Assistant or Associate Professor - Software Engineering

The School of Computing (SoC) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is undergoing strategic expansion and invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank to begin in Fall 2027. SoC offers a collegial, collaborative culture and broad opportunities for interdisciplinary research across campus.

We seek exceptional candidates who can establish a substantial scholarly research and teaching program in Software Engineering focused on improving the dependability, safety, and/or security of AI-based software systems.

The successful candidate will join a rapidly growing Software Engineering community with opportunities to collaborate across AI, cybersecurity, robotics, agriculture, health, and data science initiatives at UNL.

Position Description

The successful candidate will pursue a strong research program in Software Engineering, with particular emphasis on methods, tools, and foundations for improving the dependability, safety, and security of AI-based software systems.

We are especially interested in research addressing the design, development, testing, verification, validation, deployment, and evolution of software incorporating machine learning and deep learning models, generative AI and large language models, AI agents and agentic systems, autonomous systems, and cyber-physical systems.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, testing and debugging of AI-enabled software; verification and validation of learning-enabled and agentic systems; formal methods and software assurance for trustworthy AI; safety, security, and reliability of autonomous and cyber-physical systems; explainability and interpretability as they relate to software assurance; integration of assurance techniques into modern software engineering workflows; and program analysis and other software engineering techniques for improving system dependability.

While these areas are of particular interest, we welcome applicants whose research spans the broader field of Software Engineering.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain a vigorous, externally funded research program in Software Engineering or a closely related area. They will contribute to both undergraduate and graduate education through teaching of core courses in our Software Engineering program, mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers, and offering courses aligned with their area of expertise.

Additional responsibilities include active participation in school, college, and university governance, contributions to curriculum development, and engagement in interdisciplinary collaborations with partners across campus as well as in industry, government, and national laboratories.

Candidates at the Associate Professor rank should demonstrate a sustained record of scholarly achievement, research leadership, external funding, graduate student mentoring, and national or international visibility in their field.

To support research success, the position includes a competitive startup package designed to establish a strong research program. This package provides funding for equipment, graduate student support, and research expenses, along with a reduced teaching load during the initial years.

The successful candidate will also have access to modern laboratory space in our state-of-the-art facilities and shared departmental resources, including advanced computational infrastructure provided through Holland Computing Center (hcc.unl.edu).

School of Computing Overview

The SoC is undergoing an exciting period of significant growth and has hired 14 tenured/tenure-track faculty members since 2019. We are committed to promoting excellence among our faculty and seek to attract and retain a high-performing workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to meet the varying needs of the populations we serve.

SoC is recognized for its work in Empirical Software Engineering, Testing, Formal Methods, and Mining Software Repositories, and is expanding into areas such as Software Security, Software Engineering in Robotics, and Human-centered Software Engineering.

SoC is enhancing research in Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning, recently introducing a new Data Science undergraduate major, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Master’s degree and Graduate Certificate program, and undergraduate AI minor, aiming to develop impactful programs in health, agriculture, biocomputing, and robotics.

The school also leads a Cybersecurity Initiative to tackle security challenges with AI and ML techniques. Additionally, SoC is a leader in IoT and Agricultural IoT, spearheading the Nebraska IoT Initiative through a public-private partnership. This includes collaborations on significant infrastructure projects and the formation of the interlocal agency iLNK.

Furthermore, the NIMBUS lab excels at developing Uncrewed Aircraft Systems for agricultural and scientific applications and contributes to the $25 million Heartland Robotics Cluster.

College Growth

The College of Engineering has hired more than 70 new faculty members over the past five years and continues to grow its faculty base to support future expansion. The School of Computing is central to advancing the College’s ambitious research goals, supported by state-of-the-art facilities, including newly renovated research facilities for robotics, virtual/augmented reality, wireless communications, and IoT devices.

The college recently unveiled a new $75 million research building and a $115 million engineering education building. The College is committed to providing a world-class engineering education through initiatives such as the nationally recognized Complete Engineer® Program.

We are seeking an innovative leader with a clear vision for growth and a strong commitment to excellence in research, education, and engagement within the School of Computing.

About UNL, Lincoln, and Omaha

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is Nebraska’s land-grant research university, a member of the Big Ten, and ranks among Doctoral Universities with the Highest Research Activity [Carnegie CIHE]. As the state’s flagship institution, UNL plays a key role in the region’s research and innovation landscape and leverages the College of Engineering’s presence in Lincoln and Omaha.

The city of Omaha, the largest metropolitan area in Nebraska, is a rising tech hub in the Midwest. Lincoln, the state capital, is also part of a growing high-tech region known as the ‘Midwest Silicon Prairie’. Taking advantage of both communities, UNL offers a vibrant, welcoming, family-friendly community with a strong economy, excellent public school systems, a modest cost of living, and a high quality of life.

Learn more about life in Lincoln and Omaha atvisitomaha.com,placetobelnk.com, and aboutlincoln.unl.edu.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See: Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field by the start date of the appointment.
• Demonstrated research expertise in software engineering or a closely related area, including software security, programming languages, artificial intelligence, or other areas relevant to the development of dependable, safe, and secure software systems.
• Evidence of high scholarly productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications).
• Evidence of or potential to establish and sustain an externally funded research program.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research expertise aligned with Software Engineering for dependable, safe, and secure AI-enabled, autonomous, or software-intensive systems.
• Experience in the development and offering of innovative undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Potential to contribute to curriculum innovation and program development in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or Data Science.
• Experience collaborating on interdisciplinary research teams or with industry, federal agencies, or national laboratories.

Posted Salary

How to Apply

Rolling reviews will continue until the position has been filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to continue to apply after the review of applications date.

Click “Apply for this Job,” complete the faculty information form, and attach the following documents:

• Cover letter explaining your interest in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Curriculum vitae.
• A statement describing your research and scholarly activities, future directions, and broader impacts.
• A statement describing your teaching and mentoring practices.
• A statement of how your combined professional and academic experiences have equipped you to make a valuable contribution to the COE Complete Engineer ® Program (engineering.unl.edu/complete-engineer).
• A list of at least three (3) professional references including contact information.

The statements for items 3, 4, and 5 together should total no more than six (6) pages. Please combine them into a single document and attach as “Other Document.”

For questions or more information about the position, please contact the Chair of the Faculty Search Committee, Dr. Hamid Bagheri, [email protected].