Design-Focused Lecturer, Systems Design Engineering

Systems is how we understand the world and design is how we change it.

The Department of Systems Design Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo prepares students to be at the forefront of engineering design. We are looking for a passionate engineering designer who is ready to join our team and teach our students. Our transdisciplinary programs seek to offer an outstanding undergraduate educational experience leading our graduates to become engineering practitioners, researchers, and systems thinkers.

The successful candidate for this faculty position, at the rank of Lecturer, is expected to teach engineering design courses, integrating experiential learning techniques, and real-world applications into the classroom. The candidate should have demonstrated experience in teaching holistic design processes for engineered systems with a commitment to design fundamentals, strong engineering analysis methods, user-focused design methodologies, and transdisciplinary approaches. Preference will be given to candidates who have applied their design skills to real- world systems.

A vision for the future of engineering design methodology that advances equity, ethics, and sustainability is important to the department. System designs that cross over traditional problem domains are desirable. The candidate’s design focus may be within any of our interdisciplinary research areas in socio-environmental systems; biomedical engineering; human factors; mechatronics and physical systems, and vision/image processing. Expertise in prototyping, software, simulations, or modeling would be an asset.

The definite term appointment is at the rank of Lecturer within our teaching faculty stream. The initial three-year appointment is renewable for a second term of three years after which it is expected that candidates demonstrating outstanding performance will be considered for promotion to appointment as a permanent member of the faculty. Candidates may hold a PhD degree in engineering or a related discipline, however, candidates with a research-based master's degree in engineering and equivalent professional experience will also be considered. The successful applicant is required to have an engineering license for practice (full) or teaching (limited) in Canada or to apply for a Canadian engineering license within the first year of joining the University. Due to program accreditation requirements, all new faculty members are normally expected to obtain the license before the end of the first term. Re-appointment is conditional upon satisfying this requirement.

The successful candidate will mentor undergraduate students and be assigned to teach design-focused courses from the first-year level through to Capstone Design. Depending on the technical expertise of the faculty member, their teaching portfolio will be rounded out with core engineering courses and potentially a fourth-year technical elective in alternating years. The Lecturer teaching load in the department is currently 10 courses over two years. This position also requires a willingness to be involved in student outreach activities.

Applications received by May 31, 2023, will be given full consideration. However, applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. References are requested but will only be contacted for applicants invited for an interview. The salary range for this Lecturer position is

$100,000 to $130,000. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for

exceptionally experienced candidates. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The appointment has a preferred starting date of August 1, 2023.

Three reasons to apply: https://uwaterloo.ca/faculty-association/why-waterloo

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office (https://uwaterloo.ca/human-rights-equity- inclusion/indigenousinitiatives).

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

To apply, individuals are to complete an online application form that includes uploading a single PDF containing the following in order:

  1. brief cover letter;
  2. statement of teaching philosophy and interests (two-page maximum);
  3. diversity impact statement addressing how the candidate’s teaching program will advance equity, diversity, and inclusion goals (compare e.g., NSERC guide) (one-page maximum);
  4. current curriculum vitae; and
  5. an appendix of up to five pages containing the following:
    1. evidence of prior excellence in teaching and,
    2. as appropriate, a portfolio-style evidence of design experience.

The link to apply is here: https://uwaterloo.ca/engineering/application-design-focused-lecturer

The cover letter is to be addressed to:
Prof. Lisa Aultman-Hall
Chair, Department of Systems Design Engineering University of Waterloo

If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process or eligibility, please contact Alex Pastrik at sydeaac@uwaterloo.ca. The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Alex Pastrik sydeaac@uwaterloo.ca.