Data Center Cooling and Thermodynamics Engineer

ECL; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and equity package

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) matching

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

A leading tech company in California is seeking a Senior Data Center Cooling & Thermodynamics Engineer to join their innovative team. You will be responsible for lead the thermal design and optimization of their data center fleet, focusing on cutting-edge cooling solutions. The ideal candidate should possess a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, over 7 years of experience, and expertise in heat transfer and fluid dynamics. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience in critical facilities, HVAC design, or electronic thermal management.
• Deep expertise in Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics, and Fluid Dynamics.
• Expert-level proficiency in CFD software.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design and specification of cooling systems for new builds and retrofits.
• Perform advanced CFD simulations to predict airflow patterns and thermal gradients.
• Drive initiatives to lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).

Skills

Heat Transfer

Thermodynamics

Fluid Dynamics

Problem Solving

Data-Driven Decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s or PhD in related field

Tools

6SigmaRoom/Future Facilities

Ansys Icepak

Flotherm

Cadence Celsius

Job description

ECL has just changed the GAME with the introduction of the world’s first Hydrogen powered off grid green data center with 99.999% uptime. There is massive demand for high-end Data Centers that can meet the demands that come with AI and Machine Learning requirements. What was only a futuristic idea that most thought was 10-20 years out is NOW a reality. Our end-to-end construction platform, modular architecture, is repeatable from 1-2MW’s meeting the needs of even larger data center sites. Imagine the opportunity at hand to build and deliver a Completely Green Power Generation System in this new era of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence disruptive technology advancements.

How would you like to be on the ground floor of such a technological revolution? This is your chance to become part of something special as we are poised for hyper growth. ECL was founded by data center veterans from companies including Facebook, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Cisco, HPE and Bloom Energy.

$150,000 - $200,000 a year

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Data Center Cooling & Thermodynamics Engineer to lead the thermal design, analysis, and optimization of our global data center fleet. In this role, you will bridge the gap between theoretical thermodynamics and practical mechanical design. You will be responsible for ensuring our cooling infrastructure—ranging from traditional air‑cooled systems to cutting‑edge liquid cooling solutions—operates at peak efficiency while supporting rapidly increasing rack densities.

Key Responsibilities

• Thermal Strategy & Design:
  • Lead the mechanical design and specification of cooling systems for new builds and retrofits, including Chilled Water (CHW), Direct Expansion (DX), Evaporative Cooling, and Economization modes.
  • Develop thermal solutions for high‑density computing environments (HPC/AI), specifically focusing on Direct-to-Chip (DLC).
  • Define and own the thermal roadmap, ensuring alignment with ASHRAE TC 9.9 environmental guidelines.
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) & Modeling:
  • Perform advanced CFD simulations to predict airflow patterns, pressure drops, and thermal gradients at the chip, server, rack, and room levels.
  • Validate models against real‑world operational data to refine accuracy and improve predictive capabilities.
• Efficiency & Sustainability:
  • Drive initiatives to lower PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) and WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness) without compromising uptime.
  • Analyze psychrometric charts and local climate data to optimize economizer hours and water consumption in various global geographies.
  • Collaborate with electrical engineers to balance power delivery with thermal rejection requirements.
• Lifecycle & Cross‑Functional Collaboration:
  • Act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) during site selection, commissioning, and root cause analysis (RCA) for thermal incidents.
  • Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with hardware architects to influence server chassis design for optimal airflow.

Basic Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field (Master’s or PhD preferred).
• Experience: 7+ years of relevant experience in critical facilities, HVAC design, or electronic thermal management.
• Technical Proficiency: Deep expertise in Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics, and Fluid Dynamics.
• Expert‑level proficiency in CFD software: 6SigmaRoom/Future Facilities, Ansys Icepak, Flotherm, or Cadence Celsius.
• Experience with building management systems (BMS) and controls logic.
• Knowledge: Strong understanding of psychrometrics, hydronics, and heat rejection equipment (Chillers, Cooling Towers, CDUs).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing Liquid Cooling systems (single‑phase or two‑phase) for hyperscale environments.
• Proficiency in coding/scripting (Python, MATLAB) for data analysis and automating simulation workflows.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license.
• Experience interacting with hardware ODMs to optimize server thermal layouts.

Cultural Fit

• Problem Solver: You enjoy digging into complex physics problems and finding elegant solutions.
• Data‑Driven: You make design decisions based on simulation data and field measurements, not just "rules of thumb."
• Communicator: You can explain complex thermodynamic concepts to non‑technical stakeholders and business leaders.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) matching.
• Flexible work schedule.

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

ECL Inc is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and empowered to do their best work. We hire the best talent for our teams, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status. Our focus is on hiring teammates with humble expertise, kindness, dedication and a willingness to embrace challenges and learn together every day.

ECL Inc does not accept resumes or candidate submissions from external agencies. We appreciate the interest and effort of recruitment firms, but we kindly request that individuals interested in opportunities with ECL apply directly through our official channels. This approach allows us to streamline our hiring processes and maintain a consistent and fair evaluation of all applicants. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.