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Research Librarian for Engineering

The University of California, Irvine Libraries seeks an energetic, creative, knowledgeable, and user-oriented Research Librarian for Engineering to serve as liaison to the Samueli School of Engineering, which includes the following six departments: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
The UC Irvine Libraries are fully committed to inclusive excellence and we encourage applicants to address how their skills, expertise, and experiences might serve the varied communities of California. Please feel free to include relevant information in any of your application materials.
Qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and life experiences are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities
The Research Librarian for Engineering will be a member of the Collection Strategies Department, reporting to the Head of Collection Strategies. The core responsibilities are as follows:
• Serve as a liaison to faculty and students in the Samueli School of Engineering to ensure their research and information needs are being met, and to promote the Libraries’ services and resources.
• Provide specialized instruction, subject guides, research consultations, and outreach services to the Samueli School of Engineering.
• Analyze trends in research, teaching, scholarly communications, and publishing in assigned areas.
• Select, assess, and manage collections and resources for assigned disciplines to support teaching and research needs on campus.
• Maintain sufficient knowledge to provide general reference assistance and effectively participate in Libraries’ information literacy initiatives.
• Collaborate with librarians and staff throughout the Libraries in many departments, including Technical Services, Education & Outreach, & Data Publishing & Digital Scholarship on projects that further the strategic goals of the UC Irvine Libraries.
• Collaborate with Engineering, STEM, and/or science librarians in the UC Libraries to coordinate purchases, services, and systemwide projects.

• As a member of the Collection Strategies Department, the Research Librarian for Engineering will join a team focused on providing leadership to develop, plan, promote, deliver, manage, and evaluate the Libraries’ collections and services.
• Other duties as assigned, including permanent or interim subject liaison responsibilities depending on interests, background, and library needs.

Qualifications
Required

• Graduate degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent combination of relevant advanced degree and library experience.
• Educational background and/or library experience in engineering or other applied science field.
• Knowledge of engineering or applied sciences disciplines, including familiarity with relevant research methods, scholarly communication practices, and resources used in engineering or related STEM fields.
• Demonstrated experience teaching in a library or in higher education using information literacy frameworks to support engineering or STEM disciplines.
• Demonstrated interest in working with students and faculty.
• Commitment to user-centered library services.
• Strong interest in how libraries can support open access and data management policies.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work creatively, collaboratively, and effectively to support teamwork, and inclusive excellence within the UC Irvine Libraries and the campus.
• Ability to meet the University of California criteria for advancement and promotion.

Preferred

• Familiarity with information formats such as engineering standards, technical reports, or patents.
• Understanding of key issues in engineering collection development or scholarly communication.
• Interest or background with generative AI, data analysis, or other emerging technologies that could support engineering research.
• Experience building partnerships to enhance learning and student success.

The Collection Strategies Department
The Collection Strategies Department is committed to developing, delivering, and preserving the UC Irvine Libraries collection of significant and diverse research resources. We are dedicated to building a research library of excellence by overseeing and directing collection development activities, involving subject specialist bibliographers, managing library collections, and fostering relationships with faculty, students, and staff engaged in the production of knowledge. Our department is comprised of 6 librarians and 1 Library Assistant.

The UC Irvine Libraries
At the heart of the University of California, Irvine’s academic community, the UC Irvine Libraries plays a vital role in enabling our outstanding students, faculty, and researchers to create new knowledge, develop lifelong learning skills, and make meaningful contributions to society. We value innovation and collaboration, and we are committed to fostering an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our commitment is described in our Diversity Statement and Plan. The UC Irvine Libraries received the 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, a leader in advancing best practices in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in higher education.

The Libraries’ physical spaces consist of the Langson Library, the Science Library, the Library Gateway Study Center, and the Grunigen Medical Library (located at the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, CA). These locations provide a welcoming and technology enhanced environment valued by students as places for study, research, and collaboration. Together they contain over 3,300 public seats, over 500 public access computers, laptop computers for checkout, and a wide range of multimedia resources including 3D printers. The library collection consists of over 4.3 million volumes, 254,000 journals and serial titles, and an ever-expanding collection of electronic books, databases, and other resources. As part of the University of California system, the UC Irvine Libraries collaborates closely with the other nine UC campus libraries and the California Digital Library (CDL). Our public website, is a portal to access e-resources; discover print, archival, and multi-media collections; and connect with reference and instructional services. It also includes cutting edge digital tools and tutorials and numerous subject specific research guides created by subject specialists.

The UC Irvine Libraries employs approximately 140 full-time librarians and staff and many part-time student assistants. We strongly support the professional development of librarians and staff throughout their careers.

The UC Irvine Libraries are a member of the: Association of Research Libraries (ARL), HathiTrust, Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Coalition of Networked Information (CNI), Digital Library Federation (DLF), Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance (PRRLA), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), National Information Standards Organization (NISO), and OCLC Research Library Partnership (OCLC RLP).

University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine, is nestled in over 1,500 acres of coastal foothills, five miles from the Pacific Ocean, between San Diego and Los Angeles and located on the homelands of the Acjachemen and Tongva peoples, Land Acknowledgement | UCI Libraries Diversity. Founded in 1965, UC Irvine has over 37,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 1,800 faculty and staff. Nearly 67% of UC Irvine students identify themselves as Asian American, African American, Chicano/Latino, or Native American. Over 50% of UC Irvine’s bachelor’s degrees are awarded to first generation college students. The University is committed to serving students from all backgrounds as demonstrated by UC Irvine’s Black Thriving Initiative and its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), Minority Thriving Campus | Office of Undergraduate Admissions | UCI. The New York Times ranks UC Irvine as the #1 college doing the most for the American Dream, and U.S. News and Report ranks UC Irvine among the top ten public universities in the nation. The University offers graduate degrees in more than 100 academic disciplines and interdisciplinary programs in addition to the M.D. and J.D.

Salary & Benefits: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience based on the University of California pay scales. Appointment is anticipated to be at the Assistant Librarian, Associate Librarian, or Librarian rank with a salary of $72,224-$102,121. The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and salary point at appointment. See Table for Represented Librarians.

Librarians are entitled to two days per month of annual leave, thirteen paid holidays, and one day per month of sick leave. The University has an excellent retirement system and offers a variety of group health, life, and disability insurance plans. Benefits are equal to approximately 45% of salary.

Librarians at UC Irvine are academic appointees. Non-managerial librarians are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This is a represented position.

As academic appointees, UC Irvine Librarians receive potential career status at the time of their initial appointment. Librarians periodically receive administrative and peer review for merit increases based on the following criteria: 1) professional competence and quality of service within the Library; 2) professional activity outside the Library; 3) university and public service; and 4) research and other creative activity.

Consideration will be given to applicants with a wide range of years of experience, including qualified early career librarians.

Deadline for Applications: Applications received by May 11, 2026, will receive first consideration.

To Apply: Qualified applicants who wish to be considered for this position should submit the information requested: cover letter; complete résumé; and a list of three references (names and contact information only) via UC IRVINE AP Recruit.

Upon application, candidates should be in possession of proof of their legal right to employment in the U.S. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, verification of legal right to work will be required between the time of final selection and hiring and is absolutely essential in ultimately being hired.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

This position description is listed on the UC Irvine Libraries website with links to additional websites featuring campus and community information.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.
  

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.