Scientific Systems, LLC is a trusted global leader in designing and manufacturing high-quality, custom-built industrial climate control, dehumidification, and liquid chilling systems tailored for severe-duty and harsh environments. We take pride in exceeding client expectations across industrial, commercial, and military applications while fostering a team-oriented environment where employees thrive and grow. We are currently seeking a skilled Mechanical Engineer to join our engineering team at our Baton Rouge, LA headquarters.
Job Summary As part of the Scientific Systems Engineering Department, the Mechanical Engineer III leads the mechanical design, thermal analysis, and structural layout for custom industrial HVAC and refrigeration packages with minimal supervision. This role heavily emphasizes equipment design for Hazardous Locations (HAZLOC). You will be responsible for heat load calculations, component selection (compressors, coils, fans), structural enclosure design, and ensuring strict compliance with explosion-proof and severe-duty environmental standards.
Key Functions & Responsibilities
HVAC Design & Thermal Analysis
- System Design: Lead the mechanical engineering design for custom industrial environmental control units, dehumidifiers, and liquid chillers from concept through production.
- Engineering Calculations: Perform detailed thermodynamic, psychrometric, and fluid flow calculations, including heat load calculations, equipment sizing, and air distribution analysis.
- Component Selection: Specify and select critical mechanical components such as compressors, evaporators, condensers, expansion valves, fans, and motors optimized for severe-duty performance.
HAZLOC & Regulatory Compliance
- Explosion-Proof Design: Integrate hazardous area classification requirements (e.g., NEC Class I Division 1 & 2) into mechanical layouts, component selection, and structural housing.
- Standards Enforcement: Ensure all custom designs strictly comply with industry standards including ASHRAE, NFPA (specifically NFPA 496 for purged/pressurized enclosures and NFPA 70), UL, and military specifications where applicable.
- Material & Coating Selection: Select appropriate materials, corrosion-resistant coatings (e.g., Blygold, Heresite), and structural configurations capable of withstanding corrosive, offshore, or high-temperature environments.
Manufacturing & Production Support
- Documentation & Drafting: Generate and review comprehensive 3D models, 2D manufacturing drawings, structural sheet metal layouts, piping schematics, and detailed Bills of Materials (BOM).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with electrical and instrumentation engineers to seamlessly integrate control panels and automation hardware into the mechanical package.
- Testing & Production Support: Provide technical support directly to the fabrication and assembly floor, troubleshooting mechanical build issues and participating in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).
Skills and Knowledge
- HVAC/R Expertise: Mastery of vapor-compression refrigeration cycles, industrial HVAC systems, psychrometrics, and thermal insulation principles.
- HAZLOC Knowledge: Deep understanding of designing for hazardous locations, explosion-proof mechanisms, and spark-resistant construction.
- CAD & Simulation: Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling software (e.g., SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor) and familiarity with thermal/fluid simulation tools.
- Manufacturing Processes: Solid understanding of sheet metal fabrication, structural welding, copper piping layouts, and refrigeration brazing techniques.
- Communication: Strong technical writing and verbal skills to clearly convey design intent to production technicians, clients, and project managers.
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited university. An M.S. degree with a focus on thermal-fluids is a plus.
- Experience: Typically, 4–7 years of professional experience in custom HVAC system design, industrial refrigeration design, or heavy industrial equipment manufacturing.
- Specialized Experience: Direct, hands-on design experience dealing with HAZLOC classifications, explosion-proof packaging, or marine/offshore environments is highly preferred.
- Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred, but not required.
- Logistics & Compliance: Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
- Setting: Collaborative engineering office environment blended with routine time spent on the manufacturing assembly floor to oversee prototypes, evaluate mechanical builds, and support production.
- Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk/computer terminal for design and modeling; ability to walk the production floor, bend, stoop, and inspect heavy equipment and custom sheet metal enclosures; ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
Pay: $85,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
