Thermal Systems Engineer

Job Title

Senior Mechanical Engineer | Thermal Systems Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer – BESS & Modular Systems

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 battery energy storage systems (BESS), modular data center infrastructure, power generation platforms, and industrial energy systems. Our products integrate structural, mechanical, thermal, and electrical systems into highly engineered enclosures operating in demanding real-world environments.

GTI operates in a fast-paced, engineered-to-order manufacturing environment where mechanical engineering decisions directly impact system performance, manufacturability, serviceability, cost, and production scalability.

Position Overview

GTI Energy is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical and thermal system design for enclosed industrial products including BESS platforms, modular data centers, power skids, and integrated energy infrastructure. This role is responsible for designing cooling systems, airflow management strategies, enclosure integration, and mechanical assemblies that perform reliably under real-world operating constraints.

This is not a traditional HVAC or commercial building engineering role. GTI is specifically seeking candidates with experience designing cooling systems for enclosed equipment and industrial systems where space limitations, airflow management, manufacturability, vibration, acoustics, serviceability, and environmental conditions must all be considered simultaneously.

The ideal Senior Mechanical Engineer has experience supporting products such as battery systems, power electronics, generator enclosures, modular data centers, industrial skids, switchgear systems, or other enclosed industrial equipment requiring engineered thermal management solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Thermal System Design & Cooling Integration

• Design and integrate cooling systems for enclosed industrial equipment including BESS systems, modular data centers, power distribution equipment, and power generation platforms
• Size cooling systems based on actual equipment heat loads, thermal rejection requirements, and operating conditions
• Develop airflow strategies inside enclosed systems including ducting, circulation paths, pressure balancing, intake/exhaust placement, and thermal zoning
• Design systems for worst-case ambient conditions, elevated operating loads, and real-world environmental constraints rather than nominal conditions only
• Select and integrate off-the-shelf cooling equipment including HVAC units, heat exchangers, fans, chillers, and thermal management components
  
  

Mechanical System Design & Product Development

• Own mechanical design from concept through production release including enclosure layouts, mounting systems, access requirements, structural interfaces, and equipment integration
• Develop 3D CAD models, assemblies, manufacturing drawings, and BOMs using SolidWorks and related engineering tools
• Design for manufacturability, assembly efficiency, serviceability, and long-term reliability
• Support integration of pumps, piping, cable routing, thermal barriers, and mechanical support systems
• Coordinate packaging constraints involving electrical systems, structural members, airflow, and maintenance access
  
  

Analysis, Validation & Engineering Calculations

• Perform thermal analysis, airflow modeling, and engineering calculations supporting cooling system performance
• Support CFD analysis and interpretation where applicable
• Validate mechanical and thermal performance through testing, prototype evaluation, and field feedback
• Participate in heat runs, system testing, troubleshooting, and performance optimization activities
• Ensure designs meet customer, regulatory, and operational requirements
  
  

Cross-Functional Engineering Collaboration

• Partner with Electrical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, NPI, Quality, and Operations teams throughout product development lifecycle
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing teams to ensure designs align with fabrication, welding, assembly, and integration capabilities
• Support prototype builds, pilot programs, and production launch activities
• Work directly with Supply Chain and vendors on component selection, manufacturability, and technical problem solving
  
  

Design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Production Support

• Drive DFM initiatives focused on reducing complexity, improving repeatability, and supporting scalable production
• Design around manufacturing constraints including weldments, sheet metal fabrication, assembly sequencing, and production tolerances
• Resolve production issues quickly and support continuous product improvement efforts
• Standardize mechanical design approaches, cooling architectures, and reusable engineering solutions where possible
  
  

Continuous Improvement & Technical Leadership

• Support Root Cause Analysis for field issues, thermal failures, or performance deviations
• Contribute to engineering standards, design guides, and best practices across product lines
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership on mechanical and thermal design challenges
• Drive continuous improvement in performance, cost, manufacturability, and reliability
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline
• 6–12 years of experience in mechanical engineering, thermal systems design, or product development within industrial or engineered product environments
• Experience designing cooling systems for enclosed equipment — not commercial building HVAC systems
• Strong experience with thermal management for battery systems, power electronics, industrial skids, generator enclosures, modular data centers, switchgear, or similar products
• Experience sizing cooling systems based on actual equipment heat loads and operational requirements
• Strong understanding of airflow management inside enclosed systems
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar 3D CAD platforms
• Strong knowledge of manufacturability, fabrication methods, and industrial product integration
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting BESS, modular data centers, power systems, or industrial energy infrastructure
• Experience with CFD analysis and thermal modeling tools
• Background in sheet metal, weldments, enclosure design, or industrial packaging
• Experience in contract manufacturing or engineered-to-order product environments
• Familiarity with UL requirements, environmental testing, or industrial compliance standards
• Experience operating in fast-paced, high-growth engineering organizations
  
  

Why GTI Energy

• Opportunity to design real-world infrastructure products supporting the growth of AI, energy storage, and power systems
• High-impact engineering role with direct influence on product architecture and performance
• Collaborative environment combining engineering depth with manufacturing execution
• Exposure to advanced modular systems, thermal engineering challenges, and rapid product development
• Strong career growth opportunities within a rapidly scaling organization