Assistant Professor or Associate Professor

Position Details

School of 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: 6th January 2026

Background

This is an exciting time to join the University of Birmingham and advance your academic career. Following the creation of the School of Engineering in 2016—bringing together Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electronic, Electrical & Systems Engineering (EESE)—we are now entering Phase 2 of our renaissance. We are investing significantly in people and infrastructure, including our new £65m signature building, the £26m National Buried Infrastructure Facility, and the £28m UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN)—world-class facilities that underpin our research and provide an exceptional learning environment.

EESE delivers internationally recognised research and education across communications and sensing, electrical power systems, cyber-physical systems, control and robotics, digital healthcare, and rail/digital systems (working closely with BCRRE within the School). Our sector partnerships ensure rapid translation of research into practice. In REF 2021, Engineering at Birmingham was ranked among the UK top 10, reflecting our breadth and strength.

We seek to appoint a driven, highly research-active academic to join EESE and help us create the future. Applications are invited from candidates whose expertise aligns with one or more of the following priority areas:

• Power Systems, Electronics and Communications/Sensing – covering but not limited to digital electronics (including FPGAs and VHDL) distributed network control, Data Integration, Management and Cybersecurity and integration of hybrid/electric vehicles into energy infrastructure. This could also encompass communications and sensing for real-time monitoring, wireless connectivity for energy networks, and secure data transmission for critical national infrastructure. Strong links exist with industrial sectors (rail, manufacturing, defence) and with cross-disciplinary University strengths in quantum technologies and future mobility.
• Sustainable) Transportation Systems – including zero-emission propulsion technologies (electrification, hybrid systems), intelligent mobility solutions, human–machine interaction, and advanced traffic systems. Research would extend across multiple modes (automotive, rail, aerospace, defence) and integrate with cross-School research groupings.
• Infrastructure Resilience and Energy-Integrated Environments – including smart grids, advanced energy storage, and energy-integrated environments with applications spanning robotics, space, transportation and defence. This is tightly aligned to UK government and European priorities on Net Zero, energy security, and future infrastructure resilience.

You will create and disseminate knowledge through original research, publication, and engagement; and develop and deliver teaching across UG/PGT/CPD aligned to your disciplinary area (e.g. digital electronics, communications and networks, control and embedded systems, power systems and power electronics, AI/ML for engineering systems, cyber-physical systems, and resilience/cybersecurity for OT). You will contribute to Department/School leadership, administration, and external engagement. Industrial experience or engagement is desirable.

The School is dedicated to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and strongly encourages applications from candidates in under-represented groups.

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 Professor Theodoros Arvanitis, email: and Professor Karl Dearn, email:  

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.