Senior Mechanical Engineer - HVAC
2 days ago
Buffalo
Job Description Job Title Senior Mechanical Engineer | HVAC Mechanical Engineer | Thermal Systems Engineer – Modular Infrastructure Location Phoenix, AZ or Buffalo, NY Department Engineering Employment Type Full-Time | Exempt Company Overview GTI Energy, a division of GTI Fabrication, designs, engineers, and manufactures complex modular systems supporting modular data center infrastructure, battery energy storage systems (BESS), power generation platforms, and industrial energy systems. Our products integrate structural, mechanical, thermal, and electrical systems into highly engineered modular platforms operating in demanding real-world environments. GTI operates in a fast-paced, engineered-to-order manufacturing environment where HVAC system performance, thermal reliability, airflow management, and manufacturability are critical to successful product execution. Our modular infrastructure products must operate safely and reliably across extreme ambient environments, variable load conditions, and mission-critical uptime requirements. Position Overview GTI Energy is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer with strong HVAC and thermal systems expertise to lead cooling system design and thermal integration across modular data centers, power systems, and industrial enclosure platforms. This role focuses on HVAC system architecture, equipment selection, airflow management, heat rejection, and integration of packaged cooling systems into highly constrained modular environments. This is not a traditional commercial building HVAC role focused solely on office buildings or facility infrastructure. GTI is specifically seeking engineers who understand how to design HVAC and cooling systems for enclosed equipment, modular systems, industrial infrastructure, and mission-critical applications where space constraints, manufacturability, vibration, acoustics, serviceability, and thermal performance must all be considered simultaneously. The ideal candidate has experience supporting modular data centers, telecom shelters, BESS systems, generator enclosures, industrial skids, electrical equipment rooms, or other enclosed industrial infrastructure requiring engineered thermal management solutions. Key Responsibilities HVAC System Design & Cooling Integration • Design and integrate HVAC and cooling systems for modular data centers, BESS enclosures, power systems, and industrial equipment platforms, • Size cooling systems based on actual equipment heat loads, environmental conditions, and operational requirements, • Develop airflow management strategies including supply/return air routing, intake/exhaust placement, ducting, plenum design, and thermal zoning, • Design systems for worst-case ambient conditions and full operational loading scenarios, • Select and integrate packaged HVAC equipment, CRAC/CRAH systems, DX units, chillers, heat exchangers, fans, ventilation systems, and thermal management components, • Own HVAC and thermal integration within modular enclosure designs and constrained equipment layouts, • Coordinate cooling system packaging with structural, electrical, and manufacturing constraints, • Develop 3D CAD models, layouts, mechanical assemblies, and engineering drawings using SolidWorks or similar platforms, • Design systems with strong focus on manufacturability, serviceability, maintenance access, and field installation efficiency, • Perform thermal calculations, airflow analysis, psychrometric evaluations, and cooling load assessments, • Support CFD analysis and airflow validation activities where applicable, • Evaluate system performance across varying environmental and operational conditions, • Participate in prototype validation, heat runs, thermal testing, and troubleshooting activities, • Partner closely with Electrical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, NPI, Quality, and Operations teams, • Work with manufacturing teams to ensure HVAC systems align with fabrication, assembly, and installation capabilities, • Support supplier selection, technical evaluations, and equipment integration activities, • Drive DFM initiatives focused on scalable HVAC integration and modular production efficiency, • Standardize thermal system architectures and reusable cooling design strategies where possible, • Reduce installation complexity and improve serviceability across product platforms, • Contribute to HVAC design standards, engineering best practices, and thermal management guidelines, • Mentor junior engineers and support development of internal thermal engineering capability, • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline, • 6–12+ years of experience in HVAC system design, thermal systems engineering, or mechanical product development, • Experience designing HVAC and cooling systems for enclosed industrial systems or modular infrastructure products, • Strong understanding of cooling load calculations, airflow management, and thermal system integration, • Experience selecting and integrating packaged HVAC and thermal management equipment, • Strong knowledge of psychrometrics, heat transfer, airflow balancing, and thermal performance principles, • Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD platforms, • Experience supporting modular data centers, telecom shelters, BESS systems, or industrial power infrastructure, • Experience with CFD analysis, thermal modeling, or airflow simulation tool, • Familiarity with ASHRAE standards, UL requirements, and environmental testing standards, • Background in sheet metal, enclosure design, ducting systems, or industrial packaging, • Experience in contract manufacturing or engineered-to-order product environments, • Opportunity to design mission-critical cooling systems supporting AI infrastructure, energy storage, and power generation markets, • High-impact engineering role with direct influence on product architecture and system reliability, • Collaborative environment combining engineering depth with real-world manufacturing execution, • Exposure to advanced modular infrastructure products and complex thermal integration challenges, • Strong career growth opportunities within one of the fastest-growing manufacturers in the United States