VAVE Engineer

About the RoleWe are seeking a results-driven VAVE Engineer to optimize product costs and enhance competitiveness across our HVAC portfolio. In this role, you will identify, evaluate, and execute value-improvement opportunities across systems and components—ensuring strict adherence to quality, performance, and reliability standards. You will champion continuous improvement by bridging engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing to deliver measurable bottom-line impact.Key ResponsibilitiesTeardowns & Benchmarking: Independently lead product teardowns and competitive benchmarking to identify cost-reduction and design-improvement opportunities.Cost Analysis & Modeling: Build bottom-up cost models encompassing materials, direct labor, overhead, and logistics.Design Optimization: Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Service (DFS) principles to propose and evaluate design alternatives.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with sourcing and quality teams in supplier reviews and cost-reduction workshops.Validation & Testing: Support supplier component qualification and validation testing to verify that proposed changes meet all functional requirements.Project Execution: Manage and track small-scale cost-out projects from concept through implementation, presenting business cases to key stakeholders.Mentorship: Provide guidance and informal mentoring to junior engineers and interns.Qualifications & RequirementsEducation & Experience:Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.2–5 years of professional engineering experience, including at least 1–2 years in product design or manufacturing engineering.Experience in the HVAC or thermal systems industry is strongly preferred.Lean or Six Sigma Green Belt certification is a plus.Technical Competencies:Solid foundation in HVAC systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling (SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo, or similar).Familiarity with PLM systems (Windchill, Teamcenter, Autodesk Vault), Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), and Bill of Materials (BOM) management.Working knowledge of relevant industry standards (ASHRAE, AHRI, UL, DOE).Work Environment & Physical Demands:Office-based with regular cross-functional interaction.Hands-on physical handling of HVAC assemblies and components during teardowns and inspections.Occasional travel to manufacturing sites, test facilities, and supplier locations.