Find & Apply For Materials Engineer Jobs in El Paso, Texas

Company Description:

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1, Opportunity, and Community-Engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 26,000 students, 84% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 169 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America. The city's location on the Rio Grande in the Southwest where two countries and three states meet makes it an ideal venue for academic programs and research studies on topics of national interest, including bilingual education/language acquisition, health and health disparities, international relations, international trade, migration, and environmental sustainability and infrastructure. The University enjoys strategic partnerships with two Department of Energy national laboratories in the region, multiple national laboratories beyond the region, and sits on the edge of White Sands Missile Range, making engineering and scientific research both a priority and an opportunity. Along with its designation among the top 5% of universities in America for research, UTEP is also nationally recognized as an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Classification for its positive impact on economic mobility for students after graduation. In 2024, Forbes found that UTEP students graduate with the lowest average debt of any college or university in Texas. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. The city's active arts and culture community features the state's longest-running symphony orchestra, a nationally recognized chamber music festival, a vibrant street art and mural scene, art galleries, museums, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. In 2024, El Paso opened La Nube, a unique hybrid institution that merges the educational aspects of a science center with the interactive experiences of a children's museum. UTEP adds to the arts and entertainment scene with concerts and live events at the city's largest indoor and outdoor venues; theater, music and dance productions; contemporary and student art galleries; and a natural history museum and desert gardens. El Paso residents can also easily travel to the sister city of Ciudad Jurez, Mexico, to enjoy great food, markets and cultural events. El Paso/Jurez is the fifth largest manufacturing region in North America and the center of commerce, education and health services for the region. A family-oriented community, the cost of living in El Paso is very reasonable for a large metropolitan area with the average home value of $224,000 in 2025. In 2026, U.S. News and World report named El Paso the best big city to live in the nation. Texas has no state income tax and, when it comes to public safety, El Paso is consistently ranked among the safest large cities in the United States. El Paso is also an ideal location for people who love the outdoors. It is home to one of the nation's largest urban parks - Franklin Mountains State Park - and many options for year-round hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing at Hueco Tanks State Park and nearby White Sands, Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks. For sports fans, the UTEP Miners offer exciting Division I college athletics at several campus venues including Sun Bowl Stadium - where one of the oldest football bowl games takes place annually - and the Don Haskins Center arena. Southwest University Park, located a mile away in lively downtown El Paso, is home to the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and the El Paso Locomotive FC, a professional soccer team founded in 2019. The Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering (MMBME) at The University of Texas at El Paso is one of the university's oldest and most research-intensive engineering departments. Its origins trace back to UTEP's founding as the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1914, reflecting a long-standing tradition of excellence in minerals, materials, and engineering education. MMBME is part of the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering and is dedicated to advancing knowledge in the processing, structure, properties, and performance of materials, while also addressing challenges in healthcare through biomedical engineering. The department combines fundamental scientific principles with engineering innovation to develop solutions for energy, manufacturing, transportation, infrastructure, medicine, and national security. The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for careers in industry, research, healthcare technology, and academia, including: B.S. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering B.S. in Mining Engineering (starting Fall 2027) M.S. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Ph. D. in Materials Science and Engineering M.S. in Biomedical Engineering Ph. D. in Biomedical Engineering Minor in Materials Science and Engineering Minor in Biomedical Engineering MMBME is recognized for its strong emphasis on experiential learning, undergraduate research, laboratory education, and industry engagement. Students gain hands-on experience through state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative research projects involving advanced materials characterization, additive manufacturing, biomaterials, tissue engineering, extractive metallurgy, aerospace materials, sensors, polymers, materials for extreme environments, and emerging technologies. The department maintains a robust research portfolio supported by federal agencies, national laboratories, and industrial partners. Faculty and students conduct interdisciplinary research in areas such as: Materials characterization and performance Materials in extreme environments Materials development Computational materials engineering Advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing Critical materials and materials for energy storage and sustainability Engineering education Biomaterials, tissue engineering and nanoparticle drug delivery methods Building on its historic mining heritage, UTEP has recently relaunched its Mining Engineering program with significant support from the University of Texas System, the Texas Legislature, and industry partners, further strengthening the department's role in addressing workforce needs related to critical minerals, resource extraction, and sustainable materials development. The Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering (MMBME) at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Computational Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. Exceptional candidates with an established record of scholarship, external funding, and leadership may be considered for appointment at the Associate Professor rank. The successful candidate will contribute to UTEP's growing strengths in computational materials science, advanced manufacturing, materials design, and digital engineering while supporting the department's strategic vision aligned with the Materials Genome Initiative (MGI), Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), artificial intelligence, and data-driven materials discovery. Areas of Interest The department seeks candidates with a primary expertise in computational modeling of advanced manufacturing processes and prediction of the structure of materials. A successful candidate must possess an expertise in one or more of the following areas: Computational materials science Computational metallurgy Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) CALPHAD and computational thermodynamics Phase-field modeling Density Functional Theory (DFT) Microstructure prediction and evolution Secondary expertise in the following topics is desired but not required: Molecular dynamics Materials informatics Machine learning and artificial intelligence for materials design Advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing Computational geometallurgy Primary Responsibilities 1.

