Manager, Research & Development

Johnson Controls; Burlington (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

On-site role

Competitive bonus plan

Job summary

Johnson Controls in Burlington, MA seeks a Manager of the Stack Forging Thermal Solutions Research & Development team to lead and grow innovative thermal management technologies for AI, HPC, and mission-critical systems. You will define projects, mentor a lean R&D group, and align technical efforts with commercial needs while tackling risk, scoping, and technology transfer.

This onsite role requires US citizenship or permanent residency, with relocation packages available and a

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or related field; master’s preferred.
• 8+ years industry experience with 3+ years leadership of technical teams.
• Expertise in thermal management and liquid cooling, preferably in data centers or HPC.
• US Citizen and/or Permanent Resident; sponsorship is not available.

Responsibilities

• Define research projects and report to leadership; lead a team to generate valuable ideas aligned with priorities.
• Develop new thermal-fluid technologies; run structured R&D as individual contributor and team lead.
• Lead and mentor a lean R&D team; act as technical expert and mentor on various topics.
• Oversee technology development life cycle from justification to transfer; maximize value of ideas.

Skills

Leadership

Thermal management

Team mentoring

R&D management

Strategic alignment

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical/Aerospace/Physics

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CFD software

Job description

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls, a global leader in thermal management, mission‑critical building systems, energy efficiency, and decarbonization, helps customers use energy more productively, reduce carbon emissions, and operate with the precision and resilience required in rapidly expanding industries such as data centers, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and higher education.

For more than 140 years, Johnson Controls has delivered performance where it really matters. Backed by advanced technology, lifecycle services and an industry‑leading field organization, we elevate customer performance, turn goals into real‑world results and help move society forward. Visit johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnsoncontrols on social platforms.

What You’ll Do

Thermal constraints limit AI infrastructure, semiconductor equipment, power electronics, and defense systems. JCI removes those constraints. Enabled by the Stack Forging® process, JCI produces high‑performance thermal components and cooling loop solutions—purpose‑built for direct integration into AI, HPC, and mission‑critical systems. JCI has built the industry’s leading thermal management platform for the applications that demand it most.

As the Manager of the Stack Forging Thermal Solutions Research & Development team at Johnson Controls, you will be responsible for leading the team that develops new & innovative thermal management solutions. You will collaborate across the organization to contribute to a long‑term thermal strategy grounded in commercial needs, the competitive landscape, and other internal technology roadmaps. You will scope, justify, and execute projects both as an individual contributor and as a team leader.

This position is based onsite at our facility in Burlington, MA. Candidates must be commuting distance to the facility, or able to relocate. Various relocation packages are available. This position also requires US citizenship and/or permanent resident status.

How You Will Do It

• Define research projects and report on them to leadership; take responsibility for leading a team to generate new, valuable ideas aligned with strategic priorities. Work with leadership to blend first‑principles analysis, experimental results, simulation, and techno‑economic analysis to create a clear and compelling vision for the outcome of your team’s work.
• Develop new thermal‑fluid technologies: Run structured R&D efforts both as an individual contributor and team leader. Manage technical risk to ensure that impactful technologies can quickly be spun out of your team’s research efforts.
• Lead and Mentor: Hire, lead, and manage a lean and focused R&D team. Act as a source of technical excellence, acting as a subject matter expert and mentor on a range of technical topics.
• Manage projects: Oversee the advanced technology development life cycle, from initial justification and scoping through technology transfer. Ensure that everyone on the team is working on the best idea, not just their favorite idea.

Requirements

Required

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 8+ years of industry experience.
• 3+ years of leadership experience with the ability to lead technical teams.
• Expertise in thermal management and liquid cooling, preferably with experience in data centers or high‑performance computing.
• US Citizen and/or Permanent Resident. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred

• Ability to align technical development with strategic business priorities.
• Background in customer‑facing roles, such as a Solutions Engineer, Technical Fellow, or Applications Engineer.
• Experience in manufacturing and emerging technology settings.
• Expertise in design for manufacturability (DFM) principles, especially related to metal components or thermal systems.
• Familiarity with thermal simulation software (e.g., CFD) and analytical modeling.

Compensation & Benefits

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $140,000 - $200,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This role offers a competitive bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at https://jobs.johnsoncontrols.com/about-us