Manager, Research & Development (onsite)

About the role

As the Manager of the Stack Forging Thermal Solutions Research & Development team at Johnson Controls, you will be responsible for leading the team that develops new & innovative thermal management solutions. You will collaborate across the organization to contribute to a long-term thermal strategy grounded in commercial needs, the competitive landscape, and other internal technology roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Define research projects and report on them to leadership; take responsibility for leading a team to generate new, valuable ideas aligned with strategic priorities.
• Work with leadership to blend first-principles analysis, experimental results, simulation, and techno-economic analysis to create a clear and compelling vision for the outcome of your team’s work.
• Develop new thermal-fluid technologies: Run structured R&D efforts both as an individual contributor and team leader. Manage technical risk to ensure that impactful technologies can quickly be spun out of your team’s research efforts.
• Lead and Mentor: Hire, lead, and manage a lean and focused R&D team. Act as a source of technical excellence, acting as a subject matter expert and mentor on a range of technical topics.
• Manage projects: Oversee the advanced technology development life cycle, from initial justification and scoping through technology transfer. Ensure that everyone on the team is working on the best idea, not just their favorite idea.

Requirements

• Required Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• 8+ years of industry experience
• 3+ years of leadership experience with the ability to lead technical teams
• Expertise in thermal management and liquid cooling, preferably with experience in data centers or high-performance computing
• US Citizen and/or Permanent Resident

Qualifications

• Ability to align technical development with strategic business priorities
• A background in customer-facing roles, such as a Solutions Engineer, Technical Fellow, or Applications Engineer
• Experience in manufacturing and emerging technology settings
• Expertise in design for manufacturability (DFM) principles, especially related to metal components or thermal systems
• Familiarity with thermal simulation software (e.g., CFD) and analytical modeling

Skills

• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Experience with project management tools and methodologies

Benefits

This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply.

Pay

Hiring Salary Range: $140,000 - $200,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)

Schedule

The position is based onsite at our facility in Burlington, MA. Candidates must be commuting distance to the facility, or able to relocate. Various relocation packages are available.