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Heat Exchanger Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Role Overview We're looking for a Sr. Heat Exchanger Engineer to own the design, specification, and development of heat exchangers across Arbor's supercritical CO power system. You'll span the full ...

Sr. Heat Exchanger Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$111K - $152K/yr

Own the thermal-hydraulic design of all heat exchangers in the Arbor power system--recuperators, precoolers, primary heat exchangers, and water and air coolers--from conceptual sizing through ...

Sr. Heat Exchanger Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$111K - $152K/yr

Own the thermal-hydraulic design of all heat exchangers in the Arbor power system-recuperators, precoolers, primary heat exchangers, and water and air coolers-from conceptual sizing through detailed ...

Be Seen First

Furnace Technician

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$32 - $42/hr

VPE Thermal, a subsidiary of Vacuum Process Engineering, is a world-renowned leader in compact heat exchanger design and manufacturing. Our company serves a wide range of industries with commercial ...

General Technician

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$32 - $42/hr

VPE Thermal, a subsidiary of Vacuum Process Engineering, is a world-renowned leader in compact heat exchanger design and manufacturing. Our company serves a wide range of industries with commercial ...

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FEA Mechanical Engineer

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$100K - $135K/yr

VPE Thermal, a subsidiary of Vacuum Process Engineering, is a world-renowned leader in microchannel heat exchanger design and manufacturing. Our company serves a wide range of industries with ...

Senior Advanced R&D Engineer/Scientist

Allentown, PA · On-site

$103K - $142K/yr

Serve as a senior technical authority for LNG process cycle development, cryogenic process technology, heat exchanger performance, and related modeling methods. * Design, develop, and mature novel ...

Be Seen First

VPE Thermal, a subsidiary of Vacuum Process Engineering, is a world-renowned leader in microchannel heat exchanger design and manufacturing. Our company serves a wide range of industries with ...

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Heat Exchanger Design information

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How much do heat exchanger design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for heat exchanger design in the United States is $22.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $28.61 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a heat exchanger design?

A Heat Exchanger Design job involves designing and optimizing heat exchangers used in industrial processes to transfer heat efficiently between fluids. Responsibilities include selecting materials, performing thermal and mechanical calculations, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and using design software like HTRI or Aspen Exchanger Design. Engineers collaborate with teams to develop cost-effective, high-performance solutions for industries such as HVAC, power generation, and chemical processing.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a heat exchanger design engineer?

As a Heat Exchanger Design professional, your daily tasks may include developing and reviewing design calculations, preparing detailed technical drawings, and selecting appropriate materials and components based on project requirements. You will likely collaborate closely with project managers, other engineers, and fabrication teams to ensure design specifications are met and to address any technical challenges that may arise. Reviewing industry codes and ensuring compliance, as well as attending design review meetings with clients, are also common aspects of the job. This dynamic environment offers continuous learning and opportunities to solve complex engineering problems, making it ideal for those who enjoy both independent and team-based work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed for a heat exchanger design engineer?

To thrive in Heat Exchanger Design, you need strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, proficiency in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and experience with heat transfer calculations, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in mechanical or chemical engineering. Experience with CAD software, process simulation tools (such as HTRI or Aspen), and relevant industry standards or certifications enhances job performance. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and effective teamwork are critical soft skills for success in this field. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and innovative design solutions that meet client and regulatory requirements.

More about Heat Exchanger Design jobs

What states have the most Heat Exchanger Design jobs?

States with the most job openings for Heat Exchanger Design jobs include:

Infographic showing various Heat Exchanger Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,808 per year, or $23 per hour.

Sr. Heat Exchanger Engineer

Arbor Energy

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$165K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

Role Overview

We're looking for a Sr. Heat Exchanger Engineer to own the design, specification, and development of heat exchangers across Arbor's supercritical CO power system. You'll span the full range-from specifying and technically managing third-party shell-and-tube coolers and air coolers, to leading in-house detailed design of advanced compact heat exchangers in high-temperature nickel superalloys. You'll work closely with thermodynamic cycle analysts, mechanical systems engineers, and test engineers in a fast-paced, hands-on R&D environment. This is a rare opportunity to apply deep thermal-fluids and manufacturing expertise to climate-impactful technology at the frontier of power generation. 

This is an onsite opportunity in our El Segundo, CA office. 

Responsibilities
  • Own the thermal-hydraulic design of all heat exchangers in the Arbor power system-recuperators, precoolers, primary heat exchangers, and water and air coolers-from conceptual sizing through detailed design, balancing performance, pressure drop, and cost. 
  • Lead in-house design and development of advanced compact heat exchangers, including printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs) and components produced by additive manufacturing (AM) in materials such as 316SS, Inconel 625, and Haynes 282; apply design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) principles to translate geometric freedom into manufacturable, high-performing hardware. 
  • Specify, procure, and technically manage third-party heat exchangers-including shell-and-tube coolers, fin-fan air coolers, and advanced compact units-from thermal datasheet through vendor drawing review and factory acceptance testing. 
  • Collaborate with a dedicated pressure vessel engineer on mechanical design under ASME, TEMA, and API 661; maintain working familiarity with applicable codes to make sound design decisions and effectively review deliverables. 
  • Plan and execute thermal and hydraulic performance testing during development campaigns: define instrumentation requirements, write test procedures, lead data reduction, and anchor analytical models to test data. 
  • Collaborate closely with thermodynamic cycle analysts, mechanical systems engineers, and test engineers to translate cycle-level requirements into hardware specifications and integrate heat exchangers into the broader power system. 
  • Champion design for manufacturability and scalability across in-house heat exchanger development programs, bridging detailed design and production to bring novel hardware from concept to reality. 
  • Generate and maintain the full engineering documentation package: thermal and mechanical calculation packages, drawings, material and process specifications, and test reports. 
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Aerospace, or related Engineering field. 
  • 10+ years of experience in heat exchanger design and development, spanning thermal-hydraulic analysis, mechanical design, and hardware validation. 
  • Demonstrated experience designing advanced compact heat exchangers-PCHEs, plate-fin, microchannel, or similar-including selection and optimization of channel geometry for performance, pressure drop, and manufacturability. 
  • Experience specifying and technically managing conventional heat exchangers (shell-and-tube, air-cooled) per TEMA and API 661 standards. 
  • Working familiarity with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and its application to heat exchanger mechanical design. 
  • Proficiency in industry thermal design tools (HTRI or equivalent) and scripting or computation for custom analyses (Python, MATLAB, or similar). 
  • Proven track record of taking heat exchanger hardware from design through fabrication and performance validation in a hands-on engineering environment. 
  • Strong ownership mentality with the ability to drive technical programs independently in a small, fast-paced startup environment. 
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with supercritical CO or other supercritical or dense-phase working fluids. 
  • Background in metal additive manufacturing (laser powder bed fusion, binder jetting, or directed energy deposition) applied to heat exchanger or thermal device design and qualification. 
  • Experience bridging detailed design and production-developing or scaling manufacturing processes for novel hardware, not just specifying for outside vendors. 
  • Background in startup, R&D, or first-of-a-kind hardware development environments. 
Compensation & Benefits
  • Pre-IPO stock options
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance (Arbor covers 90% for employees)
  • Basic life insurance fully covered
  • Health savings account (HSA) with matching
  • Flexible savings account (FSA)
  • Unlimited PTO 
  • 12+ company holidays, including Earth Day! 
  • 401(k)
  • Commuter benefits
  • Annual learning and development stipend
  • And more!

Base Pay: $165,000 - $180,000 USD/year. The salary is subject to the applicant's skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.