Principal Engineer, Advanced Thermal Modeling

BAC (Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.); Jessup (MD); On-site; USD 108,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC) is seeking a Principal Engineer, Advanced Thermal Modeling to lead and advance thermal modeling across BAC’s products and applications. You will drive strategy, architecture, and delivery through a small expert team and direct contribution.

Responsibilities include developing scalable models, tools, and validation against data, while partnering with global teams to meet engineering and customer needs. Strong leadership and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• ~12+ years of relevant, progressively complex experience in thermal modeling and simulation.
• 2+ years experience leading technical teams, including direct supervision responsibilities.
• Experience developing and deploying thermal models, simulation tools, and engineering software.
• Experience correlating test data to models and improving predictive accuracy through validation and iteration.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the modeling strategy, architecture, and governing frameworks spanning unit-level physics and system-level performance across BAC’s cooling technologies.
• Translate thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer knowledge into reusable models, simulation architectures, and prediction tools.
• Set and enforce modeling standards, approaches, and acceptance criteria for consistent performance evaluation.
• Own unit and system-level modeling and validation, including correlation with experimental data and product requirements.
• Serve as primary technical interface and escalation point, leading engagement with customers and partners.
• Partner with NPI, CPI, Advanced Applications, and global teams to translate needs into scalable modeling capability.
• Develop and deploy simulation tools and workflows; integrate emerging modeling techniques.
• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of thermal modeling engineers.
• Set technical direction and work allocation, aligning with strategy and priorities.
• Collaborate with internal SME teams to align platforms and knowledge.
• Represent BAC in technical discussions with customers, partners, and industry bodies.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Fluid dynamics

Psychrometrics

Systems thinking

Programming

Team leadership

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Modelica/Dymola

EnergyPlus

Job description

POSITION PURPOSE

The Global Advanced Digital Engineering team is Baltimore Aircoil Company’s (BAC) engine, combining domain SME, software, and automation expertise to build modular, scalable, and reusable engineering capability, including models, methods, tools, CAD and simulation environments, workflows, and digital architectures that improve speed, quality, and consistency of engineering outcomes across BAC’s products, applications, and digital ecosystems.

The Principal Engineer, Advanced Thermal Modeling leads thermal modeling capability across BAC’s product and application space as a working technical leader and leads a small expert team. The role spans unit-level physics, system-level performance, and cost-of-ownership modeling, with accountability for modeling strategy, architecture, and delivery through direct contribution and team execution, and translates thermodynamic and heat transfer expertise into scalable modeling frameworks, simulation tools, and validated methods.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Define and own the modeling strategy, architecture, and governing frameworks spanning unit-level physics and system-level performance across BAC’s cooling technologies, including evaporative, hybrid, adiabatic, and dry systems


• Define and translate thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer knowledge into reusable models, simulation architectures, and prediction tools and rating program logic


• Set and enforce modeling standards, approaches, and acceptance criteria ensuring consistent and comparable performance evaluation across products, applications, and operating conditions


• Own unit and system-level modeling and validation, including correlation with experimental data and alignment with product performance and certification requirements


• Serve as primary technical interface and escalation point, acting as the final technical authority for advanced thermal modeling decisions, and leading engagement with customers and external partners


• Partner with NPI, CPI, Advanced Applications, and Global and Regional business teams to translate product and application needs into scalable modeling capability and reusable engineering logic


• Own development and effective deployment of simulation tools and workflows, while driving integration of emerging modeling techniques and clearly communicating and defending results with stakeholders


• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of thermal modeling engineers, maintaining a high technical bar while ensuring delivery of complex work


• Set technical direction and work allocation for the team, ensuring alignment with modeling strategy and business priorities


• Partner with internal BAC SME team to leverage, strengthen, and align thermal modeling platforms, tools, and domain knowledge, ensuring consistent technical positioning across teams


• Represent BAC in technical discussions with customers, partners, and industry organizations

NATURE AND SCOPE

The Principal Engineer, Advanced Thermal Modeling reports to the Senior Manager, Advanced Digital Engineering, and operates across BAC’s product portfolio, applications space, and global regions, requiring close coordination with NPI, CPI, Advanced Applications, and Global and Regional business teams.

This is a working leader role, combining direct ownership of the most complex modeling challenges with leadership of a small expert team and serving as the advanced thermal modeling domain authority for BAC and escalation point for the advanced thermal modeling group. This role is accountable for (i) technical direction and integrity of advanced thermal modeling capability, (ii) delivery of high-quality, validated models and insights supporting product, application, and customer decisions, both personally and through the team, and (iii) ensuring high-quality handoff and correct implementation of modeling methods, tools, and approaches in downstream applications.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Systems, or related field; advanced degree preferred


• ~12+ years of relevant, progressively complex experience in thermal modeling and simulation


• 2+ years experience leading technical teams, including direct supervision responsibilities


• Demonstrated experience in leading and developing technical professionals


• Demonstrated experience developing and deploying thermal models, simulation tools, and/or engineering software


• Experience working across both modeling and experimental validation (lab or field testing)

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong foundation in thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and psychrometrics


• Strong systems thinking, with ability to model interactions between components, systems, operating conditions, and performance outcomes, while managing technical ambiguity and complexity, and the ability to leverage this understanding to develop modeling strategies.


• Programming and modeling capability (e.g., MATLAB, EES, Python, C#/C++, VBA, or similar engineering tools)


• Experience with physics-based or equation-based modeling environments (e.g., Modelica/Dymola) and building/system simulation tools (e.g., EnergyPlus or similar)


• Experience correlating test data to models and improving predictive accuracy through validation and iteration


• Effective communication skills, with ability to present technical concepts and results to diverse audiences, and drive alignment across the organization in relevant technical areas.


• Effective leadership skills, including coaching, prioritization, and accountability within a small expert team

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience with CFD and/or supporting digital twin or integrated digital engineering environments


• Familiarity with BAC products, applications, and data center or similar mission-critical cooling environments

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk up to 10% of the time. The position requires occasional lifting up to 30 pounds. Travel, both domestic and international, is expected up to 10% of the time.

BAC Hiring Compensation Range

$108,200- $185,200

BENEFITS

BAC offers a comprehensive benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401k, employee stock ownership plan, and more.

BAC Employees are eligible to participate in an annual bonus incentive program.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

See job description