Principal Engineer

Our Story:

 

Dover Food Retail (DFR) is a leading manufacturer of Display Cases, Specialty Products, Refrigeration Systems, Power Systems and Comprehensive Services; and leading our industry by Innovating What’s Next in glass doors and intelligent merchandising technologies that keep food safe under brands such as Hillphoenix and Anthony.

 

DFR is part of the Climate & Sustainability Technologies segment of the Dover Corporation® (NYSE: DOV). Dover is a diversified global manufacturer with annual revenues in excess of $7 billion.

 

DFR is built on creativity and customer-centric innovation delivered by people invigorated by a strong sense of responsibility to help our customers win in their marketplaces. The relationships we build with our customers are as important to our success as the products we manufacture. This collaborative environment delivers FRESH THINKING, reassuring our customers that they choose the best when they choose to work with the people of Dover Food Retail.

 

Job Title:        Principal Engineer            

Location:        Keosauqua, IA (or Centerville, IA)

 

What we are looking for:

 

The Principal Engineer will be responsible for the research and development of commercial refrigeration equipment, with a focus on thermodynamic and airflow management to optimize energy consumption. This role requires the design, testing, and analysis of prototype designs, quantifying the interactions between design parameters and their impact on product performance, and developing design rules and parameters that cover entire model families. The Principal Engineer will collaborate closely with the simulation team, development lab team, Product Management, and Operations to accelerate project execution. This role involves hands-on advanced development and prototyping to prove feasibility.  Candidates should be motivated individuals with strong mechanical and problem-solving skillset.

 

What you will be responsible for in this role:

 

• Lead research and development projects focused on commercial refrigeration equipment.
• Establish instrumentation and data acquisition best practices defining physics-based foundation for product performance.
• Design, test, and analyze prototype designs to optimize thermodynamic and airflow performance.
• Identify and quantify interactions between design parameters and their impact on product performance.
• Develop and document design rules and parameters covering multiple model families.
• Collaborate with the simulation team to interpret CFD simulation results and integrate findings into design processes.
• Work closely with the development lab team, Product Management, and Operations to ensure seamless project execution.
• Ensure compliance with evolving Department of Energy (DOE) regulatory requirements.
• Develop commercial refrigeration food display case portfolio, both remote and self-contained configurations.
• Provide hands-on involvement in advanced development and prototyping to validate feasibility.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and advancements in refrigeration technology.
• Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to test lab technicians and junior engineers.

 

What are the basic qualifications?