There are three different types of refrigeration engineer jobs: independent consultancy, working for a refrigeration engineering firm, and teaching. A refrigeration engineer is a specialist working with refrigeration systems. This can include cold storage buildings, walk-in refrigeration units, and mobile refrigeration units. The term refrigeration engineer or air conditioning and refrigeration engineer is widely used in Europe, with the North American equivalent being refrigeration technician.
The primary responsibility of the refrigeration engineer is to ensure that all refrigerant gases and pumps are handled in a safe, environmentally conscious manner. There are a variety of gases available for this purpose, but all have specific guidelines surrounding their handling, management and disposal.
A growing number of refrigeration engineers work as independent consultants. In this role, the engineer provides his expertise to clients for either a specific project or a service agreement. Services may include designs, construction or repair project plans, and working with the client to understand their needs. This role allows the company to access specific expertise as needed, while allowing the engineer to work with multiple clients.
The most common type of refrigeration engineer jobs involve working for a refrigeration services firm. In this job, the engineer installs new products, maintains existing equipment, and works on smaller projects to upgrade or expand the refrigeration system as needed. This type of work is highly skilled and the time a project takes varies widely, depending on the scope, number of people, and available resources.
There are a wide range of refrigeration engineer jobs available in teaching. Using his or her presentation skills, an engineer can provide instruction to unit operators, maintenance staff, technologists, or in a community college setting. These courses can include detailed operational programs, simple, routine repairs, or a complete understanding of how the system works.
In order to become an instructor, many engineers complete a certificate program in adult education. Learning the most effective way to teach adults can be a huge help when making this career transition. Engineer school is very knowledge based and does not provide an opportunity to learn presentation skills. Take the time to gain these skills when making this change.
Refrigeration engineer jobs are forecast to experience a greater than average rate of growth in the next five to ten years, but most of these opportunities will be outside North America. This field is receiving more attention in other parts of the world, where the resources and skills were not available to support large refrigeration units and facilities. The flexibility to travel and skill in multiple languages will become more important in the future.
People who report the greatest satisfaction in refrigeration engineer jobs enjoy problem solving and working independently. Many successful engineers built their practice through reputation. Skill, ability to meet client expectations and maintaining good business relationships are critical to a long career.
