Trane Commercial Systems is seeking a Lead Refrigeration Systems Engineer onsite in La Crosse, WI to oversee equipment design and component integration for Trane Commercial Water-to-Water product lines. The role combines system performance modeling, design leadership, validation execution, and cross-team collaboration to drive quality and reliability outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and innovate HVAC refrigeration systems to meet performance standards, sustainability targets, regulatory requirements, quality goals, and cost targets.
- Lead major system development projects aligned with the company gate review process, including planning and coordinating engineering assignments, creating schedules, reporting status to leadership, and driving milestone completion.
- Develop and execute computer models to simulate and predict unit performance.
- Use modeling tools and techniques to analyze system issues and support root cause identification.
- Collaborate with modeling and simulation specialists, as needed, to develop new tools.
- Lead design reviews using processes including FMEA, DFMEA, DVP&R, and Risk Analysis.
- Create mechanical designs for systems and subsystems based on chiller and heat pump architecture, ensuring agency, code, structural, and serviceability requirements are met.
- Incorporate Design For Manufacturing (DFM) features to support efficient factory build execution.
- Develop laboratory test plans, conduct testing, analyze test data, and interpret results to execute design updates. Apply Six Sigma tools, statistical analysis techniques, and Design for Reliability principles.
- Evaluate complex advanced engineering tasks independently as an expert with minimal supervision.
- Act as a subject matter expert to improve existing systems and engineering processes.
- Partner with product teams to achieve shared objectives and provide technical guidance and leadership to less experienced professionals or technicians.
- Develop and document HVAC system level modes, sequence of operations, and system level control requirements.
- Provide technical support in pursuit of Trane business, including participation on strategic job acquisition teams.
- Develop and/or update Trane purchased part Engineering Specifications.
- Support field and factory system problem resolution, define qualification testing activities, and guide appropriate component choices using industry best practices.
- Drive short term resiliency challenges aimed at reducing product portfolio risk.
- Meet internal and external customer needs by documenting, reviewing, and prioritizing customer requirements.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (or a directly related discipline) and 10+ years of engineering work experience.
- Mechanical Engineering is preferred.
- HVAC engineering background in chilled and heating water systems.
- Experience with product design, bill of materials, engineering specifications, and product manufacturing.
- Understanding of HVAC system functions including refrigeration, heat transfer, airflow, and ventilation.
- Experience with key HVAC components such as coils, compressors, motors, and fans.
- Experience launching products meeting UL, CSA, or CE agency standards.
- Understanding of statistics as applied to product reliability.
- Ability to apply heat transfer and fluid flow concepts to real-world problem solving.
- Skills in efficiently understanding, condensing, and organizing technical information to support engineering decisions, with experience being coached and mentored by Senior employees.
- Technically creative while maintaining real-world feasibility; ability to perform thorough and objective analysis.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams, influence others, and transfer knowledge across groups.
- Professional demeanor when interacting with customers and engagement with professional societies.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate supplier capabilities.
- Good verbal communication and technical writing/documentation skills.
- Self-starter with a high commitment to career development and willingness to learn and develop new skills.
- Good stand-up skills in front of customers and the field sales force.
- Design or application experience with HVAC products, thermodynamic computations, pressure vessel design, compressor, motor, controls, or heat transfer technologies and understanding of Data & Analytics; programming knowledge is a plus.
Compensation and Work Location
Location: La Crosse, WI (onsite)
Annual Base Salary Range: USD 123,721 - 173,004 per yearly
Compensation Type: Salary
Incentive Eligible: Yes
Sales Commission Eligible: No
Schedule and Travel
- Monday to Thursday: Work onsite with colleagues.
- Friday: Choose work location, balancing what the role requires.
- Travel Requirements: Ability to travel domestically and abroad up to two weeks at a time; expected travel time approximately 10%.
- Ability to attain necessary visas for travel when applicable.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role interacts with multiple engineering functions to support product design and integration, including Compressor Engineering, Thermal Systems, Controls, Electrical, and Manufacturing.
- Collaborate closely with Chiller Engineering teams in La Crosse, WI and Pueblo, CO.
- Work with support organizations located in Shanghai, China and Bangalore, India.
Benefits
- Health insurance and holistic wellness programs
- Fertility coverage
- Adoption/surrogacy assistance
- Paid time off (up to 15 vacation days)
- Paid holidays
- Sick leave
- Additional options to support volunteer and parental leave
- 401K match
- Educational and training opportunities through company programs
- Tuition assistance
- Student debt support
- Benefits kick in on DAY ONE for you and your family
Safety Screening
- Safety Sensitive Role: No
- Note: Safety Sensitive roles may require additional drug screening.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (or a directly related discipline).
