Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

As a global pioneer in oil-free centrifugal chiller technology with an expanding portfolio of thermal management solutions, Smardt is dedicated to delivering high-efficiency and energy-saving systems for industries, real estate developments, health care and educational centers worldwide. We operate manufacturing facilities in the US, Canada, Germany, China, and Australia, with a team of over 900 employees. With a focus on reliability, performance, and environmental stewardship, Smardt continues to redefine industry standards through advanced engineering and a commitment to a more sustainable future.

What We're Looking For:

The Lead Mechanical Design Engineer
will lead the mechanical design, engineering execution, and technical alignment of custom and standard equipment, working closely with North American stakeholders and Smardt's parent company, TICA.

This role combines hands-on product design, cross-functional engineering leadership, and global collaboration, with a clear path to building and leading a regional design engineering team. The successful candidate will act as the technical bridge between North America and TICA engineering/manufacturing teams, ensuring designs are optimized for performance, manufacturability, cost, and compliance with regional standards.

What You'll Do:

Product Design and Engineering Leadership

• Lead the mechanical design and manufacturing of HVAC products for the North American market.
• Translate customer requirements, project specifications, and sales concepts into robust, manufacturable engineering designs.
• Own airflow, thermal performance, and mechanical system design, ensuring alignment with project and product performance targets
• Develop and maintain design standards, best practices, and modular product architectures to enable scalability and repeatability.

Global Collaboration & Technical Alignment

• Act as the primary technical interface with TICA engineering teams in China, ensuring alignment on design intent, capabilities, and manufacturing constraints.

• Coordinate across time zones and cultures to drive efficient design reviews, issue resolution, and product localization.

• Support technology transfer and product adaptation between global platforms and North American requirements.

• Navigate and reconcile differences in engineering approaches, standards, and expectations between regions.

Engineering Execution & Project Delivery

• Lead technical review of project specifications, consultant drawings, and customer requirements.

• Identify risks, gaps, and compliance issues early in the project lifecycle.

• Ensure timely and accurate release of engineering documentation, BOMs, and production packages.

• Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure designs are buildable, cost-effective, and aligned with production capabilities.

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure designs comply with AHRI, ASHRAE, UL/ETL, ASTM, seismic, wind load, and regional energy efficiency standards.

• Define and support certification strategies and regulatory compliance for North American markets.

• Stay current on evolving HVAC regulations and integrate them into product design proactively.

Continuous Improvement & Product Strategy

• Drive design optimization, cost reduction, and standardization initiatives.

• Contribute to the long-term product roadmap for Smardt Air AHUs in North America.

• Implement structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D) to resolve design and production issues.

What You'll Bring:

Experience:

• 10+ years of mechanical design engineering experience Experience working with global engineering/manufacturing teams strongly preferred
• Prior leadership or mentoring experience is an asset (formal or informal)
• 5+ years in HVAC systems, preferably AHUs or refrigeration

Education/

Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• P.Eng (or eligibility) preferred

Technical

Skills:

• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD tools (Autodesk Inventor preferred; Solid Works experience an asset) Deep understanding of:
  Airflow and thermal analysis Familiarity with design for manufacturability (DFM) and modular product design
• BOM development and product configuration
• HVAC system design and component selection
• Expe…