Sr. Director, Cooling & Chiller Systems

ESP Enterprises Inc.; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

ESP Enterprises Inc. seeks a Senior Director of Cooling & Chiller Systems to drive strategy, design, and development of advanced cooling solutions for North America data center and energy management applications.

Lead Centrifugal Chillers, MCP, and CDU programs, ensuring performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance. You will align global engineering standards with regional market needs, build a high-performance engineering organization, and coordinate with partners, suppliers, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 17+ years in HVAC or cooling systems engineering with at least 7 years in senior leadership.
• Experience with North American certification processes (UL, ETL, NRTL) for HVAC or industrial equipment.
• Experience in data center cooling systems, including modular cooling plants or large centrifugal chillers.
• Strong knowledge of North American codes, standards, and regulatory frameworks applicable to HVAC and industrial cooling systems.
• Proven experience leading complex system development programs from concept through commercialization.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead engineering organizations and manage cross functional teams.
• Proficiency with CAD, simulation tools, Microsoft Office, and PLM systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the cooling systems product strategy, including Centrifugal Chillers, MCP, and CDU solutions.
• Lead development of scalable, high efficiency cooling architectures for data center applications, including both air and liquid cooling domains.
• Drive technical roadmap for next generation cooling systems aligned with market trends and customer requirements.
• Oversee system level design, integration, and optimization of Centrifugal Chiller Systems, MCP platforms, and CDU units.
• Ensure robust engineering processes across concept design, detailed design, validation, and product release.
• Establish design standards, engineering methodologies, and best practices aligned with global engineering frameworks.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across mechanical, thermal, electrical, and controls domains.
• Lead efforts to ensure compliance of Centrifugal Chillers and cooling systems with North American regulatory and certification requirements, including UL and other applicable regulations.
• Drive localization of products to meet regional codes, standards, and customer specifications.
• Manage technical engagement with certification agencies and regulatory bodies.
• Lead development of Modular Chiller Plant (MCP) systems integrating Centrifugal Chillers, controls, piping, and auxiliary systems into modular solutions.
• Drive system integration including electrical, mechanical, and control interfaces for modular deployment.
• Collaborate with partners and suppliers to develop manufacturable, scalable MCP solutions.
• Lead development and commercialization of CDU systems for liquid cooled data center environments.
• Oversee integration of CDU with IT and facility systems, ensuring performance and reliability.
• Drive innovation in liquid cooling technologies, including system optimization and control strategies.
• Oversee execution of development programs from requirements definition through design, prototyping, testing, certification, and commercialization.
• Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within scope, and aligned with business objectives.
• Integrate engineering deliverables with program management and commercial milestones.
• Establish and scale the cooling systems engineering organization in North America.
• Define roles, responsibilities, reporting structures, and talent development strategies.
• Build technical capabilities and ensure effective knowledge transfer between global engineering teams and North America.
• Collaborate with program management, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, and service teams to ensure end to end solution delivery.
• Provide executive level reporting on engineering progress, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Partner with global stakeholders to align technical direction and priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

CAD

Simulation tools

PLM systems

Data center cooling

Thermodynamics

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD

Simulation tools

Microsoft Office

PLM systems

Job description

The Senior Director of Cooling & Chiller Systems leads the strategy, design, and development of advanced cooling solutions for data center and energy management applications across North America. This role is accountable for the engineering development of Centrifugal Chillers, Modular Chiller Plants (MCP), and Coolant Distribution Units (CDU), ensuring performance, scalability, reliability, and compliance with North American standards and certifications. The role also leads key initiatives including product localization and certification, integrated MCP solution development, and advancement of liquid cooling technologies. This leader establishes engineering capabilities, system architectures, and product platforms aligned with global engineering standards while addressing regional market requirements. Reporting to the General Manager, this position works closely with global engineering teams, regional partners, suppliers, and cross functional stakeholders in engineering, program management, supply chain, manufacturing, and service to deliver high performance, market ready cooling solutions that support the organization's strategic business growth in North America. This position collaborates with global stakeholders across Asia and the U.S. to align priorities, enable effective execution, and support the company's long term business objectives.

