Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering

You will help us advance our goals in research, innovation, and outstanding teaching. About the role Principal accountabilities Person specification Benefits How to apply Job details Responsible to Subject Lead for Engineering Location Markeaton Street, Derby Campus Closing date Monday 13 April 2026 Salary £38,784 to £46,049 per annum Job grade HE Lecturer Reference 0037-26 Contract type Permanent Post type Full-time Adaptive working type Hybrid This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework. About the University We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better. The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills. About the College/Department Here at the University of Derby, the College of Science and Engineering is the home STEM, the skills that are essential to the UK’s Industrial Strategy. From digitisation to decarbonisation, we have an important role to play in shaping the future. And by researching or collaborating with us, you can too.  The College brings together a powerful combination of scientific expertise, technological innovation, and creative practice. With disciplines spanning computing, AI, Data Science, engineering, environmental sciences, built environments and Psychology. We are uniquely positioned to solve real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.  Our courses are designed with employability and future industry needs in mind, supported by cutting-edge facilities, strong employer partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability. Through applied research and hands-on learning, we equip students and staff to drive progress in areas that matter most; from smart technology to clean energy, advanced manufacturing to immersive design. School of Engineering and Built Environment  The School of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Derby is a dynamic and future-focused academic community that blends technical excellence with creative innovation. It offers a wide range of programmes across engineering, architecture, construction, and design, preparing students to tackle global challenges in sustainability, infrastructure, and the built environment.  The School is home to research-active academics with backgrounds in architecture, interior design, and construction. Our staff bring real-world experience and academic rigour to the classroom, supporting students in developing both creative portfolios and technical competencies.  The discipline area is located in the University’s STEM annex in Markeaton Street, where staff offices and lab facilities are co-located. Key investments in the last few years include dedicated intelligent instrumentation and smart sensor technologies, robotics, renewable energy, power engineering and advanced materials and manufacturing. The discipline area is actively engaged in knowledge exchange projects and has an active applied research agenda.   About the role Engineering at Derby is driving forward an ambitious vision to create an exceptional learning environment, expand our research excellence, and strengthen industry collaboration across the region and beyond. As part of this strategic growth, we are investing in a new Lecturer position in Mechanical Engineering, building on strong opportunities with regional industry and aligning with the future direction of our mechanical engineering programmes.  We are seeking a Lecturer with proven or emerging potential who can help us advance our goals in research, innovation, and outstanding teaching. You will enhance our capabilities in key specialist areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Thermofluids, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). In this role, you will actively contribute to a vibrant research culture, develop a growing international reputation, and drive impactful knowledge exchange that informs cutting‑edge practice, enriches the research‑led curriculum, and supports our contributions to REF and KEF. Anticipated interview date: 28th April 2026 About You We are seeking an exceptional candidate with a strong academic foundation and specialist expertise in Mechanical Engineering. You will hold a good honours degree in a relevant discipline and ideally a PhD (or be close to completion), or possess equivalent professional achievement such as published research. Fellowship of Advance HE is desirable, or you will be willing to work towards this recognition. You will bring significant subject‑specific experience that enables the development of new knowledge and innovation within the mechanical engineering field. We are particularly interested in expertise related to Renewable Energy - especially the modelling, design, development, and testing of heat pumps (air, ground, or water source). Essential technical capabilities include thermal energy and systems modelling, thermal systems design, solar thermal technologies, thermal energy harvesting and storage, geothermal energy, and applied thermodynamics. Experience contributing to research is important, including work focused on decarbonising the built environment. This may involve developing novel heating and cooling solutions, HVAC innovations, and work on heat grids and networks. You will also bring knowledge or experience of higher education, with the ability to engage and inspire students through a variety of teaching and delivery approaches. Principal accountabilities Principal Accountabilities Learning / Teaching Effectively teach and facilitate learning on a range of subjects / modules within the subject area on undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and post-experience programmes. Ensure that knowledge from research and scholarly activities informs and enhances learning and teaching, as well as extending it to appropriate external activities such as knowledge transfer activities. Ensure that module / programme design and delivery comply with the quality standards and regulations of the University. Participate effectively in the assessment process, including the setting, marking and moderation of student work, providing constructive feedback and ensuring it is in accordance with quality assurance procedures. Participate in the continuing review and development of module/programme delivery, incorporating innovative study modes, learning environments and pedagogic practices to engage and stimulate students, deliver effective learning outcomes and develop the skills and attributes of the ‘Derby Graduate’. Take on relevant module leader and/or programme leader responsibilities, including associated marketing, recruitment, delivery and ongoing programme development activities. Research / Scholarship Engage in individual research and collaborate both internally and externally on research projects that are consistent with the College, and contribute to influencing leading edge practice in the University and contribution to the REF. Sustain and enhance the reputation of the University by publishing in appropriate quality journals and presenting at scholarly activities such as workshops, conferences and other similar events. Develop and maintain contacts and relationship with relevant professional, research and industrial organisations. Contribute to writing bids for externally funded research projects. Other Act as a personal tutor, supporting and mentoring students as appropriate. Provide pastoral care to students, referring when necessary to services that provide further support. Support marketing and student recruitment activities as required. Develop external links in order, for example, to support student recruitment, secure student placements, facilitate outreach work, generate income or build relationships for future activities. Be responsible for administrative duties in areas such as admissions, timetabling, examinations and assessment of progress and student attendance. Contribute to effective cross College / University working. Observe and implement University policies and procedures. Person specification Essential Criteria Qualifications Good Honours Degree in relevant subject discipline or equivalent Fellowship of the Advanced HE (HEA) or willingness to work towards PhD (or submitted and awaiting examination) or equivalence accepted in a relevant subject area, for example by publication or through appropriate professional achievement or willingness to work towards within an agreed timeframe Subject specific qualifications / knowledge Experience Learning / Teaching Experience or knowledge of quality assurance and validation of Higher Education (HE) modules / programmes Experience or knowledge of higher education and ability to use a range of delivery techniques to inspire and engage students Research / Scholarship Demonstrable experience in mechanical engineering discipline to enable the development of new knowledge and understanding within the field Experience of research / enterprise activity the following area: Renewable Energy, specifically on the modelling, design, and development, and testing of heat pumps (air/ground/water-sourced), and have skills that include thermal energy modelling, thermal systems design and modelling, solar thermal systems, thermal energy harvesting, thermal storage, geothermal energy, and thermodynamics Experience of contribution to research and in particular experience of research of the decarbonisation of the built environment, including novel heating and cooling solutions, HVAC, heat grids and networks Evidence of active publishing in high quality journals or other outputs in research or practice that will contribute to the REF or other areas identified in the College / University Research Strategy Skills, knowledge and abilities An appropriate level of digital capability and aptitude with practical experience of applications which aid student learning Ability to communicate complex and conceptual ideas to a range of groups Proficient in using IT to support own work and for application to technology-enhanced learning / teaching and research activities