Refrigeration Engineer - Independent Contract

The Legacy Companies, LLC; Avondale (PA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Legacy Companies, LLC in Avondale, PA is seeking a Refrigeration Engineer to support design, development, testing, and production of refrigeration systems across wine, food, beverage and commercial products. You will work with engineering, product management, sourcing, quality, sales, and manufacturing partners.

Candidates should have 2–5 years in refrigeration, a mechanical engineering degree, and hands-on experience with SolidWorks and flammable refrigerants.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in refrigeration, HVAC/R, or related mechanical design.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics and refrigeration systems.
• Experience with propane (R-290), isobutane (R-600a) or other flammable refrigerants preferred.
• Familiarity with UL safety standards related to flammable refrigerants.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD software.
• Willingness to travel domestically to facilities and suppliers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on design, development, and analysis of refrigeration products and systems.
• Develop refrigeration system schematics, component layouts, piping configurations, and product designs using SolidWorks or other 3D CAD modeling software.
• Evaluate refrigeration system performance and recommend design improvements related to performance, reliability, efficiency, manufacturability, and cost.
• Support prototype development, testing, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Provide technical support throughout the product development and production lifecycle.

Skills

Refrigeration design

SolidWorks

Thermodynamics

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional teamwork

Propane refrigerants

Analytical problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Contractor Avondale, PA, US

Reporting to the Lead Engineer, the Engineer will support the design, development, testing, implementation, and production of refrigeration systems across The Legacy Companies' portfolio, with a primary focus on wine, food, beverage, and commercial refrigeration products.

This role will work closely with Engineering, Product Management, Sourcing, Quality, Sales, and manufacturing partners to develop safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective products. While refrigeration will be the primary area of responsibility, the Engineer will also have opportunities to contribute to the development of other appliance categories across The Legacy Companies.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate on the design, development, and analysis of refrigeration products and systems.
• Develop refrigeration system schematics, component layouts, piping configurations, and product designs using SolidWorks or other 3D CAD/modeling software.
• Evaluate refrigeration system performance and recommend design improvements related to performance, reliability, efficiency, manufacturability, and cost.
• Support prototype development, testing, validation, and troubleshooting.
• Provide technical support throughout the product development and production lifecycle.

Safety, Regulatory & Compliance

• Conduct product safety, code compliance, and regulatory reviews.
• Ensure product designs comply with applicable federal and state energy-efficiency requirements.
• Support compliance with applicable UL safety standards, including requirements associated with flammable refrigerants.
• Apply applicable refrigeration, mechanical, and piping codes and standards.
• Participate in the development of refrigeration-related SOPs, HAZOPs, risk assessments, and other product safety analyses.
• Maintain appropriate engineering and compliance documentation.

Manufacturing & Production Support

• Conduct inspections and technical reviews of refrigeration systems, manufacturing facilities, and production lines.
• Partner with internal teams and manufacturing partners to troubleshoot production and quality issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve product quality, consistency, manufacturability, and production efficiency.
• Develop technical documentation and work instructions to support production.
• Train key manufacturing and production personnel on refrigeration systems, processes, quality requirements, and production best practices.

Product Development & Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with internal and external engineering teams, suppliers, factories, Product Management, Sourcing, Quality, Sales, and other stakeholders to ensure successful product development and commercialization.
• Provide technical expertise during new product development and product improvement initiatives.
• Support evaluation of components, suppliers, technologies, and design alternatives.
• Assist with technical questions from internal stakeholders, customers, and business partners.
• Support engineering projects outside of refrigeration when business needs and individual expertise align.

Documentation & Project Management

• Develop, review, and maintain engineering specifications, technical reports, proposals, test plans, templates, and other technical documentation.
• Maintain accurate project records, drawings, specifications, test results, and engineering documentation.
• Clearly communicate technical findings, risks, recommendations, and project status to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in refrigeration, HVAC/R, or related mechanical system design, development, testing, or analysis.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; equivalent technical qualifications and relevant experience may also be considered.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics and refrigeration systems.
• Experience with propane (R-290), isobutane (R-600a), or other flammable refrigerants preferred.
• Familiarity with current UL safety standards related to flammable refrigerants.
• Working knowledge of applicable refrigeration, mechanical, piping, safety, and energy-efficiency codes and standards.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD/modeling software required.
• Experience with additional mechanical or appliance categories—particularly commercial foodservice equipment, motorized appliances, or major appliances is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel and technology-based collaboration tools.
• Willingness to work across engineering disciplines beyond refrigeration as business needs require.
• Ability to travel domestically to manufacturing facilities, suppliers, customers, and other business locations as needed.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate combines strong refrigeration engineering fundamentals with a practical, hands-on approach to product development. This person is comfortable moving between product design, testing, factory production, regulatory compliance, and problem-solving.

They are curious, energetic, and willing to get into the details to understand why something isn't working—and then work collaboratively with internal teams and manufacturing partners to fix it.

Most importantly, this person thinks beyond simply designing a refrigeration system. They consider performance, safety, quality, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and the customer experience throughout the entire product lifecycle.