Staff Design Engineer

Daikin Applied Americas; Plymouth (MN); Hybrid; USD 109,100 - 188,700; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401K with employer match

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Daikin Applied seeks a Staff Development Engineer to lead development of primary and sub‑systems for commercial HVAC equipment. Collaboration with cross‑functional teams and guidance to junior engineers are key responsibilities.

This hybrid role based in Plymouth, MN or Staunton, VA involves design validation, modeling, and executing the NPD phase‑gate process while staying current on industry trends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of related experience.
• Experience with thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and materials.
• Hands-on testing of electro‑mechanical equipment.
• Knowledge of systems engineering and architecture.
• Ability to translate product requirements into engineering concepts.
• Strong communication of technical risks to leaders.

Responsibilities

• Develop electro‑mechanical products of significant complexity with focus on quality, cost, and schedule.
• Use model‑based design to drive concept selection and virtual validation.
• Create and execute design validation plans for components and systems.
• Lead cross‑functional teams to meet business needs.
• Drive the NPD phase‑gate process and design maturity across milestones.
• Stay current on product/component tech and industry trends.
• Investigate and correct engineering/manufacturing issues.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Vapor compression cycle

Fluid mechanics

Structures

Materials

Hands-on testing

Systems engineering

Architecture

Product requirements translation

Communication to business leaders

DOE

DFMEA

DVP&R

MATLAB

ANSYS

VapCyc

Work breakdown structure

NPD processes

Lean principles

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

PLM tools

MATLAB

ANSYS

VapCyc

Job description

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025! Daikin Applied is seeking a Staff Development Engineer. The Staff Development Engineer will lead the development of primary systems and sub-systems of commercial HVAC equipment. The candidate will collaborate with cross-functional team members, driving towards releasing innovative HVAC products. The candidate must have good communication skills and work well in a group setting. This candidate will provide technical guidance to more junior team members. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavour!

Location

Plymouth, MN or Staunton, VA – Hybrid

Your Responsibilities

• Develop electro‑mechanical products of significant complexity, supporting program quality, cost, and schedule.
• Utilize model‑based design to drive concept selection through trade‑space analysis, predict performance and rating metrics, and enable virtual validation.
• Create and execute design validation plans of components, sub‑systems, and total systems, supporting performance, reliability and industry certification.
• Establish feedback loops between physical testing and model refinement to improve accuracy and confidence in early design decisions.
• Lead cross‑functionally with groups such as design, test, manufacturing, sales, service, and supply chain to ensure product design meets business needs.
• Drive the execution of the new product development phase‑gate process, demonstrating appropriate design maturity and growth across various milestones.
• Keep current on product and component technology improvements and industry trends to effectively perform position functions.
• Investigate engineering/manufacturing issues related to the assembly of the new product design and take corrective action to prevent the recurrence of problems.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Engineering
• 7+ years of related experience
• Understanding of concepts such as thermodynamics, vapor compression cycle, fluid mechanics, structures, materials
• Hands‑on experience testing electro‑mechanical equipment
• Knowledge of systems engineering and architecture
• Ability to translate product requirements into engineering concepts
• Ability to effectively communicate and present technical risks to an audience of business leaders
• Capabilities with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) tools
• Knowledge of cross‑functional groups such as Controls, EE, Mfg, Supply Chain, Design, Quality, etc.
• Knowledge of engineering tools and analysis methods such as DOE, DFMEA, DVP&R
• Capabilities in modelling/simulation tools such as MATLAB, ANSYS, VapCyc, etc.
• Ability to create a work breakdown structure, estimate work task effort, and support project planning activities
• Understanding of New Product Development processes
• Knowledge of Lean Principles
• Drives innovation around tools and product design
• Ability to problem‑solve within engineering and technical concepts

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering
• HVAC industry experience

Your Benefits

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company‑paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $109,100 - $188,700 +15% annual bonus in Minnesota and Virginia. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade in which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience and location.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied!