Senior Engineer - Multi-Family Buildings & District Heating/Cooling Networks

Daikin Europe NV (DENV) is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Limited, a Japanese outstanding company and worldwide the biggest developer, producer and supplier of HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) solutions, including heating pumps and cooling technology.

DENV is Daikin’s sales, R&D, and production headquarters for Europe, the Middle-East and Africa. The headquarter has Belgian offices in Brussels, Ghent and Ostend, as well as 8 production plants, 24 sales subsidiaries and offices and a whole network of independent distributors and dealers across the EMEA region.

Location

Ghent, Belgium (Hybrid)

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and passionate engineer to strengthen our activities in the field of sustainable heating and cooling solutions for multi-family residential buildings and district energy systems.

As a Senior Engineer, you will contribute to the development, evaluation, and deployment of innovative heating and cooling concepts, ranging from building-scale solutions to district heating and cooling (DHC) networks. You will work at the intersection of HVAC technologies, heat pumps, thermal networks, building renovation, energy flexibility, and smart control solutions.

You will collaborate with internal R&D teams, business units, academic partners, utilities, engineering consultancies, and public stakeholders to accelerate the transition towards carbon-neutral heating and cooling systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and evaluate heating and cooling solutions for multi-family residential buildings.
• Develop concepts integrating heat pumps, thermal storage, renewable energy sources, and district heating and cooling networks.
• Assess the technical and economic feasibility of collective energy systems.
• Support pilot projects, demonstrations, and living labs related to district energy and building decarbonization.
• Analyze building energy demand, network performance, and energy flexibility opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of next-generation low-temperature and ultra-low-temperature thermal networks.
• Collaborate with external partners including universities, engineering firms, utilities, and municipalities.
• Monitor technology trends, regulations, and market developments related to district energy and residential decarbonization.
• Translate technical insights into innovation roadmaps, technology strategies, and new business opportunities.
• Support innovation and advanced development projects.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven experience with multi-family residential heating and cooling systems.
• Strong knowledge of district heating and cooling networks.
• Experience with hydronic systems, heat pumps, thermal storage, and energy distribution networks.
• Understanding of building energy performance, renovation strategies, and decarbonization pathways.
• Experience working with design consultants, contractors, utilities, or product manufacturers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Fluent in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 4th and 5th generation district heating and cooling systems.
• Knowledge of building energy simulation tools (TRNSYS, EnergyPlus, Modelica, IDA ICE, etc.).
• Experience with smart control systems and demand-response applications.
• Familiarity with European energy regulations and building directives.
• Experience in R&D, innovation projects, and co-funded European and national initiatives.
• PhD or advanced specialization in thermal systems, district energy, or building technologies.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape the future of sustainable heating and cooling.
• Participation in cutting-edge innovation and demonstration projects.
• Collaboration with leading academic and industrial partners.
• International working environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Professional development and career growth opportunities.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You combine a deep understanding of building HVAC systems with knowledge of district energy networks. You enjoy working on complex engineering challenges involving heat pumps, thermal grids, building renovation, energy flexibility, and system integration. You are able to bridge the gap between technology development, real-world deployment, and business opportunities.

We are seeking an experienced Engineer specializing in Multi-Family Buildings and District Heating & Cooling Networks to support the development of sustainable heating and cooling solutions for the built environment. The successful candidate will combine expertise in HVAC systems, heat pumps, hydronic networks, and collective energy infrastructure to design and evaluate innovative solutions for residential buildings and district energy applications.

In this role, you will work on the integration of low-carbon heating and cooling technologies, including heat pumps, renewable energy sources, thermal storage, and next-generation district heating and cooling networks. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, external stakeholders, and research partners to develop solutions that accelerate the decarbonization of residential buildings and urban energy systems.

Daikin Europe is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration technology. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, Daikin EMEA has over 12 000 employees across more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, and the UK. Our aim is to drive sustainable and effective solutions, sparking a good climate for the generations to come. And all this can only be achieved because of our People. 

Good climate starts with people 
Our employees are the beating heart of our company. At Daikin, you get to work in a positive environment backed by trust, creativity and continuous improvement. Together, we create our top-quality solutions by empowering talented teams. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. We are deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. Good climate starts with people.