Lead Engineer, Cooling Lab & Modeling

Aligned Data Centers; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Gympass membership

Generous time off

Job summary

Aligned Data Centers is seeking a senior Mechanical Engineering leader to oversee the Advanced Cooling Lab, directing daily operations and validating cooling technologies through rigorous test plans and digital-twin simulations.

The role requires deep heat transfer and fluid dynamics expertise, experience with MATLAB/Simulink and Cadence, and the ability to present complex results to executives and clients during demonstrations.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a closely related physical science discipline.
• Deep, specialized knowledge of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and complex mechanical cooling systems (e.g., chiller plants, CDUs, heat exchangers).
• Demonstrated experience using system-level modeling and simulation software such as MATLAB/Simulink, Cadence, or equivalent computational platforms.
• Exceptional verbal communication and presentation skills; able to translate technical data for diverse audiences, including C-suite executives and clients.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily operations, safety protocols, and mechanical configuration of the Advanced Cooling Lab.
• Lead development, tuning, and execution of virtual simulation environments using real telemetry to calibrate predictive models.
• Partner with Platform Delivery and Site Operations to validate system modifications and explore new cooling methodologies.
• Serve as the technical face during customer visits, leading live demonstrations and explaining thermodynamics and validation methodologies.

Skills

Heat transfer

Fluid dynamics

Thermodynamics

Mechanical cooling systems

Strategic communication

Education

Master’s or Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering / Thermal Sciences

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Cadence

Job description

It’s fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they’re doing!
We’re committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

Core Responsibilities:

• Physical Lab Operations & Empirical Testing: Direct the daily operations, safety protocols, and mechanical configuration of the Advanced Cooling Lab. Design and execute rigorous physical test plans for emerging data center cooling hardware and technologies.
• Digital Twin & System Modeling (HFSS): Lead the development, tuning, and execution of virtual simulation environments. Utilize real-world telemetry data and empirical lab results to calibrate predictive thermal and fluid dynamic models, allowing the department to mathematically stress-test proposed mechanical topologies prior to live deployment.
• Proactive Validation & Innovation: Partner with the Platform Delivery and Site Operations teams to reactively test proposed system modifications stemming from Incident RCAs and proactively conduct R&D on new cooling methodologies to maintain Aligned’s market leadership.
• Executive & Client Demonstrations: Serve as the definitive technical face of the Advanced Cooling Lab during strategic customer visits. Lead live demonstrations and clearly articulate complex thermodynamic concepts, system resilience, and validation methodologies to existing and prospective hyperscale clients.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Advanced degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a closely related physical science discipline.
• Technical Expertise: Deep, specialized foundational knowledge of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and complex mechanical cooling systems (e.g., chiller plants, CDUs, heat exchangers).
• Simulation & Software Proficiency: Demonstrated professional or academic experience utilizing advanced system-level modeling and simulation software such as MATLAB/Simulink, Cadence, or equivalent computational platforms.
• Strategic Communication: Exceptional verbal communication and presentation skills. Proven ability to translate highly technical modeling data into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences, ranging from field technicians to C-suite executives and external enterprise clients.

At Aligned Data Centers, not only do we celebrate success across our platform, we celebrate the very teams that drive and support that success! Our culture is founded in passion, engineered from innovation, and driven by the pursuit of operational excellence. We are a company dedicated to driving positive change in the industry through continuous data center innovation, diversity and inclusion, and corporate sustainability.

We realize not only is providing a comprehensive benefits package important, but we also provide a generous

• 401k match with immediate vesting
• free membership to Gympass which provides our employees a rich health and wellness benefit
• competitive time off plan

Giving back and having fun is important to our team whether it be serving our communities or employee and customer events.

Our Aligned DNA is what makes us unique and successful!