Application Validation Manager – Liquid Cooling

Vertiv Co; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv Co in Columbus, Ohio is seeking an Application Validation Manager to lead validation strategies for liquid cooling products. The role ensures products meet specifications and perform effectively in customer applications.

Responsibilities include overseeing system-level testing, leading a team of engineers, and ensuring alignment with customer requirements. Ideal candidates should have a degree in engineering and significant experience in validation processes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in product validation, application engineering, or system-level testing.
• 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams or technical programs.
• Strong understanding of thermal-fluid systems and electromechanical integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of application validation strategies.
• Ensure testing covers dynamic operating conditions and validate system integration.
• Partner with product management and engineering teams for application readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Thermal-fluid systems expertise

Problem-solving

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Validation test equipment

Controls systems

Job description

Job Summary

If you enjoy validating how complex systems perform in real-world conditions - where mechanical, electrical, and controls all intersect - this role offers the opportunity to ensure liquid cooling products perform as intended in customer applications.

The Application Validation Manager is responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and team development for application-focused validation of liquid cooling systems at Vertiv. This role ensures products are validated not only to design specifications, but also to real-world customer applications, where mechanical, electrical, and controls systems must operate seamlessly together.

This position bridges product validation and application engineering by overseeing system-level testing, first-of-kind validation efforts with customers and partners, and cross-functional integration testing. The Application Validation Manager plays a critical role in ensuring products perform reliably across full operating ranges, environmental conditions, and dynamic use cases typical of AI-driven data center deployments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of application validation strategies aligned with customer requirements and product roadmaps.
• Define validation approaches that simulate real-world operating conditions, including environmental extremes, load variability, and system interactions.
• Ensure alignment between application validation, DVT, and NPDI milestones.
• Lead and develop a team of application validation engineers, fostering strong technical capability in system-level testing and cross-disciplinary validation.
• Provide direction on validation methodologies, test planning, and execution priorities.
• Build team expertise in controls validation, system integration, and application-based testing.
• Oversee validation activities that span mechanical, electrical, and controls systems, ensuring proper interaction across all subsystems.
• Ensure testing covers dynamic operating conditions such as startup, shutdown, transient loads, and off-design scenarios.
• Validate system integration with customer infrastructure, including facility water systems, controls interfaces, and IT loads.
• Lead first-of-kind testing initiatives with customers and partners, validating new system designs in real-world or simulated environments.
• Ensure customer requirements are translated into executable validation plans and successfully demonstrated through testing.
• Support technical discussions with customers regarding system performance, behavior, and application-specific considerations.
• Oversee validation of controls algorithms, sequencing logic, and system responses under normal and fault conditions.
• Ensure proper interaction between sensors, actuators, firmware, and mechanical systems.
• Drive resolution of issues related to control stability, fault handling, and system response.
• Ensure validation plans include failure mode and edge-case testing, such as sensor failures, flow disruptions, and thermal excursions.
• Validate system robustness and recovery under abnormal or degraded operating conditions.
• Partner with engineering teams to support FMEA and reliability improvement efforts.
• Partner with product management, systems engineering, DVT, and manufacturing teams to ensure application readiness throughout NPDI.
• Provide application-focused input into design reviews, highlighting risks and validation gaps.
• Ensure traceability between customer requirements, validation activities, and test results.

Technical Responsibilities:

• Work closely with lab engineering to ensure test infrastructure supports application-level validation needs.
• Define requirements for test setups, instrumentation, and environmental simulation to replicate real-world conditions.
• Support planning for lab expansion and capability development aligned with application validation needs.
• Drive structured root-cause analysis for application-related issues identified during testing or early deployment.
• Implement improvements in validation methods, test coverage, and execution efficiency.
• Establish KPIs for application validation effectiveness, including issue detection, cycle time, and test coverage.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in product validation, application engineering, or system-level testing.
• 3+ years of experience leading engineering teams or technical programs.
• Strong understanding of thermal-fluid systems, controls, and electromechanical integration.
• Experience working across disciplines (mechanical, electrical, firmware/controls).
• Experience supporting NPDI or structured product development processes.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with liquid cooling systems, CDUs, or thermal management technologies.
• Familiarity with controls systems, PLCs, or embedded firmware validation.
• Experience validating systems across environmental and operating ranges.
• Experience working directly with OEM customers or partners on system validation.
• Knowledge of FMEA, reliability engineering, and failure mode validation.
• Familiarity with ASHRAE/AHRI testing standards.
• International travel willingness (up to 20%).

About the Team

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

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.