Staff Data Center Thermal Systems Engineer

What You Will Do 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.

How You Will Do It 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

Required What you will need 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

Preferred 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)