Science & ResearchISCO 2149
Thermal engineer
A thermal engineer is a person who designs the systems that move heat: heating and cooling plant that works by thermodynamics, carrying energy from one place to another through fluids and gases.
Check yourself in a minute: thermal engineer
Rate 5 of the 28 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
provide information on geothermal heat pumps
perform a feasibility study on electric heating
troubleshoot
use thermal management
perform a feasibility study on heat pumps
About thermal engineer
The work begins at the design stage. The engineer designs heating equipment and the engineering components inside it, selects the thermal materials each part calls for, and uses thermal analysis tools to predict how the system will behave before anything is built. Feasibility studies are carried out on heat pumps and comparable options, so that a client knows what a system will deliver and what it will cost to run. Once a design is settled the engineer builds the system, or oversees its construction, and tests it to confirm that it performs as it was calculated to.
Problems are part of the work. The engineer troubleshoots a system that heats unevenly, loses pressure or draws more energy than the model predicted, and traces the cause back through the design.
The qualifications and any registration the post requires are set by the employer and by the engineering rules of each country. The work itself rests on engineering principles, mechanics, thermodynamics, and the care to check every calculation.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (28)
sustainable technologiessustainable technologiesTechnologies with the aim of reducing environmental and ecological risks, achieving at the same time, a positive economic, social, and environmental impact. They are innovative technologies designed t...engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.technical drawingstechnical drawingsDrawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.thermodynamicsthermodynamicsThe branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.fluid mechanicsfluid mechanicsThe characteristics and properties of fluids, including gases, liquids and plasmas, at rest and in motion, and the forces on them.mechanical engineeringmechanical engineeringDiscipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.thermal materialsthermal materialsField of information which distinguishes different kinds of thermally conductive and interface materials such as thermal modules used in electronic instrumentation and several energy applications. The...heat transfer processesheat transfer processesField of information which distinguishes three types of heat transfers, such as conduction, convection and radiation. These processes set limits to the performance of thermal engineered components and...mechanicsmechanicsTheoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.provide information on geothermal heat pumpsprovide information on geothermal heat pumpsProvide organisations and individuals searching for alternative methods to provide buildings with energy on the cost, benefits, and negative aspects of the installation and use of geothermal heat pump...perform a feasibility study on electric heatingperform a feasibility study on electric heatingPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of electric heating. Realise a standardised study to determine whether the application of electric heating is appropriate under the given conditi...troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.use thermal managementuse thermal managementProvide thermal management solutions for product design, system development and electronic devices used to protect high power systems and applications in demanding environments. These can be eventuall...perform a feasibility study on heat pumpsperform a feasibility study on heat pumpsPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a heat pump system. Realise a standardised study to determine costs and restrictions, and conduct research to support the process of decision ...adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.use technical drawing softwareuse technical drawing softwareCreate technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.use thermal analysisuse thermal analysisUse software tools such as Icepak, Fluens and FloTHERM as a means to develop and optimize thermal control designs in order to cope with a wide range of difficult problems regarding thermal products an...manage engineering projectmanage engineering projectManage engineering project resources, budget, deadlines, and human resources, and plan schedules as well as any technical activities pertinent to the project.design an electric heating systemdesign an electric heating systemDesign the details of electric heating systems. Calculate the needed capacity for space heating under given conditions complying with available electrical power supply.design engineering componentsdesign engineering componentsDesign engineering parts, assemblies, products, or systems.interpret 3D plansinterpret 3D plansInterpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.operate solar thermal energy systems for hot water and heatingoperate solar thermal energy systems for hot water and heatingUse solar tube collectors systems to generate and store domestic potable hot water and heating, in order to increase energy performance.design passive energy measuresdesign passive energy measuresDesign systems that achieve energy performance using passive measures (i.e. natural light and ventilation, control of solar gains), are less prone to failures and without maintenance costs and require...interpret 2D plansinterpret 2D plansInterpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.design thermal equipmentdesign thermal equipmentConceptually design equipment for healing and cooling using heat transfer principles such as conduction, convection, radiation and combustion. The temperature for these devices should stay stable and ...design thermal requirementsdesign thermal requirementsEngineer level design requirements for thermal products such as telecom systems. Improve and optimize these designs by using thermal solutions or experimentation and validation techniques.approve engineering designapprove engineering designGive consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.
