Benchmarking HVAC Engineer (Automotive Only)

Position Title: Automotive Benchmarking Engineer – HVAC Systems & Components
Location: Remote (with required travel for vehicle teardowns, supplier visits, and testing facilities)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Automotive Benchmarking Engineer specializing in HVAC Systems and Components to drive vehicle teardown analysis, competitor technical evaluation, and Vehicle Quality/Validation (VO) activities. In this role, you will analyze competitor HVAC architecture (compressors, HVAC modules, blowers, heat exchangers, expansion valves, ducting, and thermal management systems) to evaluate design efficiency, cost reduction opportunities, weight optimization, and overall vehicle thermal performance. You will collaborate remotely with cross-functional global engineering teams while conducting hands-on teardowns and validation tests on-site as required.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Benchmarking & System Analysis
Perform complete vehicle teardowns and technical benchmarking of competitor HVAC systems and thermal management components across ICE, HEV, and BEV platforms.
Map and evaluate HVAC system architectures, packaging layouts, airflow dynamics, and thermal efficiency.
Analyze component designs (e.g., HVAC units, compressors, heat exchangers, valves, sensors) for weight, cost, manufacturing feasibility, and material usage.
Perform reverse engineering and functional evaluations to identify industry best practices, innovations, and cost/design optimization opportunities.
Deliver structured benchmarking reports, trade-off matrixes, and executive presentations to cross-functional engineering and design teams.
Vehicle Operations (VO) & Physical Validation
Lead VO (Vehicle Operations / Validation) benchmarking initiatives, including pre- and post-test physical evaluations on prototype and competitor vehicles.
Coordinate vehicle instrumentation and physical data acquisition (temperature, pressure, airflow, noise/vibration) during physical testing phases.
Inspect physical component wear, assembly methods, fit-and-finish, and thermal isolation strategy during vehicle evaluation.
Collaborate with assembly plants and prototype builds to ensure seamless integration and lesson-learned implementation into next-generation vehicle programs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategy
Work alongside Thermal Management, CAD, Cost Engineering, Procurement, and Quality teams to translate benchmarking findings into actionable design requirements.
Support design reviews and trade-off decisions between performance, package, weight, and system cost.
Maintain an up-to-date competitive intelligence database for thermal/HVAC technologies, including heat pump advancements and refrigerant transitions (R1234yf, R290, CO2).
Qualifications & Requirements
Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Experience: Minimum of 3–5+ years of hands-on engineering experience in automotive HVAC component design, thermal systems, or physical vehicle benchmarking.
HVAC Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of automotive HVAC system fundamentals, refrigeration cycles, air distribution systems, cabin climate control, and thermal management components.
Teardown & VO Experience: Proven experience in vehicle teardown procedures, component inspection, physical instrumentation, and vehicle validation (VO) workflows.
Remote Work Capability: Demonstrated ability to manage deliverables, technical documentation, and cross-functional meetings independently in a remote environment.
Travel Availability: Willingness and ability to travel (up to 20–30%) for benchmarking physical teardowns, testing facility runs, and prototype vehicle reviews.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Electric Vehicle (EV) thermal management systems, including heat pumps, coolant loops, battery thermal integration, and electric compressors.
Familiarity with benchmarking teardown tools, CAD visualization (e.g., CATIA V5/V6 or Siemens NX), and DFMEA / DVP&R frameworks.
Knowledge of automotive cost-engineering methodologies (Design for Manufacturing/Assembly - DFM/DFA).
Experience writing technical standard operating procedures and competitive landscape synthesis reports.

Work arrangement
Yes