Description
THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICAL AND AVIATION ENGINEERING
Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor in AI/Robotics for Aircraft Maintenance / Low-Altitude Economy / Satellite and Space Engineering under Strategic Hiring Scheme (two posts) (Ref. 260821001)
Rooted in 90 years of heritage and intellectual achievement, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has evolved alongside society and made pivotal contributions to the development of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. The University pursues world-class excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer to nurture socially responsible professionals and leaders, as well as to drive impactful research and innovation. PolyU will strive to continually excel as an innovative world-class university that makes a positive impact on society, living up to the University’s motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.
Ranked among the top 100 universities globally by well-known ranking organisations such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE) and U.S. News & World Report, PolyU offers a wide range of world-class educational and research programmes in seven faculties and three independent schools. PolyU has furthermore achieved commendable results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 – it is ranked in the global top 30 for five subjects, is first in Hong Kong for four subjects, and is in the global top 100 for 24 subjects. For further details about the University, please visit PolyU’s website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.
In line with the strategic development of the University and to lead the development of the aeronautical and aviation engineering discipline in teaching and research activities, the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering was established in the Faculty of Engineering. The Department currently offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and actively engages in various research and consultancy work. Please visit the website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/aae/ for more information about the Department.
To boost the leadership and impact of PolyU’s research work in areas of significant societal needs and strategic importance, the Strategic Hiring Scheme is introduced to recruit faculty members at all levels and outstanding scholars are invited to join the University under the Strategic Hiring Scheme. Appointees recruited under the Strategic Hiring Scheme should have conducted / led world-leading research that is commensurate with the stage of their academic career.
The Department is seeking highly motivated and suitably qualified individuals with research expertise in AI/Robotics for Aircraft Maintenance / Low-Altitude Economy / Satellite and Space Engineering and applications are now invited from academics who are actively involved in the aforementioned strategic research track to fill the vacancies for academic staff under Strategic Hiring Scheme.
Duties
The appointees will be required to:
(a) undertake teaching duties at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the aforementioned strategic research areas. Beyond these primary areas, the candidate should be prepared to contribute to multidisciplinary subjects;
(b) conduct research that leads to publications in top-tier refereed journals;
(c) attract research fundings and support industrial researches;
(d) supervise student projects and theses;
(e) engage in scholarly research/consultancy in their area of expertise;
(f) contribute to departmental services and activities; and
(g) perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Unit or his/her delegates.
Qualifications
Applicants should:
(a) have a doctoral degree in Engineering with expertise in (1) AI/Robotics for aircraft maintenance, including but not limited to predictive maintenance, digital twins, conditional monitoring, robots for inspection and repairing; (2) in satellite and space engineering, including but not limited to spacecraft dynamics and control, payload and instrumentation, space robots, spacecraft design and tests, space technology applications such as navigation, remote sensing, and communications; or (3) in low-altitude economy, including but not limited to unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced air mobility, perception, autonomous control, decision making, unmanned air traffic management, and applications (e.g. transportation, inspection, search and rescue, etc.);
(b) have the relevant postdoctoral research experience and a publication record that is commensurate with the level of appointment;
(c) demonstrate excellence in original research and strong fundamental knowledge in one or more of the above-mentioned core research areas;
(d) demonstrate potential to establish significant externally funded research programmes;
(e) be able to demonstrate evidence of effective classroom teaching skills; and
(f) have excellent communication skills and the ability to use English as the medium of instruction.
Applicants for appointment at Professor or Associate Professor level should have a substantial number of years of experience and an excellent record of relevant academic and/or research achievement in the specified field. Applicants with less experience will be considered for appointment at the level of Assistant Professor.
Conditions of Service
A highly competitive remuneration package will be offered. Appointees under the Strategic Hiring Scheme will be offered a start-up grant of not less than HK$3 million to support research activities (including the admission of PhD students, purchasing of equipment, and hiring of research staff) in the initial three years. Initial appointment for Assistant Professor will be on a fixed-term gratuity-bearing contract. Re-engagement thereafter is subject to mutual agreement. An appropriate term will be provided for appointment at Associate Professor / Professor levels. For general information on terms and conditions for appointment of academic staff in the University, please visit the website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/docdrive/careers/doc/Prof.pdf.
Application
Please submit an application through PolyU’s career website (https://jobs.polyu.edu.hk/academic). Consideration of applications will commence on 10 September 2026 until the positions are filled. The University’s Personal Information Collection Statement for recruitment can be found at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/careers/pics_for_recruitment/.
PolyU is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to fostering an environment that embraces diversity and demonstrates inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and experiences where all members of the University are treated with fairness, dignity and respect. To learn more about the University’s “Statement on Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion”, please visit our website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/equal_opportunities_diversity_and_inclusion/.
