Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Management Systems

Karman Industries; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Long-term incentives

Job summary

Karman Industries in Gardena, California, seeks a Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Management Systems, to lead cooling design for power electronics, inverters, and high‑frequency devices as we develop the Heat Processing Unit (HPU) for giga‑scale data centers.

You will perform system‑level analysis, select cooling strategies and materials, collaborate with manufacturing for cold plates and enclosures, and build first‑principles models to quantify performance; a B.Sc.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. in mechanical engineering
• 3+ years in thermal management design for electrical hardware
• Hands-on experience with heat transfer systems and materials
• Knowledge of basic DFM practices
• Self-motivated with strong communication and multitasking

Responsibilities

• Define cooling strategies for power electronics systems (inverters, drives, power supplies, controls)
• Design heat management systems for PCBs and electrical assemblies
• Collaborate with manufacturing to identify viable methods for cold plates, immersion liquids, and enclosures
• Coordinate with materials experts on thermal & thermo-mechanical factors over component lifespans
• Integrate thermal, mechanical and electrical designs into cohesive power conversion products
• Develop first-principles analytical models to predict hardware performance and limits
• Implement novel solutions to complex thermal challenges

Skills

Thermal management design

Heat transfer

DFM practices

Multi-tasking

Communication

Education

B.Sc. in mechanical engineering

Tools

FEA

Job description

Karman Industries

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Gardena, California, Karman Industries is at the forefront of revolutionizing industrial thermal energy. Our mission is to electrify global thermal systems across data centers, manufacturing, and energy industries. Karman is developing the revolutionary Heat Processing Unit (HPU) to reinvent thermal handling for giga-scale data centers & AI factories. The HPU is built around a supercritical CO2 chiller system utilizing a high-speed electrically driven turbomachinery core. Our system aims to reduce energy consumption in data center thermal management by greater than 25% and increase energy density by 10x.

At Karman Industries, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. Our team is composed of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of industrial manufacturing. Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Management Systems

Karman Industries is seeking a highly motivated mechanical engineer with experience in thermal management to join our team designing the next generation of heat processing systems. The candidate will lead the design, development, and qualification of cooling systems for power conversion devices, high-frequency transformers, medium voltage electrical machines, and cutting-edge medium voltage electronics to enable the Karman Heat Processing Unit (HPU) and subsequent product development. The role will include system level analysis and simulation with a view to manufacturing, addressing cooling technologies, thermal interfaces, fluid dynamics, dielectrics, and more. We are a team that relies on strong first principles approach, working together to deliver a cohesively developed system.

Responsibilities:

• Define cooling strategies for power electronics systems, including inverters, drive systems, power supplies, and controls
• Design heat management systems for PCBs and electrical assemblies
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers to identify viable fabrication methods for cold plates, immersion liquids, heat transfer materials, and enclosures
• Coordinate with materials experts to identify thermal and thermo-mechanical factors in lifespan of subcomponents
• Work with a tightly knit team across disciplines to integrate thermal, mechanical, and electrical designs into cohesive power conversion products
• Ability to implement novel solutions to challenging problems, thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo
• Develop analytical, physics-based (first principles) models to determine hardware performance and limitations

Required Qualifications:

• B.Sc. in mechanical engineering
• 3+ years of experience in the design of thermal management systems for electrical hardware
• Hands-on experience with heat transfer systems and materials
• Knowledge of basic DFM practices
• Self-motivated / high performer, ability to self-manage, multi-task, and communicate excellently

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Background in electrical isolation and safety, including electrical safety standards in the UL or IEC family
• Experience developing electronics packaging systems
• Competency with structural and thermal analysis techniques
• Familiarity with industrial automation and the vendor ecosystem

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation

Staff Engineer: $155K – $225K Offers Equity

Senior Engineer: $125K – $175K Offers Equity

Engineer: $80K – $135K Offers Equity