Position Description

The Procurement Engineer – Evaporators will serve as the technical and commercial lead for evaporator coil systems and heat exchanger assemblies used in data center cooling applications. This role bridges engineering and procurement to ensure evaporator designs and supply chains meet high-performance thermal requirements, reliability standards, and cost objectives in mission-critical environments.

This position is responsible for the full procurement lifecycle, including technical specification alignment, supplier identification and qualification, sourcing strategy development, and cost optimization. The scope includes fin-and-tube evaporators, microchannel heat exchangers, refrigerant-based coils, chilled water coils, and associated components (headers, tubing, fins, coatings, and manifolds).

This position may be remote, hybrid, or on-site, and reports directly to the Global Strategic Sourcing Director for Data Centers.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Strategic Sourcing

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for evaporator and heat exchanger assemblies, balancing thermal performance, manufacturability, cost, and lead time.
• Lead RFIs and RFQs for new product programs and capacity expansion initiatives supporting data center growth.
• Analyze supplier quotations and develop total cost of ownership models, including materials (copper, aluminum), coatings, fabrication processes, and logistics.
• Negotiate pricing, long-term agreements, and capacity commitments to ensure supply continuity in a rapidly scaling market.

Technical Leadership & Engineering Integration

• Collaborate with product engineering teams to define evaporator performance requirements including heat transfer efficiency, pressure drop, refrigerant compatibility, and corrosion resistance.
• Review and interpret engineering drawings, coil designs, thermal models, and test data to ensure supplier compliance with specifications.
• Support design optimization for high-density data center environments, ensuring efficient heat exchange for increasing rack loads and cooling demands.
• Contribute to new product development (NPD) programs to ensure designs align with sourcing strategies and manufacturing capabilities.

Supplier Evaluation & Development

• Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers with capabilities in coil manufacturing, brazing, microchannel technology, and precision fabrication.
• Conduct technical assessments of suppliers, including manufacturing processes, metallurgical capabilities, coating technologies, and testing/validation systems.
• Partner with Supplier Quality Engineering to ensure compliance with quality standards, validation requirements (PPAP), and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive supplier performance management through KPIs focused on quality, delivery, cost, and field reliability.

Cost Optimization & Value Engineering

• Lead VA/VE initiatives focused on material optimization, design standardization, and manufacturing efficiency improvements.
• Analyze key cost drivers including raw materials (copper/aluminum), fin density, tube geometry, coatings, and assembly processes.
• Support design-to-cost initiatives while maintaining required thermal performance and reliability standards.

Market Intelligence & Risk Management

• Maintain deep understanding of heat exchanger technologies, including fin-and-tube vs. microchannel trade-offs, coating advancements, and refrigerant trends.
• Monitor market dynamics for critical materials (e.g., copper and aluminum) and global supply risks.
• Identify potential supply chain disruptions and develop mitigation strategies, including dual sourcing and regional supply strategies.

Operational Execution

• Support procurement execution including purchase orders, demand alignment, and delivery tracking for evaporator components.
• Maintain accurate procurement and supplier data in ERP systems.
• Resolve supply chain and technical issues that impact production schedules or product performance.

Communication & Collaboration

• Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, and Program Management teams to align sourcing with product and customer requirements.
• Present technical and sourcing recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
• Travel approximately 20% to supplier sites and Modine facilities.

Required Education & Qualifications

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Preferred candidates will have experience in:

• Heat transfer systems or HVAC components (evaporators, condensers, coils)
• Data center cooling systems
• Procurement engineering or sourcing of complex mechanical systems

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement engineering, sourcing, or mechanical/thermal design in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of evaporators, heat exchangers, and thermal systems.
• Experience working with engineering drawings, thermal calculations, and performance validation.
• Understanding of materials science related to copper, aluminum, coatings, and corrosion protection.
• Familiarity with refrigerants, chilled water systems, and heat transfer principles.
• Proven experience in supplier technical evaluation and development.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills with experience in cost modeling and contract management.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and procurement tools.
• Advanced Excel skills (cost analysis, modeling, pivot tables).
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related technical field.
• MBA or advanced business degree preferred.
• Certifications such as CSCP, CPSM, or equivalent are a plus.