Combustion Engineer

Chicago Dryer Company; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Dryer Company seeks a Combustion Engineer to advance gas-heated ironer systems for commercial laundry, focusing on direct-fired and thermal-fluid heating with natural gas and LP. You’ll improve combustion performance, thermal efficiency, emissions, safety, and reliability across product lines, collaborating with design, manufacturing, and service teams.

This role requires a 5+ year background in combustion systems, strong heat-transfer knowledge, and familiarity with burner control

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or controls engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience with combustion systems, industrial burners, thermal systems, or gas-fired equipment.
• Strong knowledge of heat transfer, burner design, and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot combustion systems and gas-heated ironers.
• Improve heat-transfer efficiency and overall thermal performance.
• Diagnose ignition, flame stability, and gas-delivery issues and resolve them.
• Evaluate direct and indirect heating methods using natural gas and LP.
• Support new product development, design upgrades, and field improvements.
• Collaborate with electrical/controls engineers on burner control and safety interlocks.
• Analyze combustion performance, air/fuel ratios, and emissions reduction.
• Work with production and service teams to ensure reliability and manufacturability.
• Interpret industry standards and codes (UL, CSA, ETL, NFPA).

Skills

Heat transfer

Combustion theory

Gas burner design

Thermal efficiency optimization

PLC/microcontroller controls

Instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs)

burner control platforms

Gas safety codes awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or related

Tools

Honeywell burner control

Siemens burner control

Fireye controls

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking a Combustion Engineer to support the development, optimization, and troubleshooting of gas-heated ironer systems used in commercial laundry applications. This role focuses on both direct-fired and thermal-fluid heating technologies utilizing natural gas and LP.Reporting into the engineering organization, this position plays a key role in improving combustion performance, thermal efficiency, emissions, safety, system reliability, and heating technology innovation across new and existing product lines.

Job Type

Full-Time

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot combustion systems and gas-heated ironers
• Improve heat-transfer efficiency and overall thermal performance
• Diagnose and resolve issues related to burner harmonics, ignition, flame stability, heat output, and gas delivery
• Evaluate new direct and indirect heating methods using natural gas and LP
• Support new product development, design upgrades, and field improvements
• Collaborate with electrical and controls engineers on burner control, ignition systems, flame detection, and safety interlocks
• Analyze combustion performance, air/fuel ratios, emissions reduction, and thermal efficiency
• Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and service teams to ensure system reliability and manufacturability
• Interpret and apply applicable industry standards and codes (UL, CSA, ETL, NFPA, etc.)

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, or a closely related discipline
• 5+ years of experience with combustion systems, industrial burners, thermal systems, or gas-fired equipment

Technical Background

• Strong understanding of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation)
• Combustion theory and flame characteristics
• Gas burner, nozzle, orifice, and manifold design
• Thermal efficiency optimization and BTU output calculations
• Familiarity with PLC- or microcontroller-based burner control systems
• Experience with instrumentation such as thermocouples, RTDs, gas valves, and flame supervision devices
• Familiarity with burner control platforms (Honeywell, Siemens, Fireye, or similar)
• Understanding of gas safety codes and regulatory requirements
• Experience with industry standards (UL, ETL, CSA, NFPA)
• ASME or pressure-vessel experience is a plus (not required)