Product Design Engineer – Refrigeration

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Full Time Engineering Batavia, IL, US

10 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

We are seeking an experienced Product Design Engineer with expertise in commercial refrigeration systems to lead the design, development, testing, and continuous improvement of refrigerated food service equipment. This role is responsible for creating innovative, reliable, and cost-effective products while ensuring compliance with industry regulations and delivering exceptional performance for customers.

The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical design skills with refrigeration system expertise and has experience taking products from concept through production.

• Design and develop commercial refrigeration equipment and refrigeration systems from concept through production.
• Create 3D CAD models, detailed engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and product documentation.
• Design refrigeration circuits including compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion device, refrigerant piping, and controls.
• Evaluate and select refrigeration components to optimize performance, energy efficiency, reliability, and cost.
• Perform engineering calculations related to heat transfer, airflow, refrigeration capacity, pressure drop, and thermal performance.
• Develop prototypes and oversee product testing, validation, and qualification.
• Troubleshoot design, manufacturing, and field performance issues and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, Product Management, and Service teams to ensure successful product launches.
• Drive value engineering initiatives to reduce product cost while maintaining quality and performance.
• Ensure products comply with applicable safety and regulatory standards including UL, NSF, DOE, EPA, ENERGY STAR®, and applicable refrigerant regulations.
• Participate in Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), design reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with suppliers on component development, qualification, and cost reduction opportunities.
• Support technical documentation including installation manuals, service manuals, and engineering change orders (ECOs).

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of product design experience with commercial refrigeration systems.
• Strong understanding of refrigeration cycles, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and HVAC/R principles.
• Experience designing products utilizing low-GWP refrigerants such as R-290, R-600a, or CO₂ systems is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with Solid Works or similar 3D CAD software.
• Experience with PDM/PLM systems and Engineering Change Management processes.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes including sheet metal fabrication, welding, insulation, assembly, and production design.
• Working knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements and product certifications.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional communication skills.

• Experience in commercial food service equipment manufacturing.
• Knowledge of refrigeration controls, electronic controllers, and IoT-connected equipment.
• Experience with laboratory testing, data acquisition, and product validation.
• Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or Design for Manufacturability (DFM) experience.
• Familiarity with finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a plus.
• Mechanical Design
• Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Customer Focus
• Cost Reduction
• Attention to Detail

• Deliver innovative products that meet performance, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Improve product reliability and energy efficiency.
• Reduce warranty claims through robust engineering design.
• Successfully launch new products on time and within budget.
• Drive continuous product improvements based on Voice of Customer feedback and field performance.

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