Sr. Engineer - Building Equipment Research at GTI Energy in Des Plaines, Illinois

Job Description:

GTI Energy is a leading technology development organization. Our trusted team works to scale impactful solutions that shape energy transitions by leveraging gases, liquids, infrastructure, and efficiency. We embrace systems thinking, innovation, and collaboration to develop, scale, and deploy the technologies needed for low-carbon, low-cost energy systems. Fostering a positive and respectful work culture that promotes growth, collaboration, and opportunity, our 18-acre headquarters is home to state-of-the-art labs and facilities where scientists, engineers, program managers, trainers, and other professionals take a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. We are proud of what we do because our work matters. GTI Energy is focused on solving global energy challenges in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We have a proven track record in producing creative and important intellectual property and commercializing solutions to deliver safe, clean, and reliable energy. At GTI Energy, we deliver innovative solutions that transform lives, economies, and the environment. At GTI Energy, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEI&A) is not only an important business priority, but it is also deeply rooted in our culture and values and something we celebrate every day. GTI Energy is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We offer generous benefits, competitive salaries, enticing incentives, career advancement, and the opportunity to work in a professional R&D environment committed to purposeful work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

GTI Energy, the nation’s leading research, development, and training organization serving energy markets, has an opportunity for a Senior Engineer within its Research and Engineering Group in Des Plaines, IL. The qualified candidate will perform R&D functions in collaboration with senior staff in the design and evaluation of advanced heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems for residential and commercial building applications. Additional focus areas include energy-efficient, grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs), microgrids, and energy storage. The work will involve interacting and collaborating with utilities, private industries, government agencies, universities, and national and international laboratories. The candidate for this position is expected to lead and develop multiple projects and establish and expand competency areas.

Why GTI Energy?

GTI Energy offers generous benefits, competitive salaries, career advancement, and the opportunity to work in a professional R&D environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We are proud of what we do because our work matters. GTI Energy is working toward solving global energy challenges in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. We have a proven track record in producing innovative ideas and commercializing solutions to deliver clean and reliable energy. At GTI Energy, we deliver innovative technology solutions for safe, efficient, and responsible energy.

So, what does that mean for you? You will work in a positive and respectful work culture that fosters growth, collaboration, and opportunity. You will be supported by competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits, while enjoying purposeful work that drives improvement of delivering clean energy to the world.

The position will be based in the Chicagoland area at the GTI Energy Headquarters. We offer a hybrid/core work week, where employees are remote Mondays and Fridays, and required to be on-site Tuesday through Thursday.

Primary Responsibilities

• Conducting, coordinating, and reporting complex research assignments related to the design and evaluation of advanced heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems for residential and commercial building applications, including cold climate heat pumps, integrated heat pumps, and thermal energy storage heat pumps.


• Develop in-house system modeling and analyses capabilities for heat pump and thermal energy storage.


• Perform advanced data analysis with commercially available tools such as spreadsheets or Python.


• Prepare technical project documents, test results reports, and research publications to fulfill project obligations.


• Manage analytical and experimental projects, including budgets, schedules, and deliverables, and manage and direct internal and external staff, vendors, contractors, and consultants.


• Support and lead proposal efforts to secure new research, development, and demonstration contract research.


• Travel to participate in field site visits, pilot implementations, conferences, and industry event


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Strong background in heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and energy conversion systems


• Fundamental understanding of system design, analytical modeling, experimental design, instrumentation, and data acquisition.


• Knowledge of how energy conversion systems are installed and operated in the field is desirable.


• Active and recognized participation in professional societies is desirable.


• Programming experience (Engineering Equation Solver, MATLAB, Python, and HPDM) is desirable.


• Individuals who are self-motivated and able to work independently with simple direction.

• A Master of Science in an engineering or scientific field is preferred.


• 7+ years of relevant work experience or an advanced degree in engineering with 5+ years of relevant experience is highly desired, especially in the field of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R), water heating, or appliances.


• Relevant Industry Certifications (Licensed Professional Engineer, etc.) are a plus.


• Experience with instrumentation, data acquisition, and control systems specifications (e.g., National Instruments (NI), Campbell Scientific).


• Prior industry/academic laboratory research experience.


• Experience identifying new technical and/or business areas of activity is a plus.


• Experience in laboratory development testing of energy conversion systems is a plus.


• Familiarity with standard tools (drills and pipe wrenches), plumbing, electrical is a plus.

GTI Energy is committed to developing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment.  If you require any accommodation, please e-mail us at HumanResources@gti.energy and we’ll work with you to meet your accessibility needs. You must have legal authorization to work for GTI Energy on your date of hire with no further action required by GTI Energy. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and give consideration to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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