Senior Refrigeration Engineer
Thermo Fisher
Summary
Join our engineering team, where you'll help drive innovation in the development of sophisticated scientific instruments and laboratory equipment. As Refrigeration Engineer (ULT), you will design, develop, and sustain cascade refrigeration systems supporting Thermo Fisher's cold storage and ultra-low temperature (ULT) product portfolio. In this hands-on role, you will collaborate with other refrigeration engineers and technicians to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient, and compliant cooling solutions. You will partner closely with NPD design leadership and cross functional peers in Product Management, Controls Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory to define refrigeration systems, maintain traceability, and ensure products meet customer, performance, and regulatory expectations throughout the product lifecycle.
Job description
Refrigeration System Development
- Design and develop cascade vapor-compression systems used in ULT freezers and cold storage platforms.
- Develop specifications for system-level, subsystem and component performance.
- Develop and execute test plans to validate the performance of newly developed refrigeration systems by utilizing design for reliability tools and performance sensitivity analysis.
- Design refrigeration systems that meet customer requirements, time to market commitments and that are within the target cost of the projects.
- Create modular, scalable, and reusable refrigeration solutions across multiple product platforms.
Simulation, Modeling & Innovation
- Analyze the thermal behavior of the refrigeration system with thermo-physical tools for component selection and overall refrigeration system design.
- Complete design trade studies using modeling and empirical data to optimize system performance and energy consumption.
- Participate in advanced development initiatives to mature next-generation refrigeration technologies as assigned.
Product Development & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering teams through all phases of the toll-gate NPD process.
- Partner with manufacturing and operations teams to ensure Design for Assembly and Design for Manufacturing.
- Support products manufactured across multiple global facilities.
- Contribute to component, sub-system, and system-level technology roadmaps.
Requirements, Compliance & Traceability
- Complete verification activity to confirm traceability from customer and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure refrigeration designs are Designed for Compliance to meet regulatory and certification requirements (e.g., UL, IEC, FDA, CE, CSA, Energy Star).
People and Culture
- Engage in a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Travel: Up to 10% domestic travel.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, systems engineering, chemical engineering, physics, or related discipline
- Coursework in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics strongly preferred
- Master's degree preferred
- 5+ years of hands-on experience developing vapor-compression systems for cold storage or HVAC/R products, cascade systems preferred
- Experience using natural refrigerants and other low GWP refrigerants in system designs
- Experience with thermal system modeling, simulation, and performance testing
- Experience analyzing empirical test data to guide design decisions
- Familiarity with data acquisition systems, automated testing, and technical documentation
- Familiarity with Lean / PPI methodologies and continuous improvement systems
- Fundamental understanding of vapor-compression and cascade refrigeration systems
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root-cause analysis skills
- Competency in using engineering tools such as EES, thermal modeling software, and refrigerant properties and selection
- Knowledge of refrigeration system testing methods and equipment
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced, multi-project environment
- Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence
Company overview
Thermo Fisher Scientific is a global leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software, and services for research, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics. Their mission is to enable customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer by accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies, and increasing laboratory productivity. Thermo Fisher serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions, and government agencies worldwide. The company operates through four business segments: Life Sciences Solutions, Analytical Instruments, Specialty Diagnostics, and Laboratory Products and Services.