Project Engineer – Refrigeration OEM

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. 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

Location / Division Specific Information

Division: Laboratory Equipment Division (LED) – Cold Storage (CTT BU)
Location: Shanghai, China
Work Arrangement: Hybrid

The Cold Storage team develops and supports high-performance solutions including specialized refrigerators, freezers, and other temperature-controlled systems used in laboratory, clinical, and medical applications.

This position reports directly to the Sr. Manager, R&D – Cold Storage OEM and supports successful implementation of OEM solutions within global NPI programs.

How will you make an impact?

As a Project Engineer – Refrigeration OEM, you will manage technical deliverables for OEM refrigeration systems and finished goods supporting global New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.

In this highly cross-functional role, you will act as the primary technical interface between Thermo Fisher and OEM partners in China, ensuring supplier designs meet defined product, regulatory, and performance requirements. You will support disciplined execution of the toll-gate NPD process, maintain requirements traceability, and ensure supplier technical evidence demonstrates compliance.

Your work will directly influence product quality, regulatory readiness, and successful launch execution for cold storage platforms.

What will you do?

Technical Project Leadership – OEM Execution

• Manage technical deliverables for OEM refrigeration systems and products within global NPI projects.
• Coordinate supplier technical activities to ensure alignment with project milestones and toll-gate requirements.
• Review and assess OEM design documentation, specifications, calculations, and validation evidence.
• Identify technical risks early and drive mitigation actions with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure timely closure of technical action items, design reviews, and change management activities.

Refrigeration System Evaluation

• Apply working knowledge of vapor-compression and cascade refrigeration systems to evaluate OEM system designs.
• Analyze supplier test data, performance reports, and validation documentation to confirm compliance with system-level requirements.
• Provide technical feedback on thermal performance, component selection, and system architecture as required.

Requirements, Compliance & Traceability

• Support maintenance of requirements traceability from customer and regulatory needs through verification evidence.
• Review and organize supplier verification and validation reports for inclusion in Design History Files (DHF).
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and certification requirements (e.g., UL, IEC, CE, Energy-related standards).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Product Development, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Project Management teams.
• Act as bilingual (Chinese/English) liaison between China-based OEM suppliers and global engineering teams.
• Support global communication of technical topics, ensuring clarity and alignment across time zones and cultures.
• Participate in supplier visits, technical audits, and milestone reviews.

Operational Excellence

• Support disciplined execution of the toll-gate New Product Development (NPD) process.
• Maintain organized technical documentation and action tracking for complex multi-topic programs.
• Drive structured problem solving and root cause analysis for technical issues.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

How will you get here?

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Refrigeration Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Coursework in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in refrigeration system development, OEM technical management, or electromechanical product development.
• Experience working with vapor-compression or cascade refrigeration systems.
• Experience participating in structured toll-gate product development processes.
• Basic working knowledge of ISO 13485 design control principles.
• Experience reviewing technical documentation, validation reports, and supplier evidence.
• Experience working with global teams and external suppliers preferred.
• Experience in laboratory equipment, medical device, or regulated environments strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bilingual fluency in Chinese and English (written and spoken).
• Fundamental understanding of refrigeration system operation and performance drivers.
• Ability to analyze supplier test data and technical reports for compliance to defined requirements.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple complex technical topics simultaneously.
• Strong documentation, communication, and coordination skills.
• Data-driven mindset with structured problem-solving capability.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed global organization.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Travel

• Up to 40% travel within China to support OEM partners.
• Limited international travel as required.