Project Engineer, HVAC Modeling

Summary/Primary Role:

This role will help Brightcore accelerate its ability to model the advanced thermal performance of geothermal heating and cooling systems, working as part of a team across all of our modeling efforts. That includes ramping up our modeling capability for data center thermal performance, combining geothermal borefields, dry coolers, and chillers into a single, optimized thermal system. The Thermal Modeling Engineer will help expand the range of solutions we can model and offer to customers, across both our core geothermal business and our growing data center product line. 

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

(Management may amend or assign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time)

• Perform geothermal modeling for core business projects, including thermal performance modeling for data center applications that combine geothermal borefields, dry coolers, and chillers.
• Develop and enhance advanced thermal models for geothermal heating and cooling systems, with a focus on system performance, efficiency, and optimization.
• Model integrated thermal systems combining geothermal borefields, dry coolers, chillers, and other HVAC technologies.
• Support the development of thermal modeling capabilities for data center applications, including high-density and mission-critical environments.
• Collaborate with engineering, design, and project teams to apply modeling insights to real-world customer projects and system designs.
• Expand Brightcore’s modeling capabilities to evaluate new technologies, system configurations, and applications across the geothermal and data center markets.
• Analyze modeling results to identify opportunities to improve system performance, energy efficiency, and overall project economics.
• Help establish and improve modeling tools, methodologies, and processes to support scalable and consistent project development.
• Translate complex modeling results into clear technical recommendations for internal teams and customers.
• Build, run, and maintain models in Modelica and TRNSYS.
• Apply other geothermal-specific modeling tools, including EED (Earth Energy Designer) and pygfunction.
• Analyze model results and modify or calibrate models accordingly.
• Write automated scripts to optimally size systems based on different customer priorities or needs.
• Simulate fluid flow for large piping systems.
• Design hydraulic piping to meet flow and pumping power requirements.
• Model different control strategies and evaluate their impact on system performance.
• All other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

• 2+ years of experience in thermal modeling.

• Strong grounding in heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics; comfort reasoning through equipment performance metrics (COP, EER, approach temperatures, heat transfer rates).

• Working proficiency with energy/load modeling tools (e.g., TRNSYS, Modelica, EnergyPlus, eQuest, HAP, or equivalent) and Excel-based engineering models preferred..

• Working proficiency, or ability to quickly come up to speed, with AutoCAD.

• Ability to carry ambiguous concept work — from first-light feasibility through prototype to product requirement — to a defensible, documented result without heavy supervision.
• Fluent with AI tools.
• Direct experience with EED and/or pygfunction for borefield design and analysis preferred.
• Experience modeling data center cooling systems preferred.
• Basic proficiency in Python, or ability to quickly come up to speed preferred.
• EIT certification or active progress toward PE licensure preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility: 

• This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Expected Hours of Work & Compensation: 

An employee is expected to work a minimum of forty (40) hours per week. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay in accordance with applicable wage and hour laws, while exempt employees may be required to work additional hours as necessary to fulfill their job responsibilities. Overtime requirements will be determined based on the operational needs of the organization. The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining an employee’s base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., location, specialty, years of relevant experience, education, credentials, and internal equity). Brightcore also offers a comprehensive set of benefits to complement the base salary. The base annual salary range for this position is $100,000-$130,000 and is eligible for an annual performance-based bonus.

Travel Requirements:  

• Office presence required at least three (3) days per week, unless otherwise agreed upon with final approval by direct supervisor.

Work Environment:

• Office setting.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This is not a safety sensitive position.