Principal Systems Engineer

Carrier•Syracuse, NY

7d•$117,500 - $234,500•Onsite

About The Position

Carrier Global Corporation, a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is committed to creating innovations that bring comfort, safety, and sustainability to life. Through cutting-edge advancements in climate solutions such as temperature control, air quality, and transportation, we improve lives, empower critical industries, and ensure the safe transport of food, lifesaving medicines, and more. Since inventing modern air conditioning in 1902, we lead with purpose: enhancing the lives we live and the world we share. We continue to lead because of our world-class, inclusive workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. The Innovation COE is looking for talented and motivated principal investigators, systems engineers, and researchers who will be a part of Carrier’s Innovation center of excellence, to enable the development of innovative and novel intelligent Climate and Energy technologies in HVAC&R (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration) applications. Innovation COE Americas is in Syracuse, which is the North American center for Carrier’s product design and development, as well as groundbreaking innovative research. We ideate, design, verify, and validate new products and technologies across Carrier’s global portfolio, supporting Carrier’s goal to be the global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions. As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader driving the development of novel systems and technologies from concept through validation. You will play a key role in shaping and executing high-impact innovation programs that enable step-change improvements in performance, cost, sustainability, and digital capabilities. This includes advancing both near-to-mid-term differentiated solutions and longer-term disruptive innovations that may redefine system architectures and customer value. You will work 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 require translating ambiguity into structured learning, reducing technical risk, and ensuring that only validated, high-value opportunities progress toward commercialization. This position is ideal for a technically deep, forward-thinking leader who thrives in an innovation environment, navigates uncertainty with confidence, and is passionate about enhancing lives and shaping the world we share.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering with 7+ years of hands-on engineering experience, or PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering with 5+ years of hands-on engineering experience
3+ years of experience in thermodynamic cycles, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, or related engineering domains
3+ years of experience with physics-based modeling and simulation tools (e.g., CFD, FEA, or system-level modeling)
3+ years of experience designing, executing, and analyzing system- and component-level testing for technology validation
2+ years of experience serving as principal investigator or project team lead

Nice To Haves

PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering
5 years of experience in HVAC&R or related industrial applications
Demonstrated project completion/delivery as a project lead
Familiarity with technology development process and technology readiness levels (TRLs)
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 energy storage systems, electrical or others
Familiarity with electrical systems, high voltage systems, both AC and/or DC
Familiarity with embedded and/or cloud software development
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; explore new technologies and tools, review 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