Refrigeration Product Development Engineer

Perlick Corporation; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Perlick is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead design, development, validation and continuous improvement of residential and light-commercial refrigeration equipment.

You will own system architecture, component selection, performance tuning, and production launch from concept to market. The role emphasizes vapor compression thermodynamics, controls integration, and regulatory compliance with UL/NSF/DOE standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Refrigeration or HVAC engineering or related field.
• Two+ years of product development in fractional horsepower vapor compression refrigeration equipment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Resilient with strong problem-solving abilities.
• United States work authorization.
• Experience with sheet metal fabrication, castings, machining, plastics, and assembly methods.
• Experience with electro-mechanical components and subsystems.
• Familiarity with CAD, PDM and ERP systems.
• Knowledge of UL/NSF certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Document engineering requirements with cross-functional teams.
• Translate requirements into design concepts and select materials and components.
• Choose refrigeration components (compressors, heat exchangers, expansion devices, fans, motors, controls).
• Create and validate thermodynamic/heat transfer models of refrigeration systems.
• Perform cycle analysis and optimization for performance and efficiency.
• Ensure regulatory/certification compliance (UL, NSF, DOE, Energy Star, CSA, ETL).
• Conduct design reviews, DFMEA, tolerance analyses, and risk assessments.
• Create test plans and coordinate laboratory testing.
• Analyze lab data and guide technicians.
• Prepare engineering specifications and 3D models/drawings in SolidWorks.
• Lead teardowns and competitive analysis; communicate concepts to internal teams and suppliers.
• Support rapid prototyping, multi-physics modeling, and functional testing.

Skills

Communication

Problem solving

US work authorization

CAD/ECAD

PDM/ERP systems

Sheet metal fabrication

Mechanical aptitude

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Refrigeration/HVAC related engineering

Tools

CAD software

PDM systems

ERP systems

Job description

Perlick is seeking a Product Development Engineer to lead design, development, validation and continuous improvement of residential and light-commercial refrigeration equipment.

You will own system architecture, component selection, performance tuning, and production launch from concept to market. The role emphasizes vapor compression thermodynamics, controls integration, and regulatory compliance with UL/NSF/DOE standards.