Chief Engineer NPD Thermal Modeling

Chief Engineer NPD Thermal Modeling

POSITION PURPOSE The Chief Engineer NPD Thermal Modeling, leads BAC's global thermal modeling and performance engineering capability, serving as both the technical authority and organizational leader for modeling, ratings, and certification in support of New Product Development (NPD). Establishes the enterprise methodology, standards, and tools required to generate accurate, scalable, and efficient performance predictions that enable CTI/Eurovent certification and drive product competitiveness.

Ensures strong integration between modeling, testing, and product design, while representing BAC's technical leadership within industry organizations.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Own and lead BAC's global thermal modeling capability, including models, simulation tools, and performance prediction methodologies for new products
• Develop and govern scalable modeling approaches capable of rapid evaluation across configurations while maintaining CTI-certifiable accuracy
• Establish and govern global thermal ratings methodologies to ensure consistency, accuracy, and scalability across all product platforms
• Define and govern model validation strategy, including test planning, data requirements, and correlation between analytical models, lab testing, and field performance
• Lead team to analyze thermal data and identify trends that drive product performance improvements and model refinement
• Drive development of engineering tools and selection logic that enable both detailed modeling and rapid design tradeoff analysis
• Research, evaluate, and implement emerging modeling technologies to continuously improve capability, accuracy, and execution speed
• Provide COE coordination/guidance to Thermal engineers on other Global & Regional Engineering teams. Oversee development and continuous improvement of selection software logic, performance algorithms, and global toolsets used across engineering and commercial teams
• Lead CTI certification for new products, ensuring compliance, documentation rigor, and alignment with internal modeling methodologies
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with CTI testers and leadership to enable efficient certification and influence testing practices
• Serve as one of BAC's primary representative on CTI committees and technical forums, influencing industry standards and maintaining technical leadership
• Provide system-level technical leadership to NPD teams, ensuring alignment between design intent, modeled performance, and certified outcomes
• Provide modeling-driven insights into product optimization, performance trade-offs, and design decisions across all NPD programs
• Act as the central thermal authority supporting all product platforms, ensuring alignment between modeling, testing, and final product performance

NATURE AND SCOPE The role operates at a global level across product development, testing, and certification. Leads a team of thermal engineers while also serving as a senior technical authority. Drives cross-functional alignment and influences high-impact decisions affecting product performance and certification. Externally recognized as a technical leader and represents BAC within industry organizations. The Global Thermal Engineering team also functions as a Center of Excellence (COE) which provides technical stewardship of the discipline across BAC, including standards and methods, and through a matrix model provides technical leadership and governance, without direct reporting authority, over all similar SME resources that exist in other areas of Global & Regional Engineering.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Aerospace Engineering required;
Master's or Ph.D. in Thermal Sciences or related field preferred 15+ years of experience in thermal systems engineering, heat transfer, or fluid dynamics Deep expertise in thermal ratings development, performance modeling, and engineering tool creation Experience developing and presenting options with tradeoffs to leadership Experience developing or managing selection software, engineering algorithms, or performance prediction tools Strong understanding of thermal certification standards…