12/01/2025

Job Type

Short Term Employee

Close Date

12/07/2025

Employee Group

Unifor Unit 1, Staff

Favorite Job

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Salary Grade/Band

Grade 9

Salary Range

$30.84 - $47.65 (hourly)

Contract Duration

11.8 Months

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

Education Level

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study

Career Level

Requires 3 years of relevant experience

Anticipated Start Date

February 01, 2026

Job Description

Research Engineer

(ENG, Mechanical Engineering)
(JD00403)

Engineering a Brighter Future
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/

Project: Thermal Network and Heat Recovery System Engineer

McMaster University - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

About the Faculty

Ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and worldwide, the Faculty of Engineering has a reputation for innovative programs, cutting-edge research, leading faculty, and aspiring students. Engineering faculty, staff, and students at McMaster pursue research and learning in more than 22 research centres, institutes and networks whose interdisciplinary pursuits cross-departmental and faculty boundaries. Outside the University, we regularly collaborate on research projects with partners in universities, the government and more than 100 companies in Canada and abroad.

About the Research Group

The McMaster Institute for Energy Studies (MIES) seeks a high caliber Research Engineer with strong analytical capability and an interest in developing physics-informed AI tools for real-world energy demand and system assessment. The role focuses on advancing the analytical frameworks used in assessing the energy demand for Northern communities, particularly the integration of physics-based modeling with machine learning approaches for forecasting, validation, and scenario testing. This position is ideal for a candidate who thrives in quantitative environments, enjoys building models that combine first principles with data-driven methods, and can translate complex physical processes into computational tools that support decision making.

Job Summary

Under general direction of a Principal Investigator, responsible for providing specialized engineering support in a specific engineering field or discipline for research and contract projects.

Representative Duties & Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and assemble equipment and instruments that require engineering techniques or modifications.
• Conduct standardized research experiments using specialized equipment and instruments.
• Analyze and solve new, unique, and complex problems as presented in research contracts and projects.
• Apply standardized engineering principles and methods from a specialized field or discipline to solve problems.
• Collect, evaluate, and analyze data.
• Write and adapt computer software required for, but not limited to, data collection, design, modelling, and mathematical and statistical analysis.
• Recommend and incorporate new approaches and methodologies into research.
• Write sections of scientific reports and papers for inclusion in journal publications and contract reports.
• Format and summarize data and write technical reports based on research findings.
• Develop and deliver technical presentations to engineering colleagues, industry, and contract agencies.
• Participate in the management of the research project or contract by defining and coordinating resource needs, determining priorities to achieve project goals, and setting schedules that will meet defined deadlines.
• Provide advice in a specialized field to colleagues, collaborators, and students.
• Exchanges technical and scientific information with others.
• Liaise with external clients and project partners.
• May be required to perform activities which require dexterity and precision including, but not limited to, the manual calibration of laboratory equipment, and assembly of circuit boards,
• Remain current with frequent advances in a technical field or scientific discipline.

Supervision

• Ensure adherence to quality standards and procedures for short-term staff and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a relevant field of study.
• Requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.

Assets

• MASc. Degree in Mechanical Engineering is considered an asset

Additional Information

The successful candidate will contribute to the design, development, modeling and testing of advanced heat recovery and thermal network integrated energy systems, as well as benchmarking to evaluate their performance. Responsibilities will also include supporting data management procedures including data use agreements, data collection, data clean, data preprocessing and data security protocols, as well as technical writing initiatives, implementing safety and training protocols, assisting with budget planning, and enhancing the efficiency, documentation, and maintenance of a lab environment.

The candidate will join a collaborative and dynamic research team of scientists, graduate students, and engineers, working closely with team members and contributing to the lab’s multidisciplinary research goals.

The successful candidate must have and/or demonstrate:

• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills to handle a high volume of tasks
• Excellent attention to detail while producing thorough and accurate work
• Strong scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to collaborate in a dynamic team environment, which includes both internal and external partners
• Sound judgment, with the ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Proficiency with data management tasks and procedures
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities, processes, or environments
• A high degree of professionalism and integrity
• Research experience related to heat load prediction

The successful candidate must also have previous experience in the following areas:

• Develop physics-based AI and machine learning models for demand assessment, system performance characterization, and scenario evaluation.
• Extend and refine the analytical methods used in the heat load assessment, including model validation, uncertainty quantification, and comparison of physics-based and empirical approaches.
• Work with data acquisition systems, including integration with our network storage and data management pipelines.
• Process, clean, analyze, and structure incoming data streams to support high-fidelity modeling.
• Automate model execution, parameter sweeps, and large-scale simulations.
• Produce clear summaries and visualizations for stakeholders.
• Previous experience in programming languages (e.g. C++, Java, C#, Matlab, Python)
• Familiarity with Thermofluids, Energy Systems, HVAC Load Prediction, Building Energy Modeling, GIS, Database analysis, Machine learning and AI applied to Energy Systems, or other Data Analytics Studies.
• Development of framework to collect, store and visualize a thermal energy resource inventory
• Collection and disaggregation of heating loads and thermal resources from various data sources
• GIS Mapping and thermal energy resource comparison to current and planned/forecasting community heat loads
• Collection of empirical data for model validation and data base populating
• Modeled thermal storage’s ability to bridge the mismatch between distributed carbon-free heat sources availability and heating demands
• Ability to contribute to grant writing, project proposals, and/or industry reports
• Contributing to and working on industry-facing projects
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.