Senior Thermal Engineer

CDM Technology; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CDM Technology is seeking a Staff Thermal / HVAC Engineer to lead the design and development of cabin climate control and thermal management systems for an innovative electric mobility platform.

The role is hands-on from concept through production, requiring CATIA V6 proficiency and extensive automotive HVAC experience. You will collaborate with electrical, mechanical, battery, controls, manufacturing and systems teams, supporting prototypes, validation and production launch.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience designing automotive HVAC or thermal systems.
• Expert proficiency with CATIA V6.
• Experience designing production-ready HVAC systems for automotive or related fields.
• Strong understanding of refrigeration cycles, heat transfer and airflow management.
• Familiarity with DFMEA, GD&T and design for manufacturability.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and engineering of vehicle HVAC and thermal management systems.
• Develop HVAC architectures including air distribution, ducts, heat exchangers, compressors and blowers.
• Design thermal solutions balancing efficiency, weight, packaging and performance.
• Create 3D models, assemblies and drawings using CATIA V6.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, battery, controls, manufacturing and systems teams.
• Support component selection, supplier reviews and verification activities.
• Conduct thermal analysis and assist CFD and simulations to validate designs.
• Develop specs, DFMEA, test plans and engineering change documentation.
• Support prototype builds, system integration, validation testing and production launch.
• Troubleshoot issues during prototype and production; drive corrective actions.

Skills

Problem-solving

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline

Tools

CATIA V6

Job description

Our client is developing an innovative next-generation electric mobility platform and is seeking an experienced Staff Thermal / HVAC Engineer to lead the design and development of cabin climate control and thermal management systems.

This is a hands-on engineering role responsible for taking HVAC and thermal systems from concept through production. The ideal candidate has extensive experience designing automotive thermal systems, is highly proficient with CATIA V6, and enjoys working in a fast-paced product development environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and engineering of vehicle HVAC and thermal management systems.
• Develop complete HVAC architectures including air distribution, ducting, heat exchangers, compressors, blowers, refrigerant routing, and cabin comfort systems.
• Design thermal solutions for passenger comfort while balancing efficiency, weight, packaging, and performance.
• Create 3D models, assemblies, and detailed engineering drawings using CATIA V6.
• Perform packaging studies and integrate HVAC components with vehicle structures and surrounding systems.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, battery, controls, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams.
• Support component selection and supplier technical reviews.
• Conduct thermal analysis and support CFD and simulation activities to validate designs.
• Develop design specifications, DFMEA documentation, test plans, and engineering change documentation.
• Support prototype builds, system integration, validation testing, and production launch.
• Troubleshoot design issues during prototype and production phases and drive corrective actions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience designing automotive HVAC or thermal management systems.
• Expert proficiency with CATIA V6 (required).
• Experience designing production-ready HVAC systems for automotive or other complex transportation platforms.
• Strong understanding of refrigeration cycles, heat transfer, airflow management, and cabin climate control.
• Experience with thermal system integration and component packaging.
• Knowledge of automotive development processes from concept through production.
• Familiarity with DFMEA, GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and design for manufacturability.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing thermal systems for electric or hybrid vehicles.
• Experience with battery thermal management systems.
• Familiarity with CFD or thermal simulation tools.
• Experience supporting prototype builds and validation testing.
• Knowledge of automotive HVAC controls and system calibration.
• Supplier management and component release experience.
• Experience working within fast-paced startup or advanced product development environments.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate is a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving complex thermal challenges, understands the interaction between HVAC performance and overall vehicle efficiency, and has successfully delivered production automotive thermal systems. They are comfortable owning designs from initial concept through production launch and thrive in highly collaborative engineering teams.