Lead Thermal Systems Engineer - Locomotive Cooling

Wabtec; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 62,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Benefits package

Annual bonus

Job summary

Wabtec is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to drive propulsion system thermal management for locomotives and off-highway vehicles. You will lead the design, validation, and production support of ventilation and battery cooling systems, defining requirements and integrating components to meet performance and reliability goals.

The role requires a strong foundation in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics, with CAD and DFMEA experience, plus hands-on testing and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in thermal management, HVAC, fluid systems, or similar applications.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid flow, and mechanical system design.
• Experience with CAD, engineering drawings, GD&T, DFMEA, and manufacturing-focused design practices.
• Familiarity with CFD, thermal analysis, and simulation tools.
• Experience with testing, validation, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional teams and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop ventilation and battery thermal management systems for locomotive and off-highway vehicle applications.
• Define airflow, thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and packaging requirements for propulsion system thermal management equipment.
• Select and integrate components such as blowers, filters, ducting, heat exchangers, pumps, valves, and thermal management units.
• Perform thermal, airflow, hydraulic, and mechanical analyses to support design decisions and system optimization.
• Develop and execute component and system-level validation plans, including laboratory and locomotive testing.
• Analyze test results, troubleshoot issues, and lead root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to support component development, qualification, and product launches.
• Support manufacturing, commissioning, field investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance reliability and reduce cost.

Skills

Thermal management

HVAC

Fluid systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD

GD&T

DFMEA

CFD

Thermal analysis tools

Job description

Wabtec is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to drive propulsion system thermal management for locomotives and off-highway vehicles. You will lead the design, validation, and production support of ventilation and battery cooling systems, defining requirements and integrating components to meet performance and reliability goals.

The role requires a strong foundation in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics, with CAD and DFMEA experience, plus hands-on testing and cross-functional