Lead Thermal Systems Engineer

Vantage Consulting; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual bonus

Job summary

Vantage Consulting seeks a Lead Thermal Systems Engineer to drive data center cooling technologies in Charlotte, NC. This onsite, full-time role combines hands-on engineering with leadership of complex thermal projects and collaboration across engineering and operations teams.

You’ll own thermodynamic modelling, system performance, and the development of next‑gen chillers and cooling products, while mentoring junior engineers and guiding production-ready concepts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 7 years (or Master's with 5+) in HVAC systems engineering.
• Strong thermodynamics, heat transfer and HVAC expertise.
• Experience developing or improving complex HVAC, refrigeration or related thermal products.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of chiller and thermal system architectures.
• Perform thermodynamic modelling and assess overall system performance.
• Design fluid systems, filtration and pumping strategies.
• Take new cooling technologies from concept to production.
• Lead and support laboratory testing and validation using DOE methods.
• Mentor other engineers and provide technical guidance.
• Collaborate across technology, product, engineering and operations.
• Support new product development and product launches.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Thermal/HVAC systems

Systems-level engineering

Technical project leadership

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor's degree + 7 years HVAC experience or Master's + 5 years

Job description

Lead Thermal Systems Engineer – Data Center Cooling

Charlotte, NC | Onsite | Full-time

$140,000–$170,000 + bonus + relocation support

Data center cooling is evolving rapidly, and this is an opportunity to take a lead technical role in developing the technologies that will support the next generation of critical infrastructure.

I’m supporting a global leader in climate and energy solutions as they build a new advanced engineering team in Charlotte, focused on developing next-generation data center cooling products and taking new concepts through engineering, validation and ultimately into production.

As a Lead Thermal Systems Engineer, you'll remain technically hands-on while taking greater ownership of complex thermal engineering projects, influencing technical direction and mentoring other engineers within the team.

What you'll be working on:

• Leading the development and optimization of chiller and thermal system architectures
• Thermodynamic modelling, heat transfer and overall system performance
• Fluid systems, filtration and pumping strategies
• Taking new cooling technologies from concept towards production
• Leading and supporting laboratory testing and validation using DOE methodologies
• Providing technical guidance and mentoring to other engineers
• Working across technology, product, engineering and operations
• Supporting new product development and successful product launches

What we're looking for:

• Bachelor's degree + 7 years' HVAC systems engineering experience, or Master's + 5 years
• Strong thermodynamics, heat transfer and thermal/HVAC systems expertise
• Experience developing or improving complex HVAC, refrigeration, chiller or related thermal products
• Strong systems-level engineering capability
• Experience leading technical projects and supporting/mentoring other engineers
• New product development experience is highly desirable

Candidates from chiller and HVAC equipment manufacturers will naturally be highly relevant, although strong adjacent thermal engineering backgrounds may also be considered.

Why consider this opportunity?

This isn't simply joining an established engineering team to maintain existing products. You'll be joining a new advanced engineering capability focused on data center cooling at an important stage of its growth.

The team will develop future technologies including chillers, split systems, cooling distribution units and other data-center-focused cooling products, taking promising concepts and maturing them towards production.

You'll be influencing technologies aimed at a 3–5 year future product window, giving you the opportunity to have a genuine impact on what reaches the data center cooling market next.

It's also an attractive opportunity for an experienced engineer who wants to progress into technical leadership without moving away from engineering into people management. You'll remain hands-on while taking greater technical ownership and helping develop other engineers around you.

The package:

c$140,000-$170,000 DOE base salary, 10% bonus, short-term incentive opportunity, comprehensive benefits and relocation support for suitable candidates.

This is an onsite position in Charlotte, NC.