Product Development Manager - Packaged Industrial Refrigeration Systems

Position summary:

The Product Development Manager is responsible for leading the technical development, standardization, and release of packaged industrial refrigeration systems, including ammonia and CO₂-based solutions. This role serves as the technical integrator across mechanical, electrical, controls, vessels, and compliance activities, while coordinating closely with manufacturing, suppliers, consultants, and internal stakeholders to bring new packaged refrigeration system product lines from concept through prototype, validation, and product line release.

Key responsibilities:

Product Development & Technical Leadership

• Lead development of packaged industrial refrigeration systems, including prototype units and standardized product lines.
• Drive system-level design coordination across mechanical modules, electrical modules, vessels, condensers, and controls.
• Manage design reviews, track action items, and ensure technical readiness for prototype build and product line release.
• Support transition from prototype designs to repeatable, standardized product architectures.
• Lead laboratory testing and analyze performance data for system capability and operation
• Lead efforts to standardize components and instrumentation across refrigeration product lines.
• Evaluate and recommend components, instrumentation, electrical layouts, and piping strategies for packaged systems.
• Work directly with external suppliers and consultants on vessels, compressors, controls, and fabricated components.
• Review quotes, approve purchase orders, and manage submittal and approval workflows for critical components.
• Coordinate with consultants on structural, vibration, and hazard analyses supporting packaged system designs.

• Provide direct engineering support to manufacturing during prototype production builds.
• Resolve build issues related to drawings, hardware, purchased parts, and assembly sequencing.
• Support installed cost analysis and manufacturability improvements for packaged systems.

• Support compliance with applicable industrial refrigeration codes and standards
  • IIAR, UL, safety and hazard reviews
• Participate in standards discussions affecting packaged refrigeration systems and relay impacts to product development and marketing teams.
• Prepare and maintain hazard review and safety documentation associated with packaged refrigeration equipment.

• Technical liaison between engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing, and field support.
• Provide regular updates to leadership through staff meetings, written updates, and design review documentation.
• Support field issues, customer escalations, and site visits related to system performance.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering minimum
  • Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering desired
• Minimum 8 years’ work experience with proven ability to learn new skills and responsibilities
• Experience with industrial refrigeration equipment, including ammonia and CO₂ systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-discipline engineering efforts (mechanical, electrical, controls, vessels).
• Experience coordinating with suppliers, consultants, and manufacturing teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation and leadership updates.

• Personnel
  • 35 – 40 Team Members
  • Engineers
  • Designers / Drafters
  • Laboratory Technicians
• Product Focus
  • Packaged Industrial Refrigeration Systems
  • Direct Expansion and Recirculated Liquid
  • Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide
• This position will report to the Vice President, Product Development – Industrial Refrigeration

• Communicate professionally & effectively and build consensus across organizational boundaries with conflicting goals, accountabilities, and drivers
• Drive the development process to deliver results in a fast-paced, performance oriented environment
• Manage resources, priorities, budgets and schedules for on time delivery of quality products
• Strong attention to detail, consistent follow through and reliable documentation skills
• Observe and identify changing market needs for developing new product designs
• Excellent…