies and solutions.
Chemical engineering is a broad academic field incorporating multi-disciplinary research. You’ll find academic chemical engineering jobs in teaching and research areas such as:
- Thermodynamics
- Petroleum engineering
- Environmental management
- Fluid mechanics
- Green hydrogen
- Nuclear engineering
For a closer look at the types of academic jobs available in chemical engineering, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Chemical Engineering
Research jobs in Chemical Engineering
Senior-level academic jobs in Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering Jobs
Civil engineers design and shape the world we live in. They work for local and national governments and the private sector to develop and maintain the infrastructure of our towns, cities and transport networks.
Undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in civil engineering are industry-focused and universities offer specialist civil engineering programmes such as coastal, structural or environmental engineering. Therefore, specialised civil engineering lecturers and researchers with industry experience are in high demand.
Academic civil engineers teach undergraduate and postgraduate students and contribute to or lead research projects in areas such as:
- Fluid mechanics
- Construction
- Digital modelling
- Soil mechanics
- Structural mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Transportation
For a closer look at the types of academic jobs available in civil engineering, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Civil Engineering
Research jobs in Civil Engineering
Senior-level academic jobs in Civil Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Jobs
Electrical and electronic engineering is our most popular field of the engineering and technology sector for academic jobs advertised here at jobs.ac.uk.
Electrical and electronic engineering academics teach undergraduate and postgraduate students alongside carrying out research that is vital to our continued reliance on electricity. Areas of research include:
- Digital electronics
- Power engineering
- Robotics
- Telecommunications
- Circuits and systems
- Analogue electrics
- Electromagnetic fields
You’ll find teaching and research jobs in electrical engineering in both the higher education and further education sectors (primarily teaching roles). For a closer look at the types of academic jobs available in electrical and electronic engineering, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Research jobs in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Senior-level academic jobs in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Maritime Technology Jobs
Maritime Technology research is essential to the operation of the global economy and cross-border trade. Academics in this field focus on the research and development of technology used in industry, the military and in exploration of the marine environment. Areas of research include:
- Marine engineering
- Shipbuilding and sustainable shipping
- Oil and gas exploration/infrastructure
- Hydrodynamics
- Underwater technology and exploration
- Transport logistics
- Naval architecture
For a closer look at the types of academic jobs available in maritime engineering, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Maritime Technology
Research jobs in Maritime Technology
Senior-level academic jobs in Maritime Technology
Mechanical Engineering Jobs
From space stations to nanotechnology, mechanical engineering transforms science to reality. As mechanical engineers are fond of stating: “There’s no tech without Mech.”
Mechanical engineering academics are responsible for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as carrying out multi-disciplinary research into the design and development of the mechanical systems dominating all areas of human life. Areas of research include:
- Structural materials
- Solid mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Biomedical engineering
- Computer-aided design
- Materials science
- Transport
For more information about the different types of academic jobs available in mechanical engineering, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Mechanical Engineering
Research jobs in Mechanical Engineering
Senior-level academic jobs in Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgy and Minerals Technology Jobs
Metallurgy and minerals technologists combine materials science and engineering to research the extraction (mining) and sustainability of natural resources. Their research contributes to the development of new technologies which meet environmental challenges.
Academics involved in metallurgy and minerals research would also be responsible for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students following materials sciences, physical sciences and engineering programmes. Areas of research include:
- Physical, extractive and chemical metallurgy
- Minerals processing technology
- Astro materials
- Rock mechanics
- Environmental sustainability
For more information about the different types of academic jobs available in metallurgy and materials Technology, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Metallurgy and Materials Technology
Research jobs in Metallurgy and Materials Technology
Senior-level academic jobs in Metallurgy and Materials Technology
Production Engineering and Manufacturing Jobs
Production engineering and manufacturing research are focused on the design, development and maintenance of engineering processes involved in the manufacture of all products. Without this vital research, we would have no factories or food arriving in our supermarkets.
Academics in this field teach undergraduate and postgraduate students following digital manufacturing and production and manufacturing engineering programmes. They also contribute to research projects which focus on the development of the technology which keeps the world’s supply chains ticking over. Areas of research include:
- Production systems and quality engineering
- Robotics
- CIM (Computer-aided manufacturing)
- Supply chain management
- CAD/CAM simulation
- Automation for manufacturing
- Nanomanufacturing
For more information about the types of academic jobs available in production engineering and manufacturing, check out our series of posts covering lecturing, research and senior-level jobs:
Lecturing jobs in Production Engineering and Manufacturing
Research jobs in Production Engineering and Manufacturing
Senior-level academic jobs in Production Engineering and Manufacturing
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