Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Heating Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a highly motivated and data-driven Heating Analyst to join our Building Performance team. In this pivotal role, you will be the go-to expert for transforming raw data from heating systems into actionable intelligence. Your work will directly impact our organization's sustainability goals, operational efficiency, and financial bottom line by identifying energy waste, diagnosing system faults, and recommending data-backed optimization strategies.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a professional with a passion for energy, engineering, and data to see their analysis translate into real-world improvements in building performance across a diverse portfolio. You will collaborate with a cross-functional team of engineers, technicians, and facility managers to ensure our heating assets operate at peak performance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Data Analyst or Energy Analyst
Mechanical Engineering Graduate
HVAC Controls Technician or Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Heating Analyst or Lead Analyst
Energy Manager or Sustainability Manager
Building Performance Engineer

Lateral Moves:

Data Scientist (Energy Focus)
Building Automation Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Analyze and interpret large, complex datasets from heating systems, Building Automation Systems (BAS), and smart meters to identify trends, anomalies, and performance degradation.
Develop and implement data-driven strategies for optimizing the performance and energy efficiency of commercial and residential heating systems, including boilers, heat pumps, and furnaces.
Monitor real-time performance of HVAC assets, providing proactive diagnostics and conducting root cause analysis for faults, alarms, and operational inefficiencies.
Create, maintain, and automate detailed performance dashboards and reports for various stakeholders, including facility managers, engineers, and executive leadership, using tools like Tableau or Power BI.
Conduct in-depth thermal modeling and energy simulations to forecast consumption and evaluate the potential impact of system upgrades or operational changes.
Collaborate closely with field service technicians and control engineers to guide on-site investigations and validate the implementation of recommended corrective actions.
Develop and refine algorithms and predictive models to forecast equipment failures and schedule preventative maintenance, minimizing downtime and operational costs.
Evaluate the financial viability and return on investment (ROI) for proposed energy conservation measures (ECMs) and capital improvement projects.
Perform measurement and verification (M&V) of energy savings for completed projects using industry-standard protocols (e.g., IPMVP) to ensure performance targets are met.
Stay abreast of emerging technologies, industry best practices, and government regulations related to energy efficiency, decarbonization, and building performance standards.
Translate complex technical findings and statistical insights into clear, actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences.
Manage and cleanse large-scale time-series data from diverse sources to ensure data quality and integrity for robust analysis.
Support the development of long-term asset management strategies by providing data-backed insights into equipment lifecycle, reliability, and replacement planning.
Design and execute controlled experiments (A/B testing) to validate the effectiveness of new control logic or system settings on energy performance.
Utilize SQL and scripting languages like Python or R to automate data extraction, transformation, modeling, and reporting workflows.
Investigate and diagnose complex HVAC system interactions, such as the interplay between heating, ventilation, and building pressurization.
Develop standardized reporting templates and analytical methodologies to ensure consistency and scalability across a large portfolio of buildings.
Participate in the commissioning and retro-commissioning process, verifying that heating systems are installed and operating according to design intent.
Create and maintain a library of fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) rules to automatically identify common heating system problems like short cycling, valve leakage, and sensor drift.
Review engineering design documents, specifications, and control sequences to provide feedback on potential operational and efficiency improvements before construction.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis from various business units.
Contribute to the organization's broader data strategy and infrastructure roadmap.
Collaborate with IT and data engineering teams to translate data needs into technical requirements for data pipelines and storage.
Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies within the data and analytics team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Data Querying & Manipulation: Strong proficiency in SQL for extracting and transforming data from relational databases.
Data Visualization: Expertise in creating compelling dashboards and reports with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Grafana.
Programming/Scripting: Experience with Python (using libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn) or R for data analysis and automation.
HVAC & Thermodynamics: Deep understanding of heating system principles, heat transfer, psychrometrics, and HVAC equipment (boilers, heat pumps, VAV systems).
Building Automation Systems (BAS): Familiarity with BAS platforms (e.g., Johnson Controls Metasys, Siemens Desigo, Schneider Electric EcoStruxure) and control logic.
Energy Modeling: Experience with energy modeling software (e.g., EnergyPlus, eQUEST, TRNSYS) is a strong plus.
Statistical Analysis: Solid grasp of statistical methods for analyzing trends, forecasting, and identifying significant changes in performance data.
Advanced Excel: Mastery of advanced Excel functions, including pivot tables, power query, and macros for quick analysis.

Soft Skills

Analytical Mindset: An innate curiosity and ability to dissect complex problems and systems.
Problem-Solving: Proactive and tenacious in identifying the root cause of issues and developing creative solutions.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to explain technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
Collaboration: A strong team player who can work effectively with field technicians, engineers, and management.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous and precise in data handling, analysis, and reporting.
Project Management: Ability to manage multiple analytical projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
Stakeholder Management: Adept at understanding the needs of different stakeholders and tailoring communication and deliverables accordingly.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a quantitative or engineering field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mechanical Engineering
Energy Engineering
Building Science
Data Science or Analytics
Statistics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of relevant experience in data analysis, energy management, or HVAC controls.

Preferred: Direct experience working as an analyst within the energy, utilities, or building management industry. A proven track record of identifying and quantifying energy savings in a commercial or industrial setting is highly desirable.