Optional (25) — show
combined heat and power generationcombined heat and power generationTechnology that generates electricity and captures the heat that would otherwise be wasted to provide steam or hot water, that can be used for space heating, cooling, domestic hot water and industrial...computational fluid dynamicscomputational fluid dynamicsThe principles of computer-manipulated fluid mechanics, which determines the behaviour of fluids in motion.CAD softwareCAD softwareThe computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.power engineeringpower engineeringSubdiscipline of energy and electrical engineering which specialises in the generation, transmission, distribution, and usage of electrical power through the connection of electrical devices to motors...distribution of heating cooling and hot waterdistribution of heating cooling and hot waterThe design principles of water distribution systems for heating, cooling and domestic hot water and the relation with insulation, energy saving by optimal hydraulic design. The nature of energy loss i...communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.design firmwaredesign firmwareDesign the appropriate firmware to a specific electronic system.design a solar absorption cooling systemdesign a solar absorption cooling systemDesign an absorption cooling generation system with solar regeneration by heat tube collectors. Calculate accurate cooling demand of the building in order to select the right capacity (kW). Make a det...design a solar heating systemdesign a solar heating systemDesign a solar thermal energy system. Calculate accurate heating demand of the building, calculate accurate domestic hot water demand in order to select the right capacity (kW, litres). Make a detaile...design heat pump installationsdesign heat pump installationsDesign a heat pump system, including calculations of heat loss or transmission, needed capacity, mono- or bivalent, energy balances, and noise reduction.report test findingsreport test findingsReport test results with a focus on findings and recommendations, differentiating results by levels of severity. Include relevant information from the test plan and outline the test methodologies, usi...oversee quality controloversee quality controlMonitor and assure the quality of the provided goods or services by overseeing that all the factors of the production meet quality requirements. Supervise product inspection and testing.wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.perform feasibility study on solar heatingperform feasibility study on solar heatingPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of solar heating systems. Realise a standardised study to estimate the heat loss of the building and the heating demand, the demand of domestic h...use testing equipmentuse testing equipmentUse equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.develop software prototypedevelop software prototypeCreate a first incomplete or preliminary version of a piece of software application to simulate some specific aspects of the final product.ensure equipment coolingensure equipment coolingMake sure the machines and installations are properly supplied with air and coolants in order to prevent overheating and other malfunctions.operate climate controloperate climate controlOperate climate control installations.identify fitted source for heat pumpsidentify fitted source for heat pumpsDetermine available heat and energy sources choosing among different types of available heat sources, taking into account the influence of source temperature on energy efficiency.perform a feasibility study on combined heat and powerperform a feasibility study on combined heat and powerPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of combined heat and power (CHP). Realise a standardised study to determine technical demands, regulation and costs. Estimate the needed electric...assess energy consumption of ventilation systemsassess energy consumption of ventilation systemsCalculate and evaluate the total energy use of the ventilation system regarding electrical power consumption, heat loss of the system and the building, on a yearly base, in order to select a fitted co...design prototypesdesign prototypesDesign prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.design hot water systemsdesign hot water systemsDesign hot water distribution systems for uses such as heating and distributing potable water. Design insulation systems and solutions for heat recovery. Consider the influence of insulation on the to...follow company standardsfollow company standardsLead and manage according to the organisation's code of conduct.develop product designdevelop product designConvert market requirements into product design and development.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer12 shared essential skillssolar energy engineer11 shared essential skillsfluid power engineer10 shared essential skillsmechanical engineer10 shared essential skillsrenewable energy engineer10 shared essential skillsagricultural engineer9 shared essential skillsagricultural equipment design engineer9 shared essential skillsalternative fuels engineer9 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a thermal engineer do?
Thermal engineers design systems which provide heating or cooling, using thermodynamics, that transfer heat or energy through liquids and gases. They also construct these systems, and perform test to ensure proper functionality.
What skills does a thermal engineer need?
A thermal engineer needs 28 essential skills, including sustainable technologies, engineering principles, technical drawings, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics.
Will AI replace thermal engineer jobs?
The AI disruption score for thermal engineer is 26/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: report test findings, communicate with customers, interpret 2D plans. Most resilient: thermal materials, wear appropriate protective gear, mechanics.
AI Replacement Risk
26/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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