Thermal Design Engineer

Title: Thermal Design Engineer

Location: Kiddlington & Warwick

Department: Vehicle Engineering / Thermal Systems

Contract: 6 months (immediate start)

Rate: £32-£34

Job Description:

We are looking for an innovative and detail-oriented Thermal Design Engineer to join our automotive engineering team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, analysis, and optimization of thermal systems and components across vehicle platforms. This includes ensuring optimal performance, energy efficiency, and reliability of thermal systems for propulsion, cabin climate control, battery management, and electronic components.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop thermal management systems and components for electric power systems to go into vehicles.
  
  
• Have knowledge of modelling and simulation of thermal behaviour using 1D/3D tools (e.g., GT-SUITE, ANSYS, Flowmaster, CFD tools).
  
  
• Evaluate and optimize cooling and heating strategies for batteries, HVAC systems, and electronics.
  
  
• Perform thermal analysis to ensure compliance with performance, durability, safety, and regulatory requirements.
  
  
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Electrical, HVAC, Battery, and Vehicle Integration to align thermal solutions with vehicle architecture.
  
  
• Develop and review component specifications, system schematics, and test plans.
  
  
• Support prototype builds and perform validation testing (thermal cycling, environmental, performance).
  
  
• Interface with suppliers to review designs, material selection, and manufacturing feasibility.
  
  
• Drive continuous improvement in system efficiency, weight, cost, and packaging.
  
  Required Qualifications:
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related discipline.
  
  
• Strong experience in thermal system design or development.
  
  
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics.
  
  
• Proficiency in thermal simulation tools (e.g., GT-SUITE, ANSYS, MATLAB/Simulink, CFD software).
  
  
• Experience with automotive development tools and processes (DFMEA, DVP&R, APQP).
  
  
• Knowledge of automotive HVAC systems, powertrain cooling, and battery thermal management.
  
  Preferred Qualifications:
  
  
• Master’s degree in mechanical or Thermal Engineering.
  
  
• Experience in EV or hybrid thermal system development.
  
  
• Knowledge of refrigerant systems and regulations (R-134a, R-1234yf, CO₂).
  
  
• Familiarity with vehicle testing and thermal instrumentation.
  
  
• Experience with system-level integration and thermal controls.
  
  If you have any of the above knowledge and experience, and are interested in hearing more about this opportunity, please apply now!
  
  Note: You must be eligible to work in the UK and sponsorship is not offered for this role