Senior Thermal Systems Engineer

Advantest America; Lake Forest (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Advantest Test Solutions, Inc. (ATS) in Lake Forest, CA is seeking a Senior Thermal Systems Engineer to serve as the thermal lead on our team. You will own thermal architecture, design, validation, and support for high-power electronic systems from concept through mass production.

The role requires hands-on testing, thermal analyses, mentoring junior engineers, collaboration with design and manufacturing, and ensuring compliance with industry standards while optimizing performance and cost.

Qualifications

• Experience leading thermal design projects.
• Strong knowledge of liquid cooling and refrigerant-based systems.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical direction.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the thermal lead on assigned programs, drafting thermal requirements.
• Own thermal system design and validation from architecture through release.
• Lead design validation and prototyping across product lifecycles.
• Design and support thermal components (cold plates, heatsinks, chillers).
• Perform hands-on thermal testing and thermal analyses to meet specs.
• Collaborate with design teams and mentor engineers on the team.

Skills

Thermal leadership

Thermal design

Hands-on testing

Mentoring

Documentation

Job description

Senior Thermal Systems Engineer

Advantest Test Solutions, Inc. (ATS) is seeking a Senior Thermal Systems Engineer to serve as a thermal technical lead on our team in Lake Forest, CA. ATS is a leading provider of massively parallel electronic test systems, including System Level Test (SLT), burn-in, and semiconductor/module testing. We offer an exciting portfolio of high-performance test systems that support the semiconductor industry worldwide.

This individual will act as the thermal lead on assigned programs, taking ownership of technical decisions and drafting thermal requirements with minimal supervision. The role covers the full range of thermal and mechanical engineering functions related to the design, testing, and evaluation of thermal systems for electronic systems, including semiconductors, photonics, and embedded devices, from early concept through mass production. Responsibilities include directing thermal system design and validation, mentoring junior engineers, and serving as the primary technical point of contact for thermal scope on their programs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as the thermal lead on assigned programs, making independent technical decisions and drafting thermal system requirements.
• Own thermal system design and validation for liquid-cooled and refrigerant-based systems, from architecture through release.
• Lead thermal system design and validation across the full product lifecycle, including prototyping, design validation, and transition to mass production.
• Design and develop thermal components such as cold plates (liquid-cooling and two-phase), ceramic heaters, heat sinks, chillers, and condensing units.
• Design and support high power, high temperature active thermal control systems.
• Perform hands-on thermal system testing and design validation to confirm designs meet specifications and performance requirements.
• Conduct thermal analyses to evaluate component and system-level performance.
• Collaborate with and provide technical direction to design and development teams to integrate thermal solutions into product designs.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to less experienced engineers on the team.
• Optimize thermal designs to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance performance.
• Develop and maintain detailed documentation of designs, analyses, and testing results.
• Stay current with advancements in thermal management technologies and methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations related to thermal design and performance.
• Work with procurement, manufacturing, quality assurance, and technical support teams to establish specifications, and assist in vendor/supplier selection for parts, materials, and assemblies.
• Provide hands-on support during product installation and commissioning at customer sites, and guidance to the field service team.
• Identify risk areas and opportunities for optimization, and drive resolution of field issues in collaboration with the field team.
• Act as a technical point of contact for customers on thermal-related issues for their programs.
• Conduct hands-on evaluation of prototype and sub-assembly builds, including thorough performance assessments.
• Perform additional duties as required.