California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Tech Stack

Public research university balancing teaching, research, and hands-on engineering education

Higher Education San Luis Obispo, CA 1,001–5,000 employees Educational

Cal Poly operates a teaching and research institution across engineering, agriculture, architecture, and liberal arts, with ~18,500 students. The tech stack—CAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Revit, AutoCAD), design software (Adobe Creative Cloud), and specialized instrumentation (PLC, CNC)—reflects heavy investment in labs and hands-on coursework. Hiring velocity is minimal despite 206 open roles, concentrated in engineering and research; pain points cluster around enrollment volatility, funding uncertainty, and staffing friction (short-notice hiring, temporary placements), typical of public universities navigating state budget cycles.

Tech Stack 20 technologies

Core StackAdobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator SolidWorks Revit Adobe Creative Cloud Solidworks AutoCAD Siemens InDesign Fusion 360 ArtiosCAD KeyShot Rhinoceros CAD/CAM PLC CNC Word Excel PowerPoint R

What California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Is Building

◆Challenges

Budget constraints
Enrollment uncertainty
Ensuring compliance with federal regulations
Enrollment fluctuations
Short notice appointments
Retaining students needing financial assistance
Short notice hiring
Temporary staffing
Expanding teaching and research program
Funding uncertainty

▲Active Projects

Engr 101 teaching
Teaching management
Supervise undergraduate research projects
Fsn 552
Teaching general education courses
Wildland fire behavior research
Teaching upper-division biomechanics courses
Agricultural financial accounting
Teaching financial accounting
Teaching undergraduate lectures

Hiring Activity

Minimal210 roles · 2 in 30d

Department

Engineering

Research

Education

Finance

Design

Healthcare

Ops

Construction

Seniority

Mid

136

Junior

Senior

Director

Manager

Lead

Principal

Notable leadership hires: Department Head, Director of Development

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About California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)

Cal Poly is a four-year public research university in San Luis Obispo, California, with approximately 17,500 undergraduates, 900 graduate students, and 120 post-baccalaureate students. The university is organized around a learn-by-doing model across engineering, architecture, agriculture, business, and liberal arts disciplines. Ranked #1 among public master's universities in the western United States for 24 consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report, Cal Poly emphasizes hands-on education, student-faculty-staff partnership in discovery, and preparation for technical and scientific careers. The institution operates across teaching, research, and service, with particular strength in STEM fields supported by laboratory infrastructure and specialized equipment.

HeadquartersSan Luis Obispo, CA

Company Size1,001–5,000 employees

Hiring MarketsUnited States

Frequently Asked Questions

What technology does Cal Poly use for engineering education?

Cal Poly's engineering programs rely on CAD and design tools including SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Revit, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, and ArtiosCAD, plus CNC and PLC instrumentation for hands-on coursework and labs.

What are Cal Poly's main operational challenges?

Primary pain points include budget constraints, enrollment uncertainty and fluctuations, funding uncertainty, short-notice hiring and staffing, and retaining students needing financial assistance—all typical pressures for public universities dependent on state funding.