Senior Staff Thermal Systems Engineer

Johnson Controls; New Freedom (York County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

YDU JC Air Cond & Ref Inc.- Dubai is seeking an experienced thermal system architect to lead our thermal design direction. This role involves driving long-range planning and supervising technical teams to establish integration standards across product lines.

The ideal candidate will have 14+ years of experience in the chiller or large industrial HVAC industry, alongside a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. This position requires onsite presence at the Advanced Technology and Innovation Center in New Freedom, PA, a minimum of 3 days per week.

Qualifications

• 14+ years of experience with thermal products/systems.
• Chiller industry experience or large industrial HVAC experience.
• Proficient in engineering calculations and documentation tools.

Responsibilities

• Drive long-range planning for thermal products.
• Define integration standards across product lines.
• Supervise the technical team and lead thermal efforts.

Skills

Thermal product design

System architecture

Cross-domain knowledge

Microsoft 365/Excel

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS Fluent

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Responsibilities

• Drive long‑range planning for business unit thermal products; serve as system architect and global resource for thermal design direction.
• Define integration standards across product lines; ensure modular thermal stack interoperability.
• Define and coordinate product family specifications; establish business unit thermal standards and design guidelines.
• Champion thermal technology initiatives across Data Center Solutions; exhibit business unit influence.
• Supervise technical team; lead thermal system architecture efforts.
• Strategic communicator representing the organization for company‑wide thermal initiatives; mentor Principal and Staff Engineers globally.

This position is based onsite, minimum 3 days per week, at our Advanced Technology and Innovation Center located in New Freedom, PA. Candidates must be within commuting distance to the facility or able to relocate.

Requirements

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 14+ years of experience with multiple released thermal products/systems and recognized throughout division and/or industry.
• Chiller industry experience, or large industrial HVAC industry experience.
• System architect for data center thermal solutions.
• Recognized expert across thermal, controls, electrical, and mechanical domains.
• Expert in multiple technical domains (thermal, controls, electrical, mechanical) and strong cross‑domain knowledge.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365/Excel (basic macros/VBA), CAD (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent), engineering calculations and documentation tools (MathCAD, EES, or equivalent).
• Experience in heat transfer analysis (conduction, convection, two‑phase), thermodynamic cycle analysis, fluid mechanics and hydraulic system design, thermal system component sizing and selection.
• Prototype fabrication and hands‑on testing.
• Preferred: Master’s degree.
• Software/simulation experience: Python scripting and environment management (package installation, virtual environments, basic automation), CFD (ANSYS Fluent, Star‑CCM+, OpenFOAM, or equivalent), FEA (ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, or equivalent), MATLAB/Simulink for system modeling and controls.
• Controls fundamentals (feedback loops, PID tuning, system response), electrical systems basics (motor sizing, VFDs, power distribution), refrigeration system design and refrigerant properties, data center cooling architectures (direct liquid cooling, rear‑door heat exchangers, CDUs).
• Expert in one or more thermal domains (CDU, chiller, dry cooler, cold plate systems).

Equal Employment Opportunity

Johnson Controls International plc. is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law. To view more information about your equal opportunity and non‑discrimination rights as a candidate, visit EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit here.