Refrigeration and air conditioning engineer
Design, install and repair cooling systems in buildings. You'd make sure they're safe, effective and meet green standards.
Also known as: HVAC engineer
About the job
Career insights – HVAC engineer
What it's like
As a refrigeration and air conditioning engineer, you'll keep buildings comfortable and make sure equipment running smoothly. You'll work with systems that control temperature and air quality in homes, businesses and industrial sites.
You'll install, maintain and repair cooling and climate control systems. It's a hands-on role where you'll solve technical problems and help people stay safe and comfortable.
You'll get to see the direct results of your work, whether that's fixing a supermarket's cold storage or making sure a hospital's air conditioning is reliable. You may install new systems, carry out routine servicing or respond to urgent breakdowns.
This role can be found in industries such as construction, food production, healthcare, retail and manufacturing.
Some engineers specialise in areas like commercial refrigeration, vehicle air conditioning or energy-efficient systems.
Your tasks might include:
installing and commissioning refrigeration or air conditioning units
diagnosing faults and repairing broken systems
carrying out routine maintenance and safety checks
advising customers on system upgrades or energy-saving options
handling refrigerant gases safely and legally
keeping detailed records of work and compliance certificates
Green job
In this job you could be doing work to help the environment. You might:
install energy-efficient cooling systems
advise on reducing refrigerant emissions
work with renewable energy technologies and special types of gas that don't damage the Earth's atmosphere
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Institute of Refrigeration — education and careers resources
Tomorrow's Engineers — careers resources for young people from Engineering UK and Royal Academy of Engineering
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers — training resources
The Institution of Engineers in Scotland (ISE) — find more information on engineering careers
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- taking initiative
- attention to detail
- observation
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- evaluating
- resourceful
- verbal communication
- reading
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Design and Manufacture
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Design and Technology
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Engineering Science
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Physics
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Practical Craft Skills
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Practical Electronics
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Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Electrical Installation.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you secure a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Building Services Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Systems
Electrical Engineering
Qualifications that show understanding and experience of the industry such as Skills for Work Engineering Skills (SCQF Level 5).
Once in a job you must hold current F Gas Certification. You may achieve this as part of a relevant work-based qualification such as Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Install, Commission and Maintain Refrigeration Systems (SVQ Level 2/3) or City and Guilds Refrigerant Handling.
You'll need a driving licence for most jobs.
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