Faculty Position in Computer Systems and Networking

Job Description

The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Virginia Tech invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level in the broad area of computer systems networking and embedded systems. The position is based in Blacksburg Virginia with opportunities for collaboration across Virginia Techs Institute of Advanced Computing (Alexandria VA) and other university research institutes. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain a nationally recognized funded research program teach undergraduate and graduate courses and participate in department college and university service and outreach activities.

The ECE department offers B.S. . M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering with a current enrollment of approximately 1200 undergraduate and 670 graduate students. The department has 71 full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty members and 22 non-tenure-track faculty located in two primary locations which are the Blacksburg Campus and the Greater Washington DC area including the new VT Institute of Advanced Computing Campus in Alexandria Virginia. Annual research expenditures exceed $56M. Recognition of faculty accomplishments includes 4 members of the National Academy of Engineering 30 Fellows of the IEEE and various fellows of other professional societies 27 current and prior NSF CAREER awardees and 4 DoD Young Investigators. The latest Global Universities ranking by U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR) places our department at #3 nationally in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering category. The department has some of the nations best programs in the areas of fiber optics and photonics space science and remote sensing wireless communications and networking power electronics power systems autonomous systems embedded systems and computational biology. The Department is the beneficiary of the Bradley Endowment valued in excess of $20 million. For additional information about the department and the College of Engineering please visit and .

We seek outstanding candidates with expertise spanning computer systems networking and embedded systems who can advance the state of the art in both fundamental research and experimental practice. The successful candidate will develop a highly visible externally funded research program in computer systems and networking with an emphasis on areas such as computer networking embedded systems for intelligent and secure applications energy-efficient and secure systems-on-chip accelerators and hardwaresoftware co-design. Research interests that extend into distributed and cloudedge systems operating systems runtime environments including future Internet architectures open programmable networks and software-defined or large-scale experimental testbedsare particularly encouraged. Candidates whose work bridges across disciplines are especially desirable including those exploring cross-cutting themes such as UAV and autonomous systems for advanced air mobility IoT and RFID integration for ubiquitous computing or the democratization of experimental platforms spanning aerial ground space and underwater systems. The successful candidate will build experimental platforms (e.g. SDR-based testbeds UAV/vehicular networks or cloudedge integration) that complement existing departmental strengths in space systems wireless communications cybersecurity AI semiconductors and power systems.

This position offers an opportunity to shape the future of computing at Virginia Tech through research teaching and service. The candidate will teach core courses in computer engineeringsuch as embedded systems computer architecture and network application designas well as specialized graduate courses in their research area. They will contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives with the Institute of Advanced Computing (IAC) the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) the National Security Institute (NSI) the Institute for Creativity Arts and Technology (ICAT) and the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS). In addition they will mentor graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and contribute to professional and university service activities.

Applicants must apply online at (posting number 534660). Application materials include a cover letter curriculum vitae up to three relevant research publications and contact information for at least three addition applicants must provide three separate written statements (up to 3 pages each): (1) a research statement; (2) a statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy; and (3) a statement expressing the candidates ideas for supporting an educational environment consistent with the Virginia Tech Principles of Communityspecific examples of experiences activities and plans will help us identify candidates who can support and extend our universitys commitment to inclusive excellence. Review of applications will commence on 1/15/2026 and continue until the position is filled.

Required Qualifications

An earned Ph.D. in Computer Science Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering or a related field completed prior to employment.

Demonstrated excellence in research scholarship and teaching or evidence of high potential for such excellence.

Ability to articulate a coherent agenda of research or scholarship and to identify potential funding sources to support research.

Willingness and ability to work in a technology-based research and education environment such as is characterized by use of learning technologies distance learning online courses videoconferencing and network and grid based collaborative research.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience in the role of PI or CoPI on funded research projects.

Ability and willingness to work collaboratively with faculty from a variety of disciplines.

Experience in working with students as academic or career advisor overseeing student internships or service-learning activities.

Interest or experience in mentoring students both undergraduate or graduate in research.

Interest or experience working effectively with a diverse student population.

Hands-on expertise in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:
Software-defined radios and wireless testbeds
UAV/vehicular networking and autonomous systems
Cyber-physical systems and cross-layer experimental design

Candidates should also demonstrate the ability and enthusiasm to teach core computer engineering courses (e.g. embedded systems computer architecture computer networking) as well as advanced electives and exhibit strong potential for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Hours per week

40

Review Date

1/15/2026 and will continue until position is filled.

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its mottoUt Prosim(That I May Serve) Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges aschool of medicine aveterinary medicinecollegeGraduate School andHonors university has a significant presence across Virginia including Blacksburg the greater Washington D.C. area the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke sites in Newport News and Richmond and numerousExtension officesandresearch institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.