Lead Thermal Architect for AI Data Center Cooling

Flex; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 190,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Flex is seeking a Principal Engineer, Advanced Cooling Engineering in Austin, TX to lead SpinCo’s thermal management strategy for next-generation AI data center infrastructure. You will own architectures for direct-to-chip cooling, CDU integration, and facility-scale cooling, shaping the roadmap and validating designs through hands-on work.

You will drive multi-disciplinary teams from concept to validation, partnering with systems architecture, operations, and customers to ensure scalable,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in thermal systems, liquid cooling, HVAC, data center infrastructure, or advanced mechanical systems.
• Demonstrated leadership in electrical, mechanical, and/or systems architecture engineering disciplines.
• Demonstrated expertise in fluid dynamics, heat transfer, pumps, manifolds, valves, material compatibility, mechanical reliability, and thermal/fluid simulation.
• Experience with direct-to-chip liquid cooling, CDUs, rack/server thermal design, or high-density data center cooling strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams from concept through validation and commercialization.
• Strong cross-functional leadership across product management, PMO, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and customers.
• Demonstrated personal track record producing thermal designs, fluid and thermal simulation, and validated hardware, not only managing teams that do.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the multi-generation cooling roadmap across rack, row, hall, and facility-level thermal management.
• Lead applied R&D and prototype development for high-heat-flux cooling solutions supporting next-generation AI XPUs and high-density compute platforms.
• Develop SpinCo’s integrated thermal management strategy, connecting rack-level liquid cooling, CDUs, facility cooling, containment, and controls into a coordinated platform.
• Partner with Systems Architecture Engineering to ensure thermal systems are designed concurrently with power, IT infrastructure, controls, and modular product architectures.
• Establish design standards, interface control documents, product specifications, and validation requirements for scalable liquid cooling platforms.
• Support customer-facing technical reviews with hyperscalers, colocation providers, neoclouds, and ecosystem partners.
• Drive manufacturability, reliability, cost optimization, and design-for-scale practices in partnership with operations, supply chain, quality, and manufacturing engineering.

Skills

Thermal systems

Liquid cooling

Heat transfer

Fluid dynamics

Systems engineering

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Hardware design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical field

Master’s or PhD preferred

Job description

Flex is seeking a Principal Engineer, Advanced Cooling Engineering in Austin, TX to lead SpinCo’s thermal management strategy for next-generation AI data center infrastructure. You will own architectures for direct-to-chip cooling, CDU integration, and facility-scale cooling, shaping the roadmap and validating designs through hands-on work.

You will drive multi-disciplinary teams from concept to validation, partnering with systems architecture, operations, and customers to ensure scalable,