Thermal Engineer

LVI Associates; South Carolina; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

LVI Associates is seeking a Thermal Engineer to lead as the mechanical engineer for cooling and thermal management systems for data centers in South Carolina. This role requires strong proficiency in HVAC systems, project management, and innovative problem-solving capabilities.

Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a solid thermal background and a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience. Knowledge of building codes is essential, along with proficiency in Autodesk tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 4 years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Knowledge of building codes for modular or transportable structures.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize cooling and thermal management systems.
• Lead mechanical designs for thermal and ventilation systems.
• Conduct thermal transfer analyses and basic CFD modeling.

Skills

Thermal management systems

Mechanical designs

HVAC

Autodesk tools (AutoCAD, Revit)

Problem-solving

Construction drawings interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The role of Thermal Engineer serves as the lead mechanical engineer to design, analyze, and optimize cooling and thermal management systems for data centers. This role focuses on effective heat removal, energy‑efficient operation, and ensuring reliable performance of mission‑critical infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead Mechanical Engineer responsible for conceptual and detailed designs for thermal and ventilation systems, including HVAC, equipment layouts, fire suppression routing, and cable management systems.
• Ensure mechanical designs comply with federal, state, and local building codes by coordinating with relevant regulatory authorities.
• Deliver mechanical solutions that meet required quality standards and fall within project budgets.
• Review and approve mechanical equipment submittals.
• Develop mechanical design narratives for Schematic Design, Detailed Design, and Construction Drawings.
• Perform thermal transfer analyses (fire ratings, thermal bridges) and basic CFD modeling.
• Support and oversee contracted integration partners and mechanical integration drawing development.
• Produce mechanical system layout drawings and specify materials such as ductwork, cable trays, fiber management systems, wireway, and busway.
• Work with internal teams, partners, and vendors to identify and select mechanical components (cooling systems, cable management equipment, fire suppression materials).
• Define mechanical scope and provide technical guidance during pre‑construction and active construction phases.
• Lead quality control efforts during mechanical system integration; provide on‑site support as needed.
• Contribute conceptual mechanical designs during the presales phase.
• Partner with commissioning teams to validate installation, operation, and performance of mechanical systems.
• Conduct site visits for reviews, audits, evaluations, and start‑up assistance with field engineers.
• Communicate with customers as needed to develop mechanical solutions aligned with their requirements.
• Provide creative and innovative mechanical solutions to address customer and project needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a strong thermal background, or equivalent experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred but not required.
• Minimum 4 years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local building codes for modular or transportable structures.
• Proficiency in Autodesk tools (AutoCAD, Revit) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, mechanical schematics, and equipment specifications.
• Strong ability to interpret customer technical requirements clearly and accurately.
• Ability to research and evaluate new mechanical system designs, technologies, and construction methods related to data centers.
• Creative problem‑solver capable of developing cost‑effective solutions without compromising reliability or quality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail‑oriented with strong leadership, problem‑solving, and project management abilities.
• Ability to travel approximately 5-10% of the time.