Thermal Test Engineer

recruitAbility; Lake Forest (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

recruitAbility in Lake Forest, CA is seeking a Thermal Test Engineer to support new product development, focusing on thermal characterization, validation, and optimization of thermal systems used in high-performance semiconductor applications.

You will perform thermal analysis, develop and test closed-loop PID control, and collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing teams throughout the development cycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Physics or related field.
• At least 5+ years in thermal testing, validation or systems engineering.
• Strong knowledge of thermal analysis, heat transfer and closed-loop control.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermal analysis, characterization and validation of components and systems.
• Develop, test, and optimize closed-loop PID thermal control systems.
• Conduct system-level testing as components integrate into assemblies.
• Support multiple product configurations and customer-specific requirements.
• Analyze thermal performance data and recommend improvements.
• Troubleshoot heat transfer, dissipation and temperature stability issues.
• Develop and execute thermal test plans and validation protocols.
• Document test results and corrective actions; collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Thermal analysis

PID control

System integration

Troubleshooting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Ansys Icepak

SolidWorks Flow Simulation

Job description

Location: Lake Forest, CA (Onsite 5 days/week)

Duration: 12-Month Contract

About the Opportunity

Our client, an industry leader in advanced test and measurement solutions, is seeking a Thermal Test Engineer to support new product development efforts. This role focuses on thermal characterization, validation, and optimization of thermal systems used in high-performance semiconductor applications.

What You'll Do

• Perform thermal analysis, characterization, and validation of components and systems.
• Develop, test, and optimize closed-loop PID thermal control systems.
• Conduct system-level testing as components are integrated into larger assemblies.
• Support multiple product configurations and customer-specific requirements.
• Analyze thermal performance data and recommend improvements.
• Troubleshoot thermal issues related to heat transfer, heat dissipation, and temperature stability.
• Develop and execute thermal test plans and validation protocols.
• Document test results, findings, and corrective actions.
• Partner with mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, and quality teams throughout the development cycle.

What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in thermal testing, thermal validation, or thermal systems engineering.
• Strong understanding of:
• Thermal analysis and characterization
• Heat transfer principles
• Closed-loop/PID control systems
• Experience with system integration and validation testing.
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with complex electromechanical, semiconductor, or high-performance systems.
• Ability to work onsite in Lake Forest, CA.

Nice to Have

• Experience with semiconductor test equipment or other capital equipment.
• Familiarity with thermal modeling tools such as Ansys Icepak or SolidWorks Flow Simulation.
• Experience with liquid cooling systems, chillers, heat exchangers, or thermoelectric cooling technologies.
• Knowledge of thermal management for high-power electronic devices.