Faculty Opportunity: Assistant Professor of Cinematography – San José State University

Faculty Opportunity: Assistant Professor of Cinematography – San José State University

• Institution: San José State University (SJSU)

• College: College of Humanities and the Arts

• School: School of Film, Theatre, and Dance

• Programme: Radio-Television-Film (RTVF)

• Position: Assistant Professor of Cinematography

• Job Number: 562916

• Appointment Type: Full-Time, Tenure-Track

• Workplace: On-Site

• Location: San José, California, United States

• Specialization: Cinematography, Visual Storytelling, Film & Television Production

• Expected Start Date: August 17, 2027

• Salary Range: USD 90,000–94,000 per academic year, approximately INR 85.23–89.02 lakh annually

• Advertised Date: October 13, 2026

• Application Deadline: January 5, 2027

• Final Closing Status: Applications accepted until filled or the search is closed

Overview of the Role

The School of Film, Theatre, and Dance at San José State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Cinematography.

The position focuses on cinematography, visual storytelling, and film and television production, combining creative practice with strong technical expertise in areas such as camera operation, lighting, digital cinema, and moving-image production.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses while maintaining an ongoing record of professional, research, and/or creative activity.

Teaching & Creative Areas

The successful candidate may teach in areas including:

• Cinematography

• Film Production

• Television Production

• Visual Storytelling

• Camera Operation

• Lighting

• Grip and Electrical Systems

• Digital Cinema Technologies

• Lenses and Exposure

• Composition

• Camera Movement

• Studio and Location Lighting

• Color Theory

• Image Acquisition

• Color Management Workflows

• Emerging Film Production Technologies

Related courses may also be developed based on the candidate’s expertise.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Design and teach introductory and advanced courses in cinematography.

• Teach film and television production courses.

• Emphasize professional equipment use and production safety.

• Support production planning and collaborative filmmaking.

• Advise and mentor students.

• Supervise student creative projects.

• Support professional development of students.

• Contribute to RTVF curriculum development.

• Develop or revise courses in cinematography and emerging film-production areas.

• Participate in student recruitment.

• Maintain an active professional, creative, and/or research programme.

• Participate in departmental, college, and university service.

• Use the Canvas Learning Management System for courses.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• An MFA in Film Production, or

• A graduate degree in a closely related field.

Candidates must also demonstrate:

• Creative practice in cinematography and visual storytelling.

• Experience in film and/or television production.

• Undergraduate-level teaching experience.

• Ability to integrate theoretical and aesthetic principles into hands-on instruction.

• Technical proficiency in cinematography-related equipment and production workflows.

Technical Expertise

Applicants should demonstrate experience with some of the following:

• Digital cinema cameras

• Camera support systems

• Lenses

• Exposure

• Composition

• Camera movement

• Studio lighting

• Location lighting

• Grip and electrical systems

• Color theory

• Image acquisition

• Color-management workflows

Preferred Qualifications

Priority may be given to candidates with several of the following:

• Professional experience as a cinematographer and/or filmmaker.

• Film or television industry experience.

• Experience in narrative feature or short films.

• Episodic or serial television experience.

• Web-based media experience.

• Music video or commercial production.

• Knowledge of contemporary filmmaking workflows.

• Post-production imaging and color correction expertise.

• Editing experience.

• Directing experience.

• Experience with emerging filmmaking technologies.

• Familiarity with AI-related production tools.

• Familiarity with virtual production technologies.

• Student mentoring experience.

• Curriculum-development experience.

• Experience securing external grants.

• Interest in interdisciplinary academic collaboration.

Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Potential collaborations may include programmes and units such as:

• Animation

• Digital Media Art

• Digital Humanities Center

• School of Journalism and Mass Communication

• Other areas within the School of Film, Theatre, and Dance

Salary & Benefits

The anticipated academic-year salary range is:

USD 90,000–94,000 annually

Approximately:

INR 85.23–89.02 lakh annually

Final compensation will depend on qualifications, experience, and rank under the CSU salary schedule.

Faculty employees are also eligible for applicable CSU benefits.

Application Checklist

Applicants must submit:

1. Letter of Interest

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Institutional Excellence Statement

   • May be a separate statement or incorporated into the letter of interest

4. One-Page Teaching Interests / Philosophy Statement

5. One-Page Current and Future Research and/or Creative Production Statement

6. Link to an Online Portfolio and/or Cinematography / Visual Storytelling Work

7. Three Professional References

References will be contacted for candidates reaching the final pool.

Important Dates

• Advertised: October 13, 2026

• Application Deadline: January 5, 2027

• Expected Start Date: August 17, 2027

• Final Closing Status: Open until filled or formally closed

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the San José State University online employment system.

Job Number: 562916

Search for:

Assistant Professor of Radio-Television-Film (RTVF) – Cinematography

For academic enquiries:

Dr. Matthew Spangler
Director, School of Film, Theatre, and Dance
Email: matthew.spangler@sjsu.edu

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