Sr. Principal Engineer Mechanical Engineering

Vertiv Co; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv's Thermal Advanced Development group seeks a senior technical leader to define strategy and drive prototype validation for next-generation cooling technologies. You will lead cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, and collaborate with external research partners to push innovative solutions from concept to product transition.

The role requires deep thermodynamics expertise, strong communication with senior leadership, and experience with CAD tools such as CREO.

Qualifications

• BSME or related degree required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Strong leadership with multi-disciplinary project experience.
• Ability to guide concept through prototype validation.
• Experience with 3D CAD, CREO preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the technical strategy for mission-critical thermal advanced development projects from concept through prototype validation.
• Serve as senior technical lead on cross-functional teams guiding engineering activities and milestones.
• Develop and document design guidelines and specifications for handover to NPDI teams.
• Communicate complex technical information to senior leadership and cross-functional groups.
• Mentor engineers and technicians to build high-performance teams.
• Establish and maintain relationships with external research partners.
• Conduct and oversee thermal analysis, modeling, and testing to validate concepts.
• Influence technology roadmaps and industry/regulatory developments.
• Drive continuous improvement in advanced development methods and processes.
• Represent Vertiv as a SME at conferences and customer engagements.
• Perform engineering calculations to verify design requirements.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Fluid mechanics

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Cross-functional leadership

Engineering calculations

3D CAD

CREO

Communication

Research partnerships

Education

BS Mechanical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

CREO

ANSYS

Job description

Vertiv's Thermal Business Unit is a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and servicing mission-critical thermal management solutions for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities worldwide. The Thermal BU's portfolio spans the complete thermal chain from chip to atmosphere, including room cooling, in-row cooling, rack cooling, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, coolant distribution units (CDUs), rear-door heat exchangers, chillers, dry coolers, and trim coolers. Operating across all major regions (Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific), the Thermal BU serves hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and edge data center customers with solutions optimized for increasingly high-density AI and high-performance computing environments. Within this business unit, the Advanced Development group is responsible for incubating next-generation thermal technologies and proving their viability before transitioning them to NPDI teams for productization. This role sits at the forefront of that mission, driving innovation in emerging thermal architectures that will define Vertiv's competitive position in the rapidly evolving data center cooling market.

Position Overview:

• Define and lead the technical strategy for mission critical thermal advanced development projects from concept through prototype validation.
• Serve as the senior technical lead on cross-functional project teams, directing engineering activities, resolving complex technical challenges, and ensuring milestones are met on time and within budget.
• Develop and document comprehensive design guidelines and specifications for handover to NPDI teams when projects transition from advanced engineering to product development.
• Communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences including senior leadership, cross-functional teams, external partners, and customers.
• Mentor and lead engineers and technicians on projects, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment and helping to develop the next generation of technical talent.
• Establish and maintain relationships with external research partners (e.g., universities, national labs) to identify and advance emerging thermal technologies.
• Conduct and oversee thermal analysis, modeling, and testing to validate advanced cooling concepts.
• Influence technology roadmaps and provide expert guidance on industry trends, competitive technologies, and regulatory developments in thermal management and refrigerants.
• Drive continuous improvement in advanced development methods, tools, and processes across the organization.
• Represent Vertiv as a subject matter expert at industry conferences, standards bodies, and customer engagements.
• Perform a variety of engineering calculations using traditional engineering methods to verify design requirements, which may include stress calculations, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Develop solutions to complex problems where little or no precedence exists - the use of ingenuity and creativity is regularly required.
• Other Duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Highly self-directing with the ability to set priorities, define project scope, and drive results with minimal oversight
• Extensive track record as a technical lead directing multi-disciplinary project teams from concept through prototype/validation, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent programs.
• Demonstrated leadership in guiding and developing others to complete projects efficiently and on schedule
• Demonstrated record of meeting deadlines and project goals
• Deep expertise in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics
• Strong ability to write clear, actionable design guidelines and technical documentation suitable for use by downstream product development teams
• Demonstrated history of delivering quality products to market with understanding and respect for phases of the product development process
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to present complex technical concepts to executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders
• Recognized as a technical authority within the organization or industry
• Experience with 3D CAD software, preferred CREO 4.0 and greater

Preferred:

• Experience in cryogenic cooling system development
  • Experience in programming and/or creating thermal system energy models to compare new ideas to baseline systems
  • Experience using AI design tools for thermal components or systems (e.g., generative design, topology optimization, AI-driven CFD)
  • Experience with 2-Phase heat transfer fluids, including “natural” refrigerants, such as R744, R718, etc.
  • Experience with 1-phase and/or 2-phase Liquid Cooling technologies
  • Knowledge of psychometric chart and refrigeration cycles
  • Experience with CFD and/or FEA software, preferred Ansys
  • Understanding of manufacturing limitations, break sheet metal and formed copper tubes
  • Familiarity with data center thermal architecture and critical infrastructure cooling requirements
  • Patent portfolio or published research in thermal management technologies

Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or directly related degree at minimum.
• Advanced Degree preferred.

Travel:

Up to 10%

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv’s Core Principles & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities.

OUR CORE PRINCIPLES

• Safety
• Integrity
• Respect
• Teamwork
• Inclusion

OUR CORE PRINCIPALS

• Safety
• Integrity
• Respect
• Teamwork
• Inclusion

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• High-Performance Culture
• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation
• Financial Strength

VERTIV BEHAVIORS

• Own it
• Act with urgency
• Foster a customer-first mindset
• Think big and execute
• Lead by example
• Drive continuous improvement
• Learn and seek out development
• Promote transparent & open communication

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers’ vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extend from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 34,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. Visit Vertiv.com to learn more.

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. If you have a disability and are having difficulty accessing or using this website to apply for a position, you can request help by sending an email to [e-mail].

#LI-CM1