Principal Mechanical Engineer

About Carrier

Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is committed to creating innovations that bring comfort, safety and sustainability to life. Through cutting-edge advancements in climate solutions such as temperature control, air quality and transportation, we improve lives, empower critical industries and ensure safe transport of food, lifesaving medicines and more. Since inventing modern air conditioning in 1902, we lead with purpose: enhancing the lives we live and the world we share. We continue to lead because of our world-class, inclusive workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do. For more information, visit corporate.carrier.com or follow on Carrier social media at @Carrier.

The Innovation COE is looking for talented and motivated principal investigators, systems engineers, and researchers who will be a part of Carrier’s Innovation center of excellence, to enable the development of innovative and novel intelligent Climate and Energy technologies in HVAC/R (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration) applications. Innovation COE Americas is in Syracuse, which is the North American center for Carrier’s product design and development, as well as groundbreaking innovative research. We ideate, design, verify and validate new products and technologies across Carrier’s global portfolio, supporting Carrier’s goal to be the global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions.

As a Principal Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader driving the development of novel systems and technologies from concept through validation. You will play a key role in shaping and executing high-impact innovation programs that enable step-change improvements in performance, cost, sustainability, and digital capabilities. This includes advancing both near-to-mid-term differentiated solutions and longer-term disruptive innovations that may redefine system architectures and customer value.

You will work at the intersection of research and product realization, collaborating with cross-functional teams across different COEs, platform organizations, and external partners to mature technologies and define clear transition paths into Carrier’s product and technology roadmaps. Your role will require translating ambiguity into structured learning, reducing technical risk, and ensuring that only validated, high-value opportunities progress toward commercialization.

This position is ideal for a technically deep, forward-thinking leader who thrives in an innovation environment, navigates uncertainty with confidence, and is passionate about enhancing lives and shaping the world we share.

Key Job Responsibilities

Lead and drive the technical vision and development of novel systems and technologies from concept through proof-of-concept and validation

Lead R&D efforts; exploring new technologies and tools, reviewing patents, journals, and publicly available data to synthesize technical feasibility, and propose strategies for disruptive technologies

Translate ambiguous problem statements into structured technical approaches, experiments, and learning plans

Define system architectures, requirements, and key technical tradeoffs for early-stage concepts

Drive rapid prototyping, modeling, and experimental validation to reduce technical risk

Identify, evaluate, and mature emerging technologies, including assessing technical feasibility and defining integration paths into future products and value propositions

Develop IP strategies to enable freedom to operate and protect key innovations

Lead cross-functional teams across COEs, platform teams, and business units to ensure alignment and enable successful technology maturation and transition

Partner with external stakeholders, including universities, startups, and industry collaborators, to accelerate innovation

Identify and lead the development of externally funded research proposals, including government-sponsored programs, aligned with strategic technology priorities, and, if awarded, lead programs through technical execution and delivery

Communicate progress, risks, and insights to technical and executive leadership

Mentor and guide engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, technical excellence, and accountability

Must be self-driven and capable of driving development projects autonomously, while gathering feedback from appropriate experts and stakeholders, and implementing continuous improvement processes

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical or Systems Engineering

10+ years of experience in thermodynamic cycles, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, or related engineering domains

10+ years of experience in HVAC/R industrial applications

2 + years of experience serving as principal investigator or project team lead

5+ years of experience with technology development process and technology readiness levels (TRLs)

OR

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical or Systems Engineering

7+ years of experience as a Principal Investigator or Project Team Lead on an innovation focused team

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s or PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering

5 years of experience designing, executing, and analyzing system- and component-level testing for technology validation

3 years of experience with physics-based modeling and simulation tools (e.g., CFD, FEA, or system-level modeling)

Demonstrated project completion/delivery as a project lead

Experience with technology development process, including NASA/ISO 16290 technology readiness levels (TRLs)

Experience with system architecture development and multidisciplinary engineering integration

Experience developing intellectual property, including invention disclosures and patents

Experience with design of experiments, test rig design, measurement system identification and implementation, instrumentation requirements development, and measurement uncertainty analysis

Experience in working with universities, consortia, external labs and/or start-ups, coordinating feasibility studies and evaluations through statements of work or joint development agreements

Demonstrated project completion/delivery as a project lead

Strong communication and influencing skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders and working with executive levels

Familiarity with electromechanical systems including heat exchangers, compressors, motors, structural elements, HVAC equipment and applications, or similar systems

Familiarity with control standards for distributed energy resources

Familiarity with next generation control strategies such as model predictive control, reinforcement learning, etc.

Pay Range

The annual salary for this position is between $117,500.00 - $234,500.00 annually. Factors which may affect pay within this range include, but are not limited to, skills, education, experience, and other unique qualifications of the successful candidate.

Other Compensation

This position is entitled to short-term cash incentives, subject to plan requirements.

Benefits

Employees are eligible for benefits, including:

Health Care Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision; Wellness incentives

Retirement Benefits

Time off and Leave: Paid vacation days, up to 15 days; paid sick days, up to 5 days; paid personal leave, up to 5 days; paid holidays, up to 13 days; birth and adoption leave; parental leave; family and medical leave; bereavement leave; jury duty leave; military leave; purchased vacation

Disability: Short-term and long-term disability

Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Tax-Advantaged Accounts: Health Savings Account; Health Care Spending Account; Dependent Care Spending Account

Tuition Assistance

To learn more about our benefits offering, please click here Work with us | Carrier Corporate. The specific benefits available to any employee may vary depending on state and local laws and eligibility factors, such as date of hire and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, participate in an interview, or otherwise engage in the hiring process, please contact us at Carrier.Recruiting@carrier.com. We will make every effort to meet your needs in accordance with applicable laws.

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted for at least 3 days from Job Posting Date: 22 July 2026

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Use of AI

Technology-enabled tools may support parts of the recruitment process, with oversight by people.