VAVE Engineer
About the Role
We are seeking a results-driven VAVE Engineer to optimize product costs and enhance competitiveness across our HVAC portfolio. In this role, you will identify, evaluate, and execute value-improvement opportunities across systems and components—ensuring strict adherence to quality, performance, and reliability standards. You will champion continuous improvement by bridging engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing to deliver measurable bottom-line impact.
Key Responsibilities
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Teardowns & Benchmarking: Independently lead product teardowns and competitive benchmarking to identify cost-reduction and design-improvement opportunities.
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Cost Analysis & Modeling: Build bottom-up cost models encompassing materials, direct labor, overhead, and logistics.
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Design Optimization: Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Service (DFS) principles to propose and evaluate design alternatives.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with sourcing and quality teams in supplier reviews and cost-reduction workshops.
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Validation & Testing: Support supplier component qualification and validation testing to verify that proposed changes meet all functional requirements.
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Project Execution: Manage and track small-scale cost-out projects from concept through implementation, presenting business cases to key stakeholders.
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Mentorship: Provide guidance and informal mentoring to junior engineers and interns.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Experience:
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Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
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2–5 years of professional engineering experience, including at least 1–2 years in product design or manufacturing engineering.
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Experience in the HVAC or thermal systems industry is strongly preferred.
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Lean or Six Sigma Green Belt certification is a plus.
Technical Competencies:
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Solid foundation in HVAC systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
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Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling (SolidWorks, Inventor, Creo, or similar).
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Familiarity with PLM systems (Windchill, Teamcenter, Autodesk Vault), Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), and Bill of Materials (BOM) management.
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Working knowledge of relevant industry standards (ASHRAE, AHRI, UL, DOE).
Work Environment & Physical Demands:
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Office-based with regular cross-functional interaction.
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Hands-on physical handling of HVAC assemblies and components during teardowns and inspections.
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Occasional travel to manufacturing sites, test facilities, and supplier locations.