Project Engineer, HVAC Modeling

brightcoreenergy; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightcore Energy seeks a Thermal Modeling Engineer to advance modeling of geothermal heating/cooling systems and data center applications. You will build and refine models that integrate borefields, dry coolers, chillers, and other HVAC tech to optimize performance and economics.

The role emphasizes collaboration with engineering teams, developing scalable modeling tools, and translating results into actionable recommendations for customers and projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in thermal modeling.
• Strong grounding in heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics.
• Familiarity with energy/load modeling tools and Excel-based models.
• Experience with AutoCAD and geothermal-related tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform geothermal modeling for core projects and data center applications.
• Develop and enhance advanced thermal models focused on performance and efficiency.
• Model integrated systems combining borefields, dry coolers, chillers, and HVAC tech.
• Support modeling capabilities for data center applications, including high-density environments.
• Collaborate with engineering and project teams to apply insights to designs.
• Expand modeling capabilities to evaluate new technologies and configurations.
• Analyze results to identify opportunities to improve energy performance and economics.
• Translate modeling results into clear recommendations for internal teams and customers.
• Write automated scripts to size systems based on customer priorities.
• Simulate fluid flow for large piping systems and design hydraulic piping.

Skills

Thermal modeling

Data center cooling

TRNSYS

Modelica

EnergyPlus

eQuest

HAP

AutoCAD

Python

EIT/PE (preferred)

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

Excel-based engineering models

Job description

Brightcore Energy provides end-to-end energy efficiency and clean energy measures to commercial, industrial, and institutional clients. We have the intellectual and financial capital to develop, implement, fund, operate, and maintain clean energy solutions. Our diverse solutions range from lighting, controls, geothermal heating and cooling, and other energy efficiency measures to renewable energy solutions such as solar and battery storage. We are about Building Energy Performance.

Summary/Primary Role:

This role will help Brightcore accelerate its ability to model the advanced thermal performance of geothermal heating and cooling systems, working as part of a team across all of our modeling efforts. That includes ramping up our modeling capability for data center thermal performance, combining geothermal borefields, dry coolers, and chillers into a single, optimized thermal system. The Thermal Modeling Engineer will help expand the range of solutions we can model and offer to customers, across both our core geothermal business and our growing data center product line.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

• Perform geothermal modeling for core business projects, including thermal performance modeling for data center applications that combine geothermal borefields, dry coolers, and chillers.
• Develop and enhance advanced thermal models for geothermal heating and cooling systems, with a focus on system performance, efficiency, and optimization.
• Model integrated thermal systems combining geothermal borefields, dry coolers, chillers, and other HVAC technologies.
• Support the development of thermal modeling capabilities for data center applications, including high-density and mission-critical environments.
• Collaborate with engineering, design, and project teams to apply modeling insights to real-world customer projects and system designs.
• Expand Brightcore's modeling capabilities to evaluate new technologies, system configurations, and applications across the geothermal and data center markets.
• Analyze modeling results to identify opportunities to improve system performance, energy efficiency, and overall project economics.
• Help establish and improve modeling tools, methodologies, and processes to support scalable and consistent project development.
• Translate complex modeling results into clear technical recommendations for internal teams and customers.
• Build, run, and maintain models in Modelica and TRNSYS.
• Apply other geothermal-specific modeling tools, including EED (Earth Energy Designer) and pygfunction.
• Analyze model results and modify or calibrate models accordingly.
• Write automated scripts to optimally size systems based on different customer priorities or needs.
• Simulate fluid flow for large piping systems.
• Design hydraulic piping to meet flow and pumping power requirements.
• Model different control strategies and evaluate their impact on system performance.
• All other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in thermal modeling.
• Strong grounding in heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics; comfort reasoning through equipment performance metrics (COP, EER, approach temperatures, heat transfer rates).
• Working proficiency with energy/load modeling tools (e.g., TRNSYS, Modelica, EnergyPlus, eQuest, HAP, or equivalent) and Excel-based engineering models preferred..
• Working proficiency, or ability to quickly come up to speed, with AutoCAD.
• Ability to carry ambiguous concept work - from first-light feasibility through prototype to product requirement - to a defensible, documented result without heavy supervision.
• Fluent with AI tools.
• Direct experience with EED and/or pygfunction for borefield design and analysis preferred.
• Experience modeling data center cooling systems preferred.
• Basic proficiency in Python, or ability to quickly come up to speed preferred.
• EIT certification or active progress toward PE licensure preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Expected Hours of Work & Compensation:

An employee is expected to work a minimum of forty (40) hours per week. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay in accordance with applicable wage and hour laws, while exempt employees may be required to work additional hours as necessary to fulfill their job responsibilities. Overtime requirements will be determined based on the operational needs of the organization. The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining an employee's base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., location, specialty, years of relevant exp