ABOUT US

UCL Mechanical Engineering has been pioneering the development of engineering education, having taught the core discipline for over 170 years.
UCL was home to the UK’s first ever Professor of the Mechanical Principles of Engineering, Eaton Hodgkinson, in 1847. It was also where Sir Alexander Blackie William Kennedy introduced organized laboratory practicals in university education training; a world-leading educational innovation at the time.
Today our students, some 1200 students from over 70 countries, are taught core engineering disciplines and supervised in individual and group research projects by academics that are recognised research world-leaders in their fields.
In the latest UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) 93% of our faculty’s research submitted was judged “world leading” or “internationally excellent”.

The UCL Mechanical Engineering is a large multi-specialisation department. The diversity of our research is one of our strengths, leading to many interdisciplinary research opportunities. Our main research groups are:

• Biomechanical
• Energy and Environment
• Marine
• Materials, Structures and Manufacturing

The Marine, Autonomy and Robotic Systems (MARS) group at UCL actively supports the marine and naval sectors through world-leading research, consultancy, and education. Its work covers key themes including marine autonomy and automation, clean maritime technologies, and resilient ocean environments. MARS research has attracted significant funding from major bodies such as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the European Commission, and other national and international partners. The group’s innovations have generated wide-ranging impact, informed policy and practice, and received recognition through awards from leading marine and maritime societies.
The MARS group also plays a vital role in education, delivering unique and highly regarded programmes in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture that equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to meet the evolving needs of the maritime sector.
The group is now seeking to recruit an academic in Maritime Engineering to help expand its research portfolio and support teaching in this strategically important and fast-developing field.
The Department is committed to an inclusive and supportive culture for all. In recruiting, we welcome the unique contributions that everyone can bring in terms of their education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. We continually strive to have the systems in place to ensure that all members of the department have equal access to opportunities, reach their full potential and maintain a work-life balance.
Appointment at Lecturer (Grade 8) or Associate Professor (Grade 9) will be determined by depth of experience and track record. For Associate Professor, the appointee would be expected to demonstrate sustained excellence in all aspects of academic life.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is seeking to appoint a research-focused academic in Maritime Engineering at either the Lecturer level (equivalent to a U.S. tenure-track Assistant Professor) or the Associate Professor level.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop a strong research programme that integrates cutting-edge technologies with our world-class experimental and computational facilities, contributing to the full breadth of maritime and ocean engineering and advancing UCL’s position as a leader in maritime research.
We welcome applicants whose work spans a wide range of topics, including but not limited to naval architecture, hydrodynamics, marine systems engineering, port and coastal infrastructure, novel vessel design including autonomous marine vehicles, marine zero carbon technologies, and amongst many other topics.

You will be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues within the Marine, Autonomy and Robotics Systems (MARS) Group, the rest of the department and UCL more widely.

• Research: Provide leadership (Grade 9) or support (Grade 8) in developing and delivering high-quality research across key areas of maritime engineering, including naval architecture, hydrodynamics, marine systems engineering, port and coastal infrastructure, novel vessel design including autonomous marine vehicles, marine zero carbon technologies amongst many other topics. The successful candidate will be expected to engage widely with the Department’s MARS Group and the whole department to contribute to its three strategic research themes: marine autonomy and automation, clean maritime technologies, and resilient ocean environments.
• Education: Contribute to the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in maritime, ocean, and mechanical engineering, including supervision of student research projects.
• Enterprise and External Engagement: Engage proactively with industry, research councils, and policy stakeholders to drive innovation, translation of research into practice, and generate real-world impact.
• Institutional Citizenship: Contribute to the academic community through leadership, mentoring, and administrative responsibilities that support the department’s strategic goals and collegial culture.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for more insight into the post’s duties and responsibilities.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insuranc