Refrigeration Engineer Jobs
Refrigeration Engineer jobs are open across food and beverage processing, cold chain logistics, commercial HVAC, and industrial manufacturing, with specializations in systems design, commissioning, and service engineering, from entry-level to senior and project lead roles. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 63+ Refrigeration Engineer jobs
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies, or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them.
DESCRIPTION:
Join our engineering team, where you'll help drive innovation in the development of sophisticated scientific instruments and laboratory equipment. As Refrigeration Engineer (ULT), you will design, develop, and sustain cascade refrigeration systems supporting Thermo Fisher’s cold storage and ultra-low temperature (ULT) product portfolio. In this hands-on role, you will collaborate with other refrigeration engineers and technicians to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient, and compliant cooling solutions. You will partner closely with NPD design leadership and cross functional peers in Product Management, Controls Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory to define refrigeration systems, maintain traceability, and ensure products meet customer, performance, and regulatory expectations throughout the product lifecycle.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Refrigeration System Development
- Design and develop cascade vapor-compression systems used in ULT freezers and cold storage platforms.
- Develop specifications for system-level, subsystem and component performance.
- Develop and execute test plans to validate the performance of newly developed refrigeration systems by utilizing design for reliability tools and performance sensitivity analysis.
- Design refrigeration systems that meet customer requirements, time to market commitments and that are within the target cost of the projects.
- Create modular, scalable, and reusable refrigeration solutions across multiple product platforms.
Simulation, Modeling & Innovation
- Analyze the thermal behavior of the refrigeration system with thermo-physical tools for component selection and overall refrigeration system design.
- Complete design trade studies using modeling and empirical data to optimize system performance and energy consumption.
- Participate in advanced development initiatives to mature next-generation refrigeration technologies as assigned.
Product Development & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering teams through all phases of the toll-gate NPD process.
- Partner with manufacturing and operations teams to ensure Design for Assembly and Design for Manufacturing.
- Support products manufactured across multiple global facilities.
- Contribute to component, sub-system, and system-level technology roadmaps.
Requirements, Compliance & Traceability
- Complete verification activity to confirm traceability from customer and regulatory requirements
- Ensure refrigeration designs are Designed for Compliance to meet regulatory and certification requirements (e.g., UL, IEC, FDA, CE, CSA, Energy Star).
People and Culture
- Engage in a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Travel: Up to 10% domestic travel.
REQUIREMENTS:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, systems engineering, chemical engineering, physics, or related discipline
- Coursework in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics strongly preferred
- Master’s degree preferred
Experience
- 5+ years of hands-on experience developing vapor-compression systems for cold storage or HVAC/R products, cascade systems preferred.
- Experience using natural refrigerants and other low GWP refrigerants in system designs.
- Experience with thermal system modeling, simulation, and performance testing
- Experience analyzing empirical test data to guide design decisions
- Familiarity with data acquisition systems, automated testing, and technical documentation
- Familiarity with Lean / PPI methodologies and continuous improvement systems
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Fundamental understanding of vapor-compression and cascade refrigeration systems
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root-cause analysis skills
- Competency in using engineering tools such as EES, thermal modeling software, and refrigerant properties and selection
- Knowledge of refrigeration system testing methods and equipment
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced, multi-project environment
- Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies, or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them.
DESCRIPTION:
Join our engineering team, where you'll help drive innovation in the development of sophisticated scientific instruments and laboratory equipment. As Refrigeration Engineer (ULT), you will design, develop, and sustain cascade refrigeration systems supporting Thermo Fisher’s cold storage and ultra-low temperature (ULT) product portfolio. In this hands-on role, you will collaborate with other refrigeration engineers and technicians to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient, and compliant cooling solutions. You will partner closely with NPD design leadership and cross functional peers in Product Management, Controls Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory to define refrigeration systems, maintain traceability, and ensure products meet customer, performance, and regulatory expectations throughout the product lifecycle.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Refrigeration System Development
- Design and develop cascade vapor-compression systems used in ULT freezers and cold storage platforms.
- Develop specifications for system-level, subsystem and component performance.
- Develop and execute test plans to validate the performance of newly developed refrigeration systems by utilizing design for reliability tools and performance sensitivity analysis.
- Design refrigeration systems that meet customer requirements, time to market commitments and that are within the target cost of the projects.
- Create modular, scalable, and reusable refrigeration solutions across multiple product platforms.
Simulation, Modeling & Innovation
- Analyze the thermal behavior of the refrigeration system with thermo-physical tools for component selection and overall refrigeration system design.
- Complete design trade studies using modeling and empirical data to optimize system performance and energy consumption.
- Participate in advanced development initiatives to mature next-generation refrigeration technologies as assigned.
Product Development & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering teams through all phases of the toll-gate NPD process.
- Partner with manufacturing and operations teams to ensure Design for Assembly and Design for Manufacturing.
- Support products manufactured across multiple global facilities.
- Contribute to component, sub-system, and system-level technology roadmaps.
