Principal Engineer, Data Center Thermal Management

UL Solutions; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401K

Paid time off

Job summary

UL Solutions in Washington, DC area seeks a seasoned Engineer to act as a Regional/Global SME for thermal management and data center cooling. The role entails contributing to standards, developing test capabilities, and representing UL at industry events.

You will lead cross‑functional teams, manage complex test procedures, and drive continuous improvement across regions. A strong background in high‑density cooling and regulatory alignment is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal/Fluid Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Applied Physics.
• 12+ years of direct, progressive engineering experience in high-density data center cooling or HPC thermal management.
• Leadership of cross-functional global teams with formal codes of conduct and security protocols.

Responsibilities

• Boundary Architect focusing on Regulatory & Standards.
• Engineer safety evaluations for coolant leaks and refrigerant chemistry.
• Convert thermal management trends into profitable services.
• Embed UL safety philosophies into open specifications for products.
• Launch UL Verified programs for cooling dissipation components.
• Drive technical consensus across vendors and industry groups.
• Align offerings with regulatory frameworks like DOE, EU, and others.
• Develop test methods and equipment for new standards.

Skills

Thermal engineering

Data center cooling

HVACR product development

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Thermal/Fluid Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Applied Physics

Tools

Test equipment calibration

Standards committee participation

Job description

Job Description

This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days per week in any UL location in the US. Remote will be considered for candidates who are not commutable to a UL office.

• Serves as Regional or Global SME for multiple technologies.
• Serves as representative on standards committees.
• Publishes articles related to technical expertise.
• Studies and understands test standards, testing technology, and regulations for scope of responsibility.
• Takes on role as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for standards, industry, and/or test capability.
• May represent UL at industry related functions such as seminars, trade shows or standards committees.
• Manages or develops new standard programs and capabilities for region or globally.
• Has detailed understanding of test techniques, procedures, and equipment.
• Performs complex test procedures when necessary.
• Provides training to staff when necessary.
• Follows up on contacts from clients and communicates technical issues, Test Standard explanations, certification requirements and UL procedures and requirements.
• Acts to address client concerns and resolve issues for a region or global office.
• Drives for consistency and enhanced quality in area of expertise.
• Within their region, or for the wider organization, operates and maintains test equipment appropriately to measure and test customer samples.
• Performs maintenance on designated test equipment and laboratory area.
• May perform calibration of test equipment.
• Integrates continuous improvement concepts and techniques into all aspects of the job for a region or global office.
• Manages and reviews related internal documents for accuracy.
• Develops special test methods and test equipment for new standards, test requirements, or improved efficiency, when needed.
• Likely to support the business externally through travelling to meetings at client sites, attendance at industry related events and other meetings.
• Read and follow the Underwriters Laboratories Code of Conduct and follow all physical and digital security practices.
• Performs other duties as directed.

Responsibilities

• Boundary Architect (Regulatory & Standards)
• Hazard Protocols: Engineer safety evaluations for coolant leaks, dielectric fluid chemistry, and A2L/A3 refrigerant flammability.
• Commercial Vision: Convert thermal management trends and safety metrics into profitable commercial services.
• Ecosystem Developer (OCP & Market Alignment)
• OCP Standardization: Embed UL safety philosophies into Cold Plate, Immersion, and Heat Reuse open specifications.
• Service Creation: Launch 'UL Verified' programs to validate cold plate dissipation and universal quick disconnect (UQD) interchangeability.
• Industry Influence: Drive technical consensus across competing vendors, hyperscalers, ASHRAE TC 9.9, and the Green Grid.
• Sustainability & Regulatory Driver
• Heat Reuse Certification: Architect programs to rate waste heat quality for predictable utility grid monetization.
• Global Compliance: Align offerings with DOE, NRCan, EU EED, and Ecodesign frameworks ahead of regulatory enforcement.

Key Essential Tasks

• Performance Testing: Operationalize lab suites validating cold plate thermal resistance, pressure drop, and hydraulic impedance.
• Blind-Mate Interoperability: Establish mechanical regimes for Open Rack V3 (ORv3) manifolds to prevent binding and bypass.
• Dielectric Compatibility: Standardize chemical and electrical compatibility tests between immersion fluids and server components.
• Leak Detection Integration: Map unified Redfish API schemas to trigger automated isolation across CDUs and loops.
• Thought Leadership: Publish white papers on regulatory minefields like PFAS restrictions and global F‑Gas phasedowns.
• Workforce Training: Build global laboratory capacity through standardized internal engineering curricula.

Qualifications

• Formal Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal/Fluid Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Applied Physics from an accredited university program.
• Direct Professional Experience: A minimum of 12+ years of direct, progressive engineering experience in high-density data center cooling design, advanced HVACR product development, or comprehensive thermal management engineering within high-performance computing (HPC) or hyperscale cloud ecosystems.
• Track Record of Leadership: Demonstrated history of direct management or programmatic leadership of high-performing, cross-functional global teams of technical experts and laboratory specialists, with a clear adherence to formal corporate codes of conduct and comprehensive digital/physical security protocols.

What we offer

• Total Rewards: We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. The estimated salary range for this position is $155,000-$175,000 and is based on multiple factors, including job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, as well as other factors. This position is eligible for annual bonus compensation with a target payout of 20% of the base salary. This position also provides health benefits such as medical, dental and vision; wellness benefits such as mental and financial health; and retirement savings (401K) commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country. We also provide full‑time employees with paid time off including vacation (15 days), holiday including floating holidays (12 days) and sick time off (72 hours).