Lead Ventilation Systems Expert – Semiconductor Facilities Design (Cleanroom, HVAC & CFD)

Deerns is a multinational consultancy, design, and engineering firm specializing in high-end MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) advisory, design, and engineering for mission-critical and high-tech facilities. With a legacy of 97+ years, we deliver world-class solutions for data centres, healthcare, life sciences, microelectronics, and airports.

With ~750 experts across 17 offices in 10 countries, Deerns provides services from strategic consulting, master planning, and specialist engineering to sustainability consulting and digital roadmaps. We are driven by our core values: entrepreneurship, design reputation, integrity, cooperation, and competence.

Deerns Spectrum Private Limited is our joint venture in India with Spectrum PharmaTECH Consultants, expanding our expertise across India, South Asia, and East Africa. 

We are entering a high-growth phase in India and are seeking senior cleanroom and ventilation specialists with semiconductor, electronics manufacturing, or closely related mission-critical HVAC experience to strengthen our high-tech engineering capability.

Deerns India is seeking a highly experienced Ventilation Systems Expert to lead the technical strategy, design governance, and optimization of advanced cleanroom HVAC, ventilation, and process exhaust systems for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing facilities.

This role is critical to Deerns India’s high-tech growth agenda, combining semiconductor-grade cleanroom expertise with leadership in energy-efficient, safe, and buildable ventilation solutions across complex project environments.

The role covers the following core technical domains:

•           FFU-based air systems (with and without chilled coils)

•           Process exhaust systems with scrubber integration

•           Heating and cooling systems

•           CFD-based airflow analysis and optimization

The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in cleanroom airflow engineering, contamination control, HVAC system design, and CFD analysis, ensuring systems meet stringent performance, safety, and energy efficiency requirements.

Ø  Lead ventilation design strategy from concept through detailed engineering, ensuring cleanroom HVAC, FFU, process exhaust, and scrubber integration decisions are technically sound, buildable, and aligned with project objectives.

·       ISO Class cleanroom HVAC systems (ISO 1–8)

·       FFU-based ventilation systems:

o   Without chilled coils (fan-driven / Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS)

o   With chilled coils (AHU-supported systems)

·       Heating and cooling systems for high-load facilities

·       Process exhaust systems (general and hazardous)

·       Scrubber and abatement system integration

Ø  Provide senior review of design basis documents, PFDs, P&IDs, HVAC schematics, airflow calculations, system sizing, and vendor submissions.

·       Design Basis Documents (DBD)

·       PFDs, P&IDs, HVAC schematics

·       Airflow (ACPH), load calculations, and system sizing

Ø  Ensure compliance with semiconductor cleanroom performance expectations, safety requirements, environmental regulations, and Deerns’ engineering quality standards.

·       Semiconductor cleanroom performance standards

·       Safety and environmental regulations

2.     Cleanroom Airflow, CFD & Contamination Control

Ø  Lead or review CFD-led airflow studies to validate cleanroom airflow distribution, particle control, temperature and humidity uniformity, process heat dissipation, and contamination risk mitigation.

·       Cleanroom airflow distribution

·       Particle control and contamination risks

·       Temperature and humidity uniformity

·       Process heat dissipation

Ø  Translate simulation results into practical engineering decisions, including FFU layout, airflow regimes, pressure cascades, environmental control philosophy, and mitigation of turbulence, dead zones, and hotspots.

·       Validate airflow design concepts

·       Optimize FFU layout and ceiling coverage

·       Identify and mitigate dead zones, turbulence, and hotspots

Ø  Coordinate with CFD specialists (if applicable) and ensure:

·       Practical applicability of simulation results

·       Alignment with engineering design and site conditions

Ø  Define:

·       Airflow regimes (laminar vs mixed flow)

·       Pressure cascades between zones

·       Environmental control philosophy

Ø  Ensure:

·       Uniform airflow distribution

·       Compliance with ISO particle limits

·       Stable environmental conditions for process tools

Ø  Design energy-efficient HVAC systems while maintaining cleanroom standards

Ø  Optimize:

·       Air change rates vs contamination requirements

·       FFU energy consumption and fan efficiency

·       Pressure drops across ducts and filters

Ø  Implement:

·       Demand-controlled ventilation strategies

·       Variable airflow systems (VAV/hybrid)

·       Efficient chilled water integration

Ø  Perform:

·       Energy modelling and lifecycle cost (LCC) analysis

Ø  Develop HVAC systems to manage:

·       High internal heat loads from process tools

Ø  Integrate:

·       Chilled water systems

·       Heating systems

Ø  Ensure:

·       Tight temperature and humidity control tolerances

·       Stable thermal performance under dynamic loads

Ø  Design:

·       High-volume and hazardous exhaust systems

·       Corrosion-resistant ducting systems

Ø  Integrate:

·       Wet scrubbers

·       Dry scrubbers

·       Abatement systems

Ø  Ensure:

·       Safe handling of toxic and corrosive exhaust streams

Ø  Support:

·       Concept, FEED, and detailed engineering phases

Ø  Review:

·       EPC contractor designs

·       Vendor equipment and system designs

Ø  Participate in:

·       Design reviews

·       HAZOP and risk assessments

·       Value engineering workshops

Ø  Interface with:

·       Process engineering teams

·       Cleanroom planners and tool vendors

·       Utilities teams (water, gases, chemicals)

Ø  Ensure:

·       Integration between ventilation, process tools, and exhaust systems

Ø  Support commissioning and validation:

·       Cleanroom classification (ISO compliance)

·       Airflow balancing and testing

Ø  Validate:

·       CFD predictions vs actual performance

·       System stability and environmental control

10.  Sustainability, Candidate Profile & Compliance

Ø  Drive energy-efficient cleanroom ventilation strategies that balance contamination control, lifecycle cost, carbon reduction, and operational resilience.

·       Energy efficiency and sustainability targets

Ø  Support green building certifications such as LEED or equivalent while maintaining semiconductor-grade performance and safety requirements.

·       Green building certifications (LEED or equivalent)

Ø  Contribute to:

·       Carbon reduction and energy optimization strategies

·     Bachelor’s / master’s degree in mechanical / HVAC Engineering.

·     15+ years of experience in HVAC and Clean Room systems design.

·     5+ years of Experience in semiconductor / high-purity / mission-critical facilities preferred.

·       Semiconductor or electronics manufacturing cleanroom ventilation experience is strongly preferred; candidates from data centres or other mission-critical HVAC environments should demonstrate clear exposure to contamination control, high air-change systems, and precision environmental performance.

·       Strong understanding of semiconductor cleanroom best practices, ISO classification expectations, pressure control, process exhaust interfaces, and high air-change-rate systems.

·     Experience with CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, 6SigmaRoom, or equivalent) and Energy modelling tools

·     Knowledge of global and Indian design standards and environmental regulations.

·     Proficiency in engineering tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, PFD’s and AFD’s development platforms.

·     Strong capability in design review, technical governance, and vendor coordination

·     Excellent problem-solving, stakeholder management, and communication skills

·     Ability to work in multidisciplinary and international project teams