Job Responsibilities

Cooling Systems Strategy & Product Development

• Define and execute the cooling systems product strategy, including Centrifugal Chillers, MCP, and CDU solutions.
• Lead development of scalable, high efficiency cooling architectures for data center applications, including both air and liquid cooling domains.
• Drive technical roadmap for next generation cooling systems aligned with market trends and customer requirements.

Engineering Leadership, System Design & Integration

• Oversee system level design, integration, and optimization of Centrifugal Chiller Systems, MCP platforms, and CDU units.
• Ensure robust engineering processes across concept design, detailed design, validation, and product release.
• Establish design standards, engineering methodologies, and best practices aligned with global engineering frameworks.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across mechanical, thermal, electrical, and controls domains.

Compliance, Localization & Commercialization

• Lead efforts to ensure compliance of Centrifugal Chillers and cooling systems with North American regulatory and certification requirements, including UL and other applicable regulations.
• Drive localization of products to meet regional codes, standards, and customer specifications.
• Manage technical engagement with certification agencies and regulatory bodies.
• Lead development of Modular Chiller Plant (MCP) systems integrating Centrifugal Chillers, controls, piping, and auxiliary systems into modular solutions.
• Drive system integration including electrical, mechanical, and control interfaces for modular deployment.
• Collaborate with partners and suppliers to develop manufacturable, scalable MCP solutions.
• Lead development and commercialization of CDU systems for liquid cooled data center environments.
• Oversee integration of CDU with IT and facility systems, ensuring performance and reliability.
• Drive innovation in liquid cooling technologies, including system optimization and control strategies.

Organization, Program & Stakeholder Leadership

• Oversee execution of development programs from requirements definition through design, prototyping, testing, certification, and commercialization.
• Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within scope, and aligned with business objectives.
• Integrate engineering deliverables with program management and commercial milestones.
• Establish and scale the cooling systems engineering organization in North America.
• Define roles, responsibilities, reporting structures, and talent development strategies.
• Build technical capabilities and ensure effective knowledge transfer between global engineering teams and North America.
• Collaborate with program management, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, and service teams to ensure end to end solution delivery.
• Provide executive level reporting on engineering progress, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Partner with global stakeholders to align technical direction and priorities.

Continuous Improvement & Other Duties

• Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes, product performance, and cost competitiveness.
• Identify and mitigate technical and program risks.
• Lead lessons learned and feedback loops into future product development.

This list of responsibilities is not all inclusive, and an employee may be required to perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education Requirement: B.A. or B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related engineering field.
• Experience: Minimum of seventeen (17) years of experience in HVAC, cooling systems, thermal systems, or related industrial engineering fields, with at least seven (7) years in senior leadership roles.
• Extensive experience in design and development of large scale cooling systems, including thermal systems for mission critical applications.
• Experience with North American certification processes (UL, ETL, NRTL) for HVAC or industrial equipment.
• Experience in data center cooling systems, including modular cooling plants or large centrifugal chillers.
• Strong knowledge of North American codes, standards, and regulatory frameworks applicable to HVAC and industrial cooling systems.
• Proven experience leading complex system development programs from concept through commercialization.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead engineering organizations and manage cross functional teams.
• Strong technical expertise in system integration, thermodynamics, and cooling system design.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, including executive level engagement.
• Experience working with global teams and cross regional collaboration.
• Proficiency with engineering and business tools including CAD, simulation tools, Microsoft Office, and PLM systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with liquid cooling technologies and CDU systems.
• Experience in global organizations and cross cultural collaboration, with Asia to U.S. experience preferred.
• Familiarity with digital engineering tools, simulation, and optimization platforms.

Working Conditions

• Travel: 25 to 40% domestic and occasional international.
• Standard Monday through Friday work week. Additional hours as required based on business needs.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and communicate. Occasional visits to manufacturing sites, suppliers, and customer project locations.