Senior Staff Thermal Systems Engineer

Job Summary

Johnson Controls' Data Center Product Architecture team is seeking a Senior Staff Data Center Thermal Systems Engineer for the Advanced Technology & Innovation group. The 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.

About the Role

This position is a technical and business leader with business unit influence. Key responsibilities include driving long-range planning for business unit thermal products, championing thermal technology initiatives across Data Center Solutions, and defining integration standards ensuring modular thermal stack interoperability.

Responsibilities

• Drive long-range planning for business unit thermal products; serve as system architect and global resource for thermal design direction
• Define integration standards across product lines; ensure modular thermal stack interoperability
• Define and coordinate product family specifications; establish business unit thermal standards and design guidelines
• Champion thermal technology initiatives across Data Center Solutions; exhibit business unit influence
• Supervise technical team; lead thermal system architecture efforts
• Strategic communicator representing organization for company-wide thermal initiatives; mentor Principal and Staff Engineers globally

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
• 14+ years experience with multiple released thermal products/systems and recognized throughout division and/or industry
• Chiller industry experience, or large industrial HVAC industry experience
• System architect for data center thermal solutions
• Recognized expert across thermal, controls, electrical, and mechanical domains
• 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

Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Software/Simulation experience (Python scripting and environment management, CFD, FEA, 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)

Skills

Preferred skills include software/simulation experience, CFD, FEA, MATLAB/Simulink, controls fundamentals, electrical systems basics, refrigeration system design, and data center cooling architectures.

Benefits

N/A

Pay

N/A

Schedule

N/A