Teaching The successful candidate will:

Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in metallurgical and materials engineering. Develop new courses in computational materials science, materials informatics, AI-assisted materials design, and ICME. Integrate computational tools into core courses including thermodynamics, kinetics, physical metallurgy, materials processing, corrosion, and materials selection. Mentor undergraduate researchers, M.S. students, and Ph. D. students. Contribute to curriculum development and continuous improvement efforts supporting ABET-accredited programs.

Potential specialty courses may include:

Computational Materials Engineering Materials Informatics and Machine Learning ICME for Materials Design Computational Thermodynamics and CALPHAD Digital Twins for Manufacturing Systems Computational Geometallurgy Advanced Alloy Design and Optimization 2. Research The selected candidate will be expected to: Establish and maintain a nationally recognized, externally funded research program. Advance computational approaches for materials design, processing, characterization, and performance prediction. Conduct interdisciplinary research integrating experiments, modeling, simulation, and data analytics. Collaborate with faculty across engineering, science, and computing disciplines. Support research initiatives in advanced manufacturing, critical materials, aerospace, energy, defense, electronics, biomedical materials, and sustainability. Publish in high-impact journals and contribute to the department's national and international reputation. Collaboration Opportunities The position offers significant opportunities to collaborate with: Materials Science and Engineering (MASE) doctoral program faculty Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering Computer Science Physics Chemistry Institute for Applied AI Innovation Federal/State Agencies and National laboratories Government and defense agencies Advanced manufacturing and materials industries

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph. D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Computational Materials Science, or a closely related field. Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and research. Ability to develop an externally funded research program. Strong written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Expertise in computational methods for metallurgical systems. Experience with CALPHAD, DFT, molecular dynamics, phase-field methods, machine learning, or related computational approaches. Experience integrating computational and experimental materials research. Evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration. Track record of external funding and scholarly publications (especially for Associate Professor candidates). Interest in applications related to critical materials, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, energy, and mining.

Additional Information:

In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment. The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries-including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident-about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu , or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312. For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu . To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates must submit the following application materials: Cover Letter describing interest in the position, relevant qualifications, and alignment with the department's mission and strategic priorities. Curriculum Vitae detailing educational background, professional experience, publications, presentations, funded research, and other scholarly activities. Research Statement (up to 5 pages) outlining current research accomplishments, future research plans, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategies for securing external funding. Teaching Statement (up to 3 pages) describing teaching philosophy, instructional experience, proposed course development, and strategies for mentoring and supporting student success. Names and Contact Information for Three References who can address the candidate's research, teaching, and professional qualifications. Applicants seeking appointment at the Associate Professor rank should provide evidence of: An established record of scholarly achievement; Successful acquisition of externally funded research; Graduate student mentoring; National and/or international recognition in their field.