Refrigeration and Design Engineer

We Are
Due North is a leader in the manufacturing of quality refrigerated and frozen food merchandisers and are well known by the Minus Forty® & QBD brand name of products. Our customers find the convenience, and reliability of our innovative spot merchandising and business products across North America a key contributor to their business’ success.

A wide product portfolio of commercial refrigeration products and the ability to customize products within a short time frame, has earned us the trust and confidence of our customers in a variety of markets. We cater to ice cream vendors, frozen novelty merchandisers, frozen food vendors, refrigerated food merchandisers, and we’re business partners with major corporations in the food industry.

Our team of focused and friendly professionals are always happy to serve our customers, who we have been serving for over 30 years.

Your Opportunity

The purpose of this role is to work independently and as a part of our engineering team in the design and development of commercial refrigeration products and related accessories. Our Refrigeration and Design Engineer is extensively involved in preparing engineering designs, drawings and related technical documentation, and product testing while working in our multidisciplinary Engineering Department. Duties also include, but not limited to, providing technical support and advice to our Manufacturing, Purchasing, Sales, and Service Departments, and interaction with suppliers and customers.

The main responsibilities of this position are, but not limited to:

- Design and develop commercial refrigerators and freezers from concept, through design, prototyping, testing, certification, and manufacturing
- Conduct research to analyze and validate the feasibility, design, operation and performance of refrigeration equipment, systems, and components
- Create and model 3D and 2D parts, assemblies, detailed drawings with specifications in SolidWorks and AutoCAD
- Design sheet metal and other parts manufactured with various manufacturing processes: CNC punching, laser cutting, injection molding, vacuum forming, extruding, rotational molding, etc.
- Design control systems for commercial refrigeration equipment, specify electro-mechanical and electronic components, create control and wiring diagrams
- Program various controllers and control systems
- Operate test chambers and measuring instrumentation, setup tests, conduct product testing, evaluate test results, and create test reports
- Create, update and maintain Bill of Materials and Bill of Operations for products
- Create technical specifications, user and owner’s manuals, service and maintenance documentation
- Manage regulatory affairs and interact with governing authorities, agencies, and certification bodies on product compliance matters (safety, energy efficiency, sanitation, environmental, etc.) for domestic and international markets
- Follow good engineering practices and analysis methodologies
- Create and maintain project plans, schedules and deliverables
- Evaluate and process Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and drawings revisions
- Collaborate with the Production/Manufacturing Department to optimize manufacturing processes and plant layouts, conduct cost take-out analysis, participate in Kaizen events, and implement lean manufacturing processes
- Provide assistance in designing, sourcing, programming, servicing, and maintaining various manufacturing equipment: foaming jigs, punch presses, laser cutters, forming machines, leak detection devices, refrigerant/air/nitrogen gas tanks and supplies
- Assist the Service Department in troubleshooting field issues with deployed units, determine root causes, analyze and implement corrective and preventive solutions
- Interact with customers, identify and analyze their needs and wants and translate those in products design characteristics and features, provide assistance to the Sales Department
- Work in partnership with suppliers and the Purchasing Department on sourcing and qualifying parts and components
- Constantly look for opportunities to improve our processes and procedures including ways to eliminate waste of time and resources, enhance the quality of our products, improve our customer service and satisfaction, and boost our morale, engagement and the quality of life at work
- Maintain and promote organizational culture and values with all staff, customers, suppliers, partners and regulatory/official bodies based upon the vision developed by our senior management
- Manage personal time and productivity to efficiently and effectively perform and deliver according to your job description
- Report any concerns in meeting assigned deadlines or performing assigned duties to your direct manager
- Provide insight, information and recommendations on industry and market trends, significant developments and changes that may have an impact on our business
- Adhere to all health and safety protocols, procedures, and rules
- Read and understand the Employee Handbook sections outlined in the Handbook Receipt and Acknowledgement Form, contribute to the improvement of the handbook and documentation system, and support and promote our policies

You Have:

- Bachelor's Degree, or higher, in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
- Registration or eligible to apply as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) provided by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is an asset
- Minimum four (4) years of related and verifiable Canadian or international experience
- Robust refrigeration and mechanical engineering experience in product design and development
- Ability to perform heating and cooling load calculations and strong understanding of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics laws and principles
- Strong experience in designing and engineering Open Air refrigeration units
- Proficiency in 3D and 2D design and drafting skills and SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
- Working knowledge of regulatory standards and regulations (CSA, NSF, UL, DOE, NRCAN, CEC, etc.)
- Working knowledge of electro-mechanical and electronic systems and components
- Experience with Open-Air units and equipment
- Familiarity with Internet of Things and smart connected devices
- Proficiency in English language and technical writing, and strong communication skills
- Proficient at MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Power Point, etc.) as well as general computer and software technology (Networking, Internet, e-mail, etc.)
- Familiarity with Access or similar database is an asset