Senior Thermal Systems Engineer – High-Performance Cooling

Acceler8 Talent; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Acceler8Talent partners with a well-funded AI/networking hardware startup in the SF Bay Area to redefine infrastructure for hyperscale workloads. The Senior Thermal Engineer will lead design and validation of advanced cooling solutions for high-performance systems.

Responsibilities include thermal modeling, testing, and collaboration with hardware teams and suppliers to ensure reliability. A strong emphasis is on heat transfer, air and liquid cooling, and staying ahead of industry trends.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (M.S. preferred) with focus on heat transfer.
• 5–10 years in thermal design for datacenter network systems preferred.
• Proficient in thermal simulation tools (Flotherm, Flotherm-XT, IcePak).
• Strong understanding of air cooling techniques: vapor chambers, heat pipes, heat sinks, fans, TIMs, and rack-level constraints.
• Experience with liquid cooling (preferred, not required).
• Deep knowledge of heat transfer and real-world thermal system design.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop thermal solutions including heatsinks, cold plates, and liquid cooling systems.
• Perform thermal modeling and simulations using industry-standard tools.
• Lead thermal testing and validation to ensure performance and reliability.
• Collaborate with hardware and system teams to integrate thermal designs.
• Work with suppliers to deliver high-quality thermal components.
• Troubleshoot thermal issues and maintain system reliability.
• Stay current on industry trends and emerging cooling technologies.

Skills

Heat transfer

Thermal design

Thermal simulation tools

Air cooling

Liquid cooling

Heat sink design

Vendor liaison

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

M.S. Mechanical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

Flotherm

Flotherm-XT

IcePak

Job description

Acceler8Talent partners with a well-funded AI/networking hardware startup in the SF Bay Area to redefine infrastructure for hyperscale workloads. The Senior Thermal Engineer will lead design and validation of advanced cooling solutions for high-performance systems.

Responsibilities include thermal modeling, testing, and collaboration with hardware teams and suppliers to ensure reliability. A strong emphasis is on heat transfer, air and liquid cooling, and staying ahead of industry trends.