Staff Thermal Design Engineer

ZT Systems; Secaucus (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement savings plan

Tuition reimbursement

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off (PTO) and company-paid holidays

Structured training programs

Job summary

ZT Systems, located in Secaucus, NJ, is seeking a Staff Thermal Design Engineer to assist in developing key thermal components for new products. The role focuses on solving heat transfer problems, designing innovative cooling solutions, and providing technical support. The ideal candidate will have at least 8 years of experience in thermal design and expertise in heat transfer and fluid dynamics.

The position offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and opportunities for growth within a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of related experience.
• Experience with testing and/or simulation for servers is a plus.
• Strong background in heat transfer and fluid dynamics with expertise in electronics cooling.
• Testing experience in a lab including instrumentation.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Create analytical and numerical models by CFD for new projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout the product development process.
• Work with the engineering team to optimize thermal performance of servers.
• Responsible for full cycle program management of key thermal components.
• Support procurement team to manage cooling vendors.

Skills

Heat transfer

Fluid dynamics

3D CAD (Creo or Solidworks)

CFD (FloTherm or Icepack)

Data acquisition and analysis

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Electrical Engineering

Master’s Degree

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

Job description

About The Role

The Staff Thermal Design Engineer is responsible for assisting in the development of key thermal components and systems from concept to engineering release of new products. The focus is on running server system thermal tests using data acquisition equipment, thermal stress test software, and external power control equipment. The thermal engineer troubleshoots thermal and/or airflow issues in new and existing product lines using empirical data and commercial CFD software. The Sr. Staff Thermal engineer plays an active role in developing thermal components using 3D CAD software and advanced engineering analysis. A candidate for this role will be responsible for owning thermal design and optimization for new hardware and evaluating thermal technology across compute and storage devices, from liquid cooling to thermal critical components, and optimizing the hardware for high‑performance, efficient data center operation. The engineer will be responsible for solving heat transfer problems occurring in complex subcomponents or full hardware systems, using comprehensive thermal design fundamentals and analytical tools. The ideal candidate will have the ability to work with other function teams and vendors to strengthen their knowledge base.

In addition, the thermal engineer provides regular Q&A and on‑site support to ZT Systems’ manufacturing engineering group as well as technical support for customers.

What You Will Do

• Create analytical and numerical models by CFD or relevant simulation tools to describe system thermal for new projects
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams throughout the product development process, from conceptualization to prototyping and production
• Work with the engineering team to optimize the thermal performance of servers using empirical data and bench test methods
• Develop and execute test plans to measure thermal performance/efficiency of hardware and thermal technologies
• Responsible for full cycle program and project management of key thermal components from engineering design to new product release
• Design and investigate innovative thermal cooling solutions for server/rack level products
• Interface with the Firmware team to implement fan speed control algorithm
• Optimize airflow speed, volume, and flow paths to meet customer and component requirements
• Proactively resolve any performance issues that arise, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality solutions
• Analyze and solve technical problems in a fast‑paced environment
• Produce engineering documents that include design drawings, thermal reports, installation manuals from test and simulation data/results
• Focus on continuous improvement to maintain the highest quality standards
• Select and decide the appropriate methods and plans to verify thermal related issues and ensure good system thermal performance
• Engage with external vendors including ODM and component vendors on design, test and production
• Survey, study, test and verify liquid cooling components
• Support new and existing product lines to verify and confirm thermal and/or airflow related issues and provide solutions
• Support procurement team to identify and manage heat sink, air mover, and liquid cooling vendors

What You Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Electrical Engineering; Master’s strongly preferred
• 8+ years of related experience
• Experience with testing and/or simulation for servers is a plus
• Strong background in heat transfer and fluid dynamics with expertise in electronics cooling
• CAD (Creo or Solidworks) and CFD experience required (FloTherm or Icepack)
• Testing experience in a lab required, including instrumentation, data acquisition and data analysis
• Experience creating automated test infrastructure using programs such as LabVIEW and scripted languages such as Python
• Experienced in dealing with system‐related thermal solution issues
• Comfortable with hands‑on testing and working in a lab, fast‑paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to solve complex problems and drive programs to completion
• Self‑motivated in root‑cause resolution, new knowledge learning and sharing
• Comprehensive understanding of system‑level server platforms and the interplay of their components
• Strong understanding of hardware and system firmware/software interactions, coupled with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues
• Proactive orientation towards seizing opportunities and identifying potential problems
• Exceptional problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify key elements and develop innovative solutions
• Strong hands‑on execution and project management skills
• Strong planning and priority‑setting abilities

What We Offer

Compensation & Financial Security

• Competitive base salary
• Performance‑based annual bonus eligibility
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Tuition reimbursement for eligible education programs

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with access to leading providers
• Mental health resources and employee wellness support programs
• Company‑paid life and disability insurance

Time Away & Work Life Balance

• Paid time off (PTO) and company‑paid holidays
• Parental leave and family care support programs

Growth & Purpose

• Structured training programs and on‑the‑job learning opportunities
• Matching gifts and volunteer programs to support causes you care about

These benefits are available to eligible employees and are designed to grow with you as your career evolves. Full benefits and eligibility vary by work location. Learn more about our benefits here.

ZT Group Int’l. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. ZT Systems provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Please be aware that certain positions may require the applicant to either: (i) be a U.S. citizen or national, (ii) be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. §1157, or (iv) asylum seeker under 8 U.S.C. §1158, or: 2) be eligible to obtain an export control license or license exception from the Bureau of Industry and Science & U.S. Department of Commerce. All offers of employment will be conditional and subject to the foregoing.