Requirements, Compliance & Traceability
- Complete verification activity to confirm traceability from customer and regulatory requirements
- Ensure refrigeration designs are Designed for Compliance to meet regulatory and certification requirements (e.g., UL, IEC, FDA, CE, CSA, Energy Star).
People and Culture
- Engage in a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Travel: Up to 10% domestic travel.
REQUIREMENTS:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, systems engineering, chemical engineering, physics, or related discipline
- Coursework in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics strongly preferred
- Master’s degree preferred
Experience
- 5+ years of hands-on experience developing vapor-compression systems for cold storage or HVAC/R products, cascade systems preferred.
- Experience using natural refrigerants and other low GWP refrigerants in system designs.
- Experience with thermal system modeling, simulation, and performance testing
- Experience analyzing empirical test data to guide design decisions
- Familiarity with data acquisition systems, automated testing, and technical documentation
- Familiarity with Lean / PPI methodologies and continuous improvement systems
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Fundamental understanding of vapor-compression and cascade refrigeration systems
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root-cause analysis skills
- Competency in using engineering tools such as EES, thermal modeling software, and refrigerant properties and selection
- Knowledge of refrigeration system testing methods and equipment
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced, multi-project environment
- Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence
See All 63 Refrigeration Engineer Jobs
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Find Refrigeration Engineer JobsRefrigeration Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in refrigeration engineer jobs.
- EPA Section 608 Universal certification for refrigerant handling and recovery
- Experience with ammonia or industrial refrigeration systems in food processing or cold storage
- Proficiency reading P&ID diagrams and refrigeration system schematics
- Knowledge of ASHRAE standards and local mechanical codes for refrigeration
- Ability to diagnose and repair compressors, condensers, evaporators, and control systems
- Associate or bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, HVAC, or a related technical field
Tips for Your Refrigeration Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to refrigeration certifications
List your EPA Section 608 certification type prominently, since employers filter for it immediately. If you hold RETA CIRO or CRES credentials, place them in a dedicated certifications section above your work history, not buried in a skills list.
Quantify refrigeration system scope on your resume
Employers want to know the tonnage, ammonia charge size, or number of compressors you have managed. Replace vague phrases like 'maintained refrigeration systems' with specifics: system capacity, facility type, and whether you worked on low-temperature or medium-temperature applications.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists refrigeration engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target job titles that match your specialty
Job postings use inconsistent titles: refrigeration engineer, industrial refrigeration technician, refrigeration systems engineer, and cold storage engineer often describe similar roles. Search all relevant variants so you don't miss openings that match your background but use a different label.
Prepare for scenario-based technical interviews
Interviewers frequently ask you to walk through a troubleshooting scenario, such as diagnosing high discharge pressure on an ammonia system. Practice explaining your diagnostic logic step by step, naming the instruments you would use and the sequence of checks you would run.
Negotiate relocation and on-call terms, not just base pay
Many refrigeration engineer roles require rotating on-call coverage or project travel to remote food processing or cold storage facilities. Clarify standby pay rates, travel reimbursement policies, and relocation packages before accepting an offer, since these terms vary widely by employer.
Refrigeration Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most refrigeration engineers?
The most active employers for refrigeration engineers right now are LUVE USA - Heat Transfer, Cushing Terrell, and Trane Technologies, and the most openings are in Wisconsin, New York, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Food processing, cold chain logistics, and large commercial HVAC contractors tend to post the highest volume of openings year-round.
How many refrigeration engineer jobs are remote?
About 45% of refrigeration engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, site-based nature of most roles in this field. Remote or hybrid arrangements are most common for design engineers, project managers overseeing multiple facilities, and technical sales or applications engineers who handle system specification work.
How do you become a refrigeration engineer?
Start by completing a technical degree or vocational program in HVAC, mechanical engineering, or refrigeration technology, then earn your EPA Section 608 Universal certification, which is required to handle refrigerants. Gain field experience through apprenticeships or entry-level service roles working on commercial or industrial systems. Pursuing RETA credentials such as CIRO or CRES demonstrates industrial refrigeration competence and significantly strengthens your candidacy for plant-side and food processing roles.
Can you get hired as a refrigeration engineer with little experience?
Yes, entry-level refrigeration engineer roles exist, particularly at commercial HVAC contractors and food retail chains that hire and train technicians internally. Holding your EPA Section 608 certification before applying removes a common barrier and signals readiness to work on live systems. Apprenticeship programs sponsored by mechanical contractors offer structured paid pathways for candidates coming directly from vocational school or a related trade background.
What does the refrigeration engineer interview process look like?
Most employers conduct a phone screen focused on your certifications and system experience, followed by a technical interview where you walk through troubleshooting scenarios or explain how specific refrigeration cycles work. Industrial and food processing employers often include a site visit or practical assessment to evaluate how you read schematics and identify system faults. Final stages typically involve a conversation with a facilities or operations manager covering scheduling, on-call expectations, and project scope.
Where can I find and apply to refrigeration engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to refrigeration engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. The listings cover roles in food processing, cold storage, commercial HVAC, and industrial applications at a range of experience levels. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing.
See All 63 Refrigeration Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Refrigeration Engineer Jobs