Principal Mechanical Engineer

Carrier • East Syracuse, NY

2d • $117,500 - $234,500

About The Position

Carrier Global Corporation, a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is seeking talented and motivated individuals for its Innovation Center of Excellence (COE). The Innovation COE aims to drive the development of novel and intelligent Climate and Energy technologies within HVAC/R applications. Located in Syracuse, the North American center for Carrier’s product design and development, the COE focuses on ideating, designing, verifying, and validating new products and technologies to support Carrier’s goal of global leadership in intelligent climate and energy solutions.

As a Principal Engineer, you will be a technical leader responsible for driving the development of novel systems and technologies from concept through validation. You will play a crucial role in shaping and executing high-impact innovation programs designed to achieve significant improvements in performance, cost, sustainability, and digital capabilities. This includes advancing both near-to-mid-term differentiated solutions and longer-term disruptive innovations that have the potential to redefine system architectures and customer value. You will operate at the intersection of research and product realization, collaborating with cross-functional teams across different COEs, platform organizations, and external partners to mature technologies and define clear transition paths into Carrier’s product and technology roadmaps. Your role will involve translating ambiguity into structured learning, mitigating technical risks, and ensuring that only validated, high-value opportunities advance toward commercialization. This position is ideal for a technically proficient, forward-thinking leader who thrives in an innovation-focused environment, confidently navigates uncertainty, and is passionate about improving lives and shaping the future.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical or Systems Engineering
• 10+ years of experience in thermodynamic cycles, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, or related engineering domains
• 10+ years of experience in HVAC/R industrial applications
• 2 + years of experience serving as principal investigator or project team lead
• 5+ years of experience with technology development process and technology readiness levels (TRLs)
• OR
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical or Systems Engineering
• 7+ years of experience as a Principal Investigator or Project Team Lead on an innovation focused team

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering
• 5 years of experience designing, executing, and analyzing system- and component-level testing for technology validation
• 3 years of experience with physics-based modeling and simulation tools (e.g., CFD, FEA, or system-level modeling)
• Demonstrated project completion/delivery as a project lead
• Experience with technology development process, including NASA/ISO 16290 technology readiness levels (TRLs)
• Experience with system architecture development and multidisciplinary engineering integration
• Experience developing intellectual property, including invention disclosures and patents
• Experience with design of experiments, test rig design, measurement system identification and implementation, instrumentation requirements development, and measurement uncertainty analysis
• Experience in working with universities, consortia, external labs and/or start-ups, coordinating feasibility studies and evaluations through statements of work or joint development agreements
• Demonstrated project completion/delivery as a project lead
• Strong communication and influencing skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders and working with executive levels
• Familiarity with electromechanical systems including heat exchangers, compressors, motors, structural elements, HVAC equipment and applications, or similar systems
• Familiarity with control standards for distributed energy resources
• Familiarity with next generation control strategies such as model predictive control, reinforcement learning, etc.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive the technical vision and development of novel systems and technologies from concept through proof-of-concept and validation
• Lead R&D efforts; exploring new technologies and tools, reviewing patents, journals, and publicly available data to synthesize technical feasibility, and propose strategies for disruptive technologies
• Translate ambiguous problem statements into structured technical approaches, experiments, and learning plans
• Define system architectures, requirements, and key technical tradeoffs for early-stage concepts
• Drive rapid prototyping, modeling, and experimental validation to reduce technical risk
• Identify, evaluate, and mature emerging technologies, including assessing technical feasibility and defining integration paths into future products and value propositions
• Develop IP strategies to enable freedom to operate and protect key innovations
• Lead cross-functional teams across COEs, platform teams, and business units to ensure alignment and enable successful technology maturation and transition
• Partner with external stakeholders, including universities, startups, and industry collaborators, to accelerate innovation
• Identify and lead the development of externally funded research proposals, including government-sponsored programs, aligned with strategic technology priorities, and, if awarded, lead programs through technical execution and delivery
• Communicate progress, risks, and insights to technical and executive leadership
• Mentor and guide engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and accountability
• Must be self-driven and capable of driving development projects autonomously, while gathering feedback from appropriate experts and stakeholders, and implementing continuous improvement processes

Benefits

• Health Care Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision; Wellness incentives
• Retirement Benefits
• Time off and Leave: Paid vacation days, up to 15 days; paid sick days, up to 5 days; paid personal leave, up to 5 days; paid holidays, up to 13 days; birth and adoption leave; parental leave; family and medical leave; bereavement leave; jury duty leave; military leave; purchased vacation
• Disability: Short-term and long-term disability
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Tax-Advantaged Accounts: Health Savings Account; Health Care Spending Account; Dependent Care Spending Account
• Tuition Assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal