Senior Mechanical/Thermal Engineer

Concurrent; Colchester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holidays

Profit share bonus

Cycle to work

Home & Tech scheme

Car salary sacrifice

Employee assistance programme

Parental leave

Pension contributions

Job summary

Concurrent zoekt een Senior Thermal Engineer in the UK to own thermal performance across high-power electronic systems, combining heat transfer theory with practical mechanical design.

You will lead end-to-end thermal design, perform CFD and analytical analyses, develop cooling solutions, and work with electrical and manufacturing teams to deliver robust, manufacturable hardware.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in thermal design of electronics/high-power systems.
• Strong proficiency in CFD tools (SolidWorks Flow Simulation).
• Solid understanding of heat transfer fundamentals.
• Experience with conduction and air-cooled systems in constrained environments.
• Hands-on mechanical design experience, not just analysis.
• Strong CAD capability (SolidWorks).
• Experience designing thermal/mechanical assemblies for production.
• Understanding tolerancing and interfaces.
• Ownership of designs from concept to production.
• Exposure to ruggedised/high-reliability systems (defence/aerospace/industrial).

Responsibilities

• Own thermal architecture and design for complex electronic systems.
• Perform detailed thermal modelling using CFD and analytical approaches.
• Define and manage thermal budgets and worst-case analyses.
• Develop and optimise cooling solutions (forced air, conduction, hybrid).
• Ensure designs meet performance across environmental conditions.
• Correlate simulation results with physical test data.
• Design and develop thermal hardware (heatsinks, frames, cold plates, enclosures).
• Create/review CAD models and drawings.
• Influence materials selection and interfaces for thermal performance.
• Engage at concept stage to influence system architecture.

Skills

Thermal design

CFD modelling

Heat transfer

Conduction cooling

SolidWorks CAD

Mechanical design

Production-ready assemblies

Tolerancing

Design ownership

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

We’re building something powerful. Let’s build it together.

We've delivered high-performance embedded computing solutions for four decades across industries including defence, telecoms, and aerospace. We’re proud to be experts in what we do and are looking for more brilliant people to join our team.

The Role

We are looking for a Senior Thermal Engineer with strong mechanical design capability to take ownership of thermal performance across complex, high-power electronic systems. This role requires a deep understanding of heat transfer, coupled with practical mechanical engineering experience to deliver physically robust, manufacturable thermal solutions.

You will be expected to lead thermal design activities end-to-end, shaping architecture decisions, driving analysis, validating performance, and influencing overall system design.

What will I be doing?

Thermal Design & Analysis

• Own thermal architecture and design for complex electronic systems
• Perform detailed thermal modelling using CFD and analytical approaches
• Define and manage thermal budgets and worst-case analyses
• Develop and optimise cooling solutions (forced air, conduction, hybrid approaches)
• Ensure designs meet performance requirements across full environmental conditions
• Correlate simulation results with physical test data and refine models

Mechanical Design Integration

• Design and develop thermal hardware (heatsinks, frames, cold plates, enclosures)
• Contribute directly to mechanical design, ensuring thermal considerations are embedded
• Create/review CAD models and engineering drawings
• Ensure manufacturability, robustness, and cost-effective design solutions
• Influence materials selection, surface finishes, and interface design for thermal performance

System-Level Ownership

• Engage at concept stage to influence system architecture and layout
• Identify thermal risks early and drive mitigation strategies
• Work closely with electrical, systems, and manufacturing teams
• Provide technical input into design reviews and key engineering decisions

Verification & Testing

• Define and execute thermal validation plans
• Instrument systems and support test activities
• Analyse and present data clearly to stakeholders
• Ensure strong correlation between predicted and measured performance

Technical Leadership

• Act as subject matter expert for thermal engineering within the team
• Mentor and support junior engineers where required
• Drive improvements in tools, processes, and best practices

What are we looking for?

Experience and Knowledge:

• Significant experience in thermal design of electronics or high-power systems
• Strong proficiency in CFD tools (e.g Solid works flow simulation)
• Excellent understanding of heat transfer fundamentals and practical application
• Experience with conduction and air-cooled systems in constrained environment
• Proven hands‑on mechanical design experience (not just analysis)
• Strong CAD capability (SolidWorks)
• Experience designing thermal/mechanical assemblies for production
• Understanding of tolerancing, interfaces, and real-world build constraints
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of designs from concept through to production
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and lifecycle considerations
• Experience in ruggedised or high-reliability systems (e.g. defence, aerospace, industrial)
• Familiarity with relevant environmental or industry standards
• Experience with Heat pipes and Vapour chambers, liquid cooling or high heat flux systems
• Exposure to coupled thermal-structural analysis (FEA)
• Experience supporting bids, proposals, or early concept work
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related discipline
• Chartered status (or working towards) is advantageous

Benefits for working at Concurrent

• 25 days holidays + bank holidays and holiday purchase scheme.
• Annual profit share bonus.
• Cycle to work, Home & Tech and car salary sacrifice schemes.
• Employee assistance programme and virtual GP.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Generous company pension scheme with up to 10% employer contribution.
• One paid volunteering day per year.
• Private Health Insurance through Bupa.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and believe in the power of a diverse, inclusive team. We welcome all applications from all suitably qualified people, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion / belief, sexual orientation or age. Please let us know if you require anything which would enable your success throughout our interview process.

Security Clearance

Please be aware that certain roles working for Concurrent will be subject to security and export control restrictions. These specific roles are therefore subject to candidates being able to meet BPSS level pre-employment screening criteria. For more information and guidance about security requirements please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

GDPR

By applying for this position, you acknowledge that your personal data will be processed in accordance with Concurrent's Data Protection Policy. We will use your information solely for recruitment purposes and will not share it with third parties without your consent. Your data will be stored securely and retained only as long as necessary for the recruitment process. You have the right to access, rectify, or delete your personal data at any time. For more information on how we handle your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.