Design-to-Order Engineering Manager – HVAC & Data Center Cooling Systems

Axiom Path, Inc.; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom Path, Inc. in Grand Rapids, MI seeks a Design-to-Order Engineering Manager responsible for leading a team of 8–10 engineers focused on custom HVAC and data center cooling systems.

You will guide product development from customer specifications through to manufacturable solutions. This leadership role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Operations to ensure on-time delivery and technical excellence, while expanding the engineering

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field.
• 5+ years in HVAC equipment or thermal management systems.
• 2+ years of engineering leadership as a people manager.
• Experience with engineered-to-order or design-to-order product development.
• Strong understanding of HVAC performance and system integration.
• Experience collaborating with manufacturing, quality, sourcing and commercial teams.
• Ability to translate customer specs into engineering deliverables.
• Experience with change management and product release processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of 8–10 engineers on custom HVAC equipment.
• Oversee engineering activities for data center cooling systems.
• Translate complex customer specifications into defined engineering deliverables.
• Coordinate multiple projects to meet technical, quality, and delivery commitments.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Product Management, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Operations.
• Strengthen design reviews and documentation processes.
• Drive continuous engineering improvements and cross-functional execution.
• Recruit, coach, and develop engineering talent.

Skills

Engineering leadership

People management

Cross-functional collaboration

HVAC systems

Product development

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Design-to-Order Engineering Manager – HVAC & Data Center Cooling Systems

Grand Rapids, United States | Posted on 10/19/2026

Job Description

Be Part Of A High-Performing Team

Join an innovative engineering organization specializing in advanced HVAC and thermal management solutions for demanding data center environments. The team develops specialized air-cooled chiller systems that address unique customer requirements, combining established product platforms with custom-engineered configurations.

This opportunity offers the chance to lead a multidisciplinary engineering team responsible for transforming complex customer specifications into reliable, manufacturable cooling solutions. Working alongside Manufacturing, Product Management, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations, this leader will help strengthen engineering execution, expand team capabilities, and support the delivery of highly specialized equipment for critical infrastructure applications.

What's In Store For You

Engineering leadership: Directly manage and develop a team of approximately 8–10 engineers supporting custom and modified HVAC equipment.

Team building: Play an active role in expanding the engineering organization, recruiting talent, and strengthening technical capabilities.

Specialized product development: Work with custom air-cooled chiller systems designed for data center cooling applications.

Cross-functional influence: Collaborate with technical and operational stakeholders throughout the product development and manufacturing lifecycle.

Leadership development: Take ownership of engineering team performance, process improvements, technical execution, and talent development.

How You Will Make An Impact

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 8–10 engineers responsible for customer-specific HVAC equipment designs, product modifications, and engineered configurations.

Oversee engineering activities for specialized air-cooled chillers used in data center cooling applications, balancing customer requirements with product performance and manufacturing feasibility.

Convert technical specifications from customers, engineering consultants, suppliers, and commercial partners into clearly defined engineering deliverables.

Guide the customization of existing equipment platforms and the development of specialized designs to accommodate unique functionality, performance, and feature requirements.

Establish priorities, allocate engineering resources, and coordinate multiple concurrent projects to meet technical, quality, and delivery commitments.

Partner with Manufacturing, Product Management, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Operations to resolve design challenges and support successful product releases.

Strengthen engineering processes involving design reviews, technical documentation, configuration control, engineering changes, and design validation.

Evaluate technical risks, component compatibility, system performance, and manufacturability throughout the engineering lifecycle.

Support engineering investigations and product modifications arising from customer requests, field performance concerns, or supplier constraints.

Recruit, coach, and develop engineering talent while establishing clear expectations for accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence.

Drive continuous improvements in engineering efficiency, design consistency, problem-solving, and cross-functional execution.

Requirements

Do You Have The Expertise To Lead Custom HVAC Engineering And Product Development?

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.

5+ years of engineering experience involving HVAC equipment, thermal management systems, refrigeration, custom industrial equipment, or related engineered products.

2+ years of engineering leadership experience as a people manager, engineering supervisor, technical team lead, or engineering project lead.

Demonstrated experience with engineered-to-order, design-to-order, configured-to-order, or customer-specific product development.

Strong technical understanding of HVAC equipment and components, including system performance, integration, thermal considerations, and application-specific engineering requirements.

Experience supporting product engineering within a manufacturing or equipment production environment.

Ability to interpret customer specifications and translate complex requirements into engineering designs, documentation, and executable work plans.

Familiarity with engineering change management, design verification, technical documentation, and product release processes.

Experience collaborating with manufacturing, quality, sourcing, and commercial stakeholders to address engineering and production challenges.

Proven ability to coordinate competing engineering priorities while maintaining quality, cost, and delivery expectations.

Strong interpersonal, organizational, and technical problem-solving capabilities.

Effective communication skills with the ability to engage customers, suppliers, technical specialists, and business stakeholders.

Particularly valuable experience includes air-cooled chillers, industrial refrigeration, mission-critical cooling equipment, data center thermal management, and direct engineering team development.