Thermal Principal Engineer

Dell Technologies Inc.; Round Rock (TX); On-site; USD 152,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

Dell Technologies is seeking a Principal Thermal Engineer in Round Rock, TX to design, validate, and implement advanced thermal solutions for AI/HPC and enterprise servers. You will define system-level thermal strategy and deliver reliable air- and liquid-cooled designs.

You’ll lead analytical modeling, CFD simulations, and testing, balance performance with acoustics and cost, and mentor engineers while collaborating with mechanical teams, suppliers, and ODM/JDM partners to bring products from

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in Mechanical/Thermal Engineering for complex electro-mechanical systems.
• Expertise in thermal management technologies including heat sinks, cold plates, vapor chambers, fans, and liquid cooling.
• Experience performing thermal analysis using analytical modeling, CFD, and hands-on validation testing.
• Ability to make system-level thermal architecture decisions balancing performance, acoustics, cost, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Proven experience collaborating with mechanical teams, suppliers, and ODM/JDM partners.

Responsibilities

• Architect system-level thermal solutions including cold plates, heat sinks, vapor chambers, fans, and airflow or coolant pathways
• Conduct analytical modeling, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, and empirical testing
• Drive thermal architecture decisions balancing performance, acoustics, cost, and long-term reliability
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering teams, suppliers, and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) / Joint Design Manufacturer (JDM) partners
• Mentor junior engineers and ensure compliance with Dell quality and sustainability standards

Skills

Thermal management

CFD

Analytical modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Validation testing

Education

Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering / Thermal Engineering

Tools

CREO

CFD software

Job description

Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG)

builds the products that power infrastructure, solutions, and data management our customers need most. Our teams design and develop the hardware and software that connect infrastructure, accelerate computational workloads, integrate across the stack, protect data continuity, and deliver the platforms, applications, and diagnostics our customers rely on every day at enterprise scale.

Some product builders follow the rules. Ours rewrite them.

Within ISG, innovation isn't just about creating new technology- it's about challenging assumptions and reimagining how work gets done. Engineers define intent, author precise specifications, and orchestrate AI agents that execute at speed and scale. AI is embedded throughout our development process, helping us move faster, learn quicker, and deliver greater impact. Yet the most important contribution remains uniquely human: deciding what to build, designing how it should work, and applying the judgment needed to earn our customers' trust. When your products power critical infrastructure around the world, that responsibility matters.

We move quickly toward the work that matters most. We reward experimentation, encourage bold thinking, and remove unnecessary barriers so great ideas can become reality faster. Our teams embrace a customer-first, first-to-market mindset, transforming rapid feedback into better products and better outcomes. We aren't looking for people who are content with the status quo- we look for builders who question it, improve it, and occasionally rewrite it.

If you're energized by solving complex systems challenges, excited to work alongside AI to amplify your impact, and motivated by the opportunity to shape what's next instead of simply maintaining what's been done before, you'll find your place here.

Join us and help build the future of enterprise technology.

Principal Thermal Engineer

Thermal Engineering leads and delivers the development of innovative and compliant thermal design solutions, as well as cross-functional interfaces for computer systems and peripherals. Our team conducts the analysis, feasibility studies and testing of thermal products, instruments, subassemblies and packaging for new and existing products - and then oversees the introduction of design changes to the manufacturing organizations.

As AI growth is accelerating, Dell Technologies is developing ground-breaking technologies and customer solutions to lead the industry. These technologies are rapidly changing and we're developing best-in class AI, Cloud, High Performance Computing (HPC), Edge computing devices and enterprise networking, server and storage products.

What you'll achieve

Dell Technologies is seeking a Principal Thermal Engineer to design and validate advanced thermal solutions for our Artificial Intelligence (AI), High-Performance Computing (HPC), and enterprise server product lines. You will define system-level thermal strategy, develop next-generation cooling technologies, and deliver reliable air- and liquid-cooled designs.

Responsibilities

• Architect system-level thermal solutions including cold plates, heat sinks, vapor chambers, fans, and airflow or coolant pathways
• Conduct analytical modeling, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, and empirical testing
• Drive thermal architecture decisions balancing performance, acoustics, cost, and long-term reliability
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering teams, suppliers, and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) / Joint Design Manufacturer (JDM) partners
• Mentor junior engineers and ensure compliance with Dell quality and sustainability standards

Qualifications

Take the first step towards your dream career

Every Dell Technologies team member brings something unique to the table. Here's what we are looking for with this role.

Essential Requirements

• 8+ years experience, or equivalent skill, in a Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or a related field; must include experience designing and developing thermal solutions for complex electro-mechanical systems
• Expertise in thermal management technologies, including heat sinks, cold plates, vapor chambers, fans, airflow management, and liquid cooling systems
• Experience performing thermal analysis using analytical modeling, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and hands-on validation testing to optimize system performance
• Demonstrated ability to make system-level thermal architecture decisions by balancing thermal performance, acoustics, cost, manufacturability, and reliability requirements
• Proven experience collaborating cross-functionally with mechanical engineering teams, suppliers, and ODM/JDM partners to deliver products from concept through production

Desirable Requirements

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Heat Transfer, or a related discipline.
• Experience developing thermal solutions for enterprise servers, AI/HPC platforms, or data center infrastructure, including liquid cooling and rack-level thermal management technologies; experience working with CREO; experience with air and liquid cooling in server industry; knowledge of cooling requirements for GPU's and CPU's

Compensation

Dell is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary range for this position is $152k - $209k.