Job Description

School of Mechanical Engineering

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Grade 8 Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606

Grade 9 Full time starting salary is normally in the range £58,225 to £67,468 with potential progression once in post to £87,974

Grade: 8 or 9

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 16th June 2026

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

Background

This is an exciting time to be an academic in engineering at the University of Birmingham. Following the creation of the School of Engineering in 2016, which brought together the disciplines of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, we are now entering the next phase of our development. We are investing significantly in both people and infrastructure: our new £65m landmark building and our £28m UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) Centre of Excellence for Digital Systems have recently opened, while our world-leading £26m National Buried Infrastructure Facility opened in 2020.

The School of Engineering has a long-standing tradition of world-class research and strong industrial partnerships, ensuring that our innovations deliver rapid real-world impact. We are now seeking a highly motivated, research-active academic to join the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

This post is open to candidates with expertise in advanced propulsion and vehicle systems, particularly in areas with strong potential for research funding, including:

• Sustainable and low-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen carrier fuels (hydrogen, ammonia and etc), and fuel-flexible systems (spray, combustion, emissions, and efficiency)
• Integrated electrified and hybrid powertrains, including system design, intelligent control, energy management, and thermal (HVAC) systems, with consideration of efficiency, degradation, and lifecycle performance
• Powertrain decarbonisation strategies, involving electrification, hydrogen integration, net-zero vehicle systems, and intelligent, connected and automated vehicle systems empowered by AI technologies
• Integrated mobility systems, including smart fleet management, vehicle-infrastructure interaction, and whole-system efficiency optimisation

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the UK's net-zero transport ambitions, supported by leading industry collaborations and strong funding opportunities.

The successful candidate will have a PhD, or equivalent qualification, in one of the areas above. They will be expected to secure support from government, industry, and international organisations to conduct high-quality research, generate high-quality publications in internationally recognised journals, and contribute to the development and delivery of undergraduate, postgraduate, and CPD programmes as appropriate to the disciplinary area. Industrial experience, whether through direct employment or through collaboration, is highly desirable, as is the ability to engage effectively with academic, government, and industrial partners in the UK and internationally.

Role Summary

The role holder will be based in Edgbaston. The key duties and responsibilities will include but not be limited to: giving lectures and seminars and supervising undergraduate / post-graduate students, course development and innovation, taking an active part in examinations, carrying out innovative research and writing papers on topics relevant to the specialist subject area (this will include journals, books and other material), and obtaining research grant funding.

The successful applicant will have a PhD in a relevant specialist subject area, as well as postdoctoral experience. We are looking for candidates who will actively contribute to our portfolio and community, through pursuit of research that will bring new opportunities, synergies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The successful candidate will also have a track record in teaching at a higher education institution.

Appointments will be made at either an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level please specify which role you are applying for in the application

To download the full job description please click here:

Grade 8

Grade 9

Informal enquiries to Dr Carl Anthony, email: c.j.anthony@bham.ac.uk

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.