Modeling Engineer

Johnson Controls•Glendale, AZ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Johnson Controls’ Data Center Thermal Technology Solutions group is seeking a Research and Advanced Development Engineer to join its modeling team. The role develops and applies numerical models to simulate the end-to-end performance of data center cooling systems and contributes to cross-functional teams creating comprehensive thermal solutions. The primary focus is system-performance simulation and providing design and application guidance based on model results. The engineer also tracks emerging data center cooling technologies and evaluates innovations that may inform future products. The position is based on-site at the Warren Johnson Engineering Lab in Glendale, Wisconsin, with a minimum requirement of three days per week on-site. New Freedom, Pennsylvania, Boston, Massachusetts, or remote work may also be considered for the right candidate. Various relocation packages are available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
At least 7 years of industry experience with thermal products or systems.
Strong theoretical foundation in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
Experience with HVAC system design, refrigerant cycles, and component selection.
Proficiency with numerical simulation tools for building and thermal applications, such as Modelica, MATLAB/Simulink, EES, or EnergyPlus.
Demonstrated ability to execute cross-functional projects.

Nice To Haves

Python scripting and environment management, including package installation, virtual environments, and basic automation.
Fundamentals of controls engineering, including feedback loops, PID tuning, and system response.
Basic understanding of electrical systems, including motor sizing, VFDs, and power distribution.
Experience with refrigeration system design and refrigerant properties.
Familiarity with data center cooling architectures such as direct liquid cooling, rear-door heat exchangers, and CDUs.
Expertise in one or more thermal domains, such as CDUs, chillers, dry coolers, or cold-plate systems.
Broad cross-domain knowledge spanning thermal, controls, and electrical systems; generalists with strong multidomain capability.

Responsibilities

Develop numerical simulations of thermal components commonly used in data center applications.
Integrate subsystems into complete thermal solutions, coordinating across cooling loops, controls, and heat-rejection equipment.
Use simulation tools to predict chip-to-ambient performance of data center cooling systems.
Apply system-level performance models to provide technical guidance to customers.
Present project status, technical findings, and strategic recommendations across departments.
Deliver presentations and/or write white papers communicating Johnson Controls’ technical perspective on emerging technologies and system architectures.
Actively participate in industry groups such as ASHRAE and the Open Compute Project.
Stay current on emerging data center cooling technologies and evaluate innovations that may influence future product offerings.