Professor in Aerospace and Future FlightUniversity

Aston University is seeking to appoint an internationally recognised academic to the position of Reader in Future Flight within the Department of Mechatronics, Biomedical and Design Engineering (MBDE), which forms part of the School of Engineering Innovation.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and collaborative engineering community and to help shape Aston University's emerging research and education agenda in aerospace. The successful candidate will provide academic leadership in an area aligned with the future of air and space systems, working across disciplinary boundaries and building strong partnerships with industry, government and other academic institutions.

We are particularly interested in candidates whose expertise aligns with one or more of three complementary avenues of Future of Flight:

Integrated Systems including model-based systems engineering (MBSE), model-based and test-informed development, digital engineering, systems integration, verification and certification, and the design of complex aerospace missions across air and space, including satellites and space exploration systems.

Sustainable Systems including net-zero propulsion technologies, particularly hydrogen and battery-electric systems, energy systems, and sustainable approaches to aerospace manufacturing.

Frontier Systems including intelligent and autonomous flight systems and decision-making, alongside advanced flight regimes such as hypersonic flight.

About the Role

As a senior academic leader, you will develop and lead an internationally recognised programme of research in the Future of Flight, connecting engineering fundamentals with the design, manufacture and operation of aerospace systems. You will deliver high-quality research outputs with academic, industrial and societal impact, and play a key role in shaping Aston's research profile in aerospace through strategic leadership, collaboration and innovation. You will establish and maintain international recognition through original, innovative and distinguished contributions to research, scholarship and professional practice.

You will build strategic collaborations across Aston University and with external partners, including aerospace and advanced engineering companies, technology organisations, government and international research institutions. Through these partnerships, you will develop a diverse and impactful collaborative research programme and secure competitive external funding, creating new opportunities for research, innovation and impact.

You will also contribute to the design, delivery and continuous enhancement of undergraduate and postgraduate education, including the recently launched BEng Aerospace Engineering and the development of a future MEng programme. Curriculum development will reflect the Department's research vision across one of the three themes: Integrated, Sustainable and Frontier Systems. This will ensure students benefit from a research-informed, industry-relevant education that is closely connected to Aston's aerospace research agenda.

You will also help foster a strong, inclusive and collaborative academic community, mentoring and developing early-career researchers and doctoral students, supporting colleagues, and contributing to the strategic development of research and education across the Department, School and wider University.

If you would like an informal discussion regarding this position, please contact Professor Damien Foster, [email protected]

£67,280 to £104,712 per annum Grade: Band 01