Manager, Refrigeration Engineering

Manager, Refrigeration Engineering (ULT)

Join our Refrigeration Engineering team and contribute to innovation that enables customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. As Manager, Refrigeration Engineering (ULT), you will lead the design, development, and sustainment of cascade refrigeration systems supporting Thermo Fisher's cold storage and ultra-low temperature (ULT) product portfolio.

In this hands-on leadership role, you will guide a team of refrigeration engineers and technicians to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient, and compliant cooling solutions. You will partner closely with Product Management, Controls Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory teams to define refrigeration system and control requirements, maintain traceability, and ensure products meet customer, performance, and regulatory expectations throughout the product lifecycle.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Refrigeration System & Technical Leadership

• Lead and manage a global refrigeration engineering organization responsible for cascade vapor-compression systems used in ULT freezers and cold storage platforms.
• Own refrigeration system architecture and strategy aligned with product roadmaps and platform reuse initiatives.
• Provide technical oversight for sealed-system design, including compressors, heat exchangers, refrigerants, controls interfaces, and safety devices.
• Drive modular, scalable, and reusable refrigeration solutions across multiple product platforms.

Simulation, Modeling & Innovation

• Lead the use of thermal modeling, system simulation, and analytical tools to predict performance, efficiency, and reliability.
• Guide design trade studies using modeling and empirical data to optimize system performance and energy consumption.
• Champion advanced development initiatives to mature next-generation refrigeration technologies and support intellectual property creation.

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 robust design transfer and global production readiness.
• Support products manufactured across multiple global facilities.
• Contribute to component, sub-system, and system-level technology roadmaps.

Requirements, Compliance & Traceability

• Partner with Product Management, Controls Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory to develop and maintain refrigeration and control requirements.
• Ensure traceability from customer and regulatory requirements through verification and validation evidence.
• Ensure refrigeration designs meet applicable regulatory and certification requirements (e.g., UL, IEC, FDA, CE, CSA, Energy Star).
• Drive standardization of system-level specifications, test plans, and validation methods.

People, Program & Financial Leadership

• Develop budgets, resource plans, and schedules in partnership with NPD project managers and leadership.
• Balance internal resources, global engineering contractors, and third-party support.
• Coach, mentor, and develop engineers and technicians to build technical capability and leadership depth.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Travel: Up to 10% domestic travel.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education

• 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

Experience

• 5+ years of experience leading teams in the design and evaluation of refrigeration or thermal systems
• 3+ 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 supporting regulated products (e.g., UL 61010, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, FDA, CE, CSA, Energy Star)
• 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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong foundation in vapor-compression and cascade refrigeration systems
• Expertise in thermal modeling, simulation, and performance optimization
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root-cause analysis skills
• Experience using engineering tools such as EES, thermal modeling software, and Microsoft Office
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business decisions
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced, multi-project environment
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence