Applicants must submit all required materials through the official U-M Careers portal (careers.umich.edu):

1. Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume

2. Cover letter describing relevant engineering experience, teaching philosophy, and familiarity with lab equipment

3. Contact information for 2-3 professional references

The deadline to apply is October 17, 2026. Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately. This appointment opportunity is subject to final approval by the academic unit.

About the Role:

The Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering (IMSE) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn invites applications for a part-time Lecturer to teach Human-Centered Engineering Design. The lecturer is expected to teach HCED 380 during Winter terms and HCED 450 during Fall terms on a rotating basis. Each course includes three credits of lecture and one credit of laboratory instruction. Specific assignments are subject to curricular need, enrollment, and final unit approval.
 

This role bridges classroom instruction with hands-on lab experimentation, guiding students through the full iterative lifecycle of rapid prototyping, fabrication, and product development. The ideal candidate brings substantial industrial product development experience and a passion for mentoring student engineers in modern, technology- enabled maker space and lab environments.
 

Key Responsibilities:

Instruction and Classroom Delivery: Serve as the primary instructor for HCED 380 or HCED 450, according to the department?s course rotation. Prepare and deliver lectures, syllabi, laboratory instruction, and course materials covering foundational and advanced concepts in product development and physical prototyping.

Hands-On Lab Instruction & Supervision: Provide practical, in-lab instruction and safety supervision on rapid prototyping tools and manufacturing equipment, including FDM and SLA 3D printing, laser etching, waterjet cutting, and microcontroller integration.

Student Project Mentorship: Direct, advise, and evaluate undergraduate design projects, guiding students through technical troubleshooting, project scoping, and engineering design workflows.

Lab Management and Supply Coordination: Assist with day-to-day operation and scheduling of lab facilities, identify required components and project consumables, and coordinate equipment maintenance in support of student projects.

Curriculum and Safety Compliance: Collaborate with department faculty to update course content in line with emerging industry standards. Enforce safety protocols and compliance across all departmental prototyping spaces.

Assessment and Evaluation: Grade coursework, evaluate project milestones, hold regular office hours, and track student learning outcomes in accordance with U-M standards.

• Education: Master's degree or Ph.D. in Engineering (Industrial & Manufacturing, Mechanical, Systems, Design, or a closely related field) from an accredited institution.

• Engineering Experience: At least 5 years of professional engineering experience in industry or applied research.

• Product Development: At least 3 years of hands-on experience across the product development lifecycle.

• Project Management: Demonstrated working knowledge of project management methodologies.

• Communication: Exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with a proven ability to engage diverse undergraduate audiences.

• Additive Manufacturing: Hands-on expertise with FDM and SLA 3D printing platforms; experience with Formlabs and Bambu Lab printers strongly preferred.

• Microcontrollers & Embedded Hardware: Proficiency with microcontroller prototyping platforms, particularly the Arduino ecosystem.

• Fabrication Technologies: Practical experience operating and troubleshooting waterjet cutters and laser etchers/engravers.

• Intellectual Property: Familiarity with invention methodologies and intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

• Teaching Experience: Prior college-level instruction, lab instruction, or technical workforce training in engineering design or prototyping.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-Dearborn) is one of the three campuses of the University of Michigan. UM-Dearborn, a comprehensive university offering high quality undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education to residents of southeastern Michigan, and attracts nearly 9,000 students. Our faculty come from respected universities and doctoral programs, are recognized for excellence in research and teaching, and are active in professional and academic service roles in their respective fields. US News and World Report recently recognized our campus as a Best Regional University.

The campus is located on 200 acres of the original Henry Ford Estate. Dearborn is centrally located within one of America's largest business regions. The geographically diverse area provides faculty with a variety of urban, suburban, and rural areas within a reasonable commute, including Detroit, Detroit suburbs, and Ann Arbor.

This position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement between the U-M and the Lecturers Employee Organization, AFL-CIO, which contains and settles all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.