Staff Data Center Thermal Systems Engineer
About The Position
Johnson Controls’ Data Center Product Architecture team is seeking a Staff Data Center Thermal Systems Engineer for the Advanced Technology & Innovation group. You will serve as the department or product line technical leader for data center thermal solutions. This role drives long-range planning for thermal product families and systems, owns product family thermal architecture, and defines integration architecture ensuring platform compatibility. You’ll be considered a system-level expert across thermal product families with acknowledged expertise in multiple technical disciplines. This position is based onsite, minimum 3 days per week, at our Advanced Technology and Innovation Center located in New Freedom, PA. Candidates must be commuting distance to the facility or able to relocate.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
- 10+ years experience with multiple released thermal products/systems
- Chiller industry experience, or large industrial HVAC industry experience
- System-level expertise across thermal product families
- Expert in multiple technical domains (thermal, controls, electrical, mechanical)
- Microsoft 365/Excel (including basic macros/VBA for data analysis and reporting)
- CAD proficiency (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent)
- Engineering calculations and documentation (MathCAD, EES, or equivalent)
- Heat transfer analysis (conduction, convection, two-phase)
- Strong cross-domain knowledge across thermal, controls, electrical systems—generalists with 80% mastery across domains highly valued
- Thermodynamic cycle analysis
- Fluid mechanics and hydraulic system design
- Thermal system component sizing and selection
- Prototype fabrication and hands-on testing
- Cross-functional project execution
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree
- Software/Simulation experience
- Python scripting and environment management (package installation, virtual environments, basic automation)
- CFD (ANSYS Fluent, Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or equivalent)
- FEA (ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, or equivalent)
- MATLAB/Simulink for system modeling and controls
- Controls fundamentals (feedback loops, PID tuning, system response)
- Electrical systems basics (motor sizing, VFDs, power distribution)
- Refrigeration system design and refrigerant properties
- Data center cooling architectures (direct liquid cooling, rear-door heat exchangers, CDUs)
- Expert in one or more thermal domains (CDU, chiller, dry cooler, cold plate systems)
Responsibilities
- Lead long-range planning for thermal product families and systems; serve as thermal system architect
- Own product family thermal architecture; define integration architecture ensuring platform compatibility
- Define and coordinate specifications for product families; establish thermal performance standards
- Influence improvements to thermal system development processes across the organization
- Supervise technical team of 2-5 engineers plus technicians; lead multi-domain thermal integration efforts
- Strategic communicator representing thermal organization in planning; mentor Senior and Principal Engineers
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
