Remote Principal Thermal Management Engineer - Data Center Solutions

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Thermal Management Engineer for a remote-first role to design and optimize cooling solutions for high-density data centers globally.

The candidate will hold a Master’s or Ph.D. in thermal sciences with 10+ years of experience, expert CFD skills (ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+), and proven leadership in remote teams. The role combines technical depth with strategic influence on future products.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field with a specialization in thermal sciences.
• 10+ years of experience in thermal management design and analysis, with a strong focus on IT equipment, data centers, or high-performance computing.
• Expert-level proficiency in CFD software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+) and thermal modeling tools.
• In-depth knowledge of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and psychrometrics.
• Experience designing and validating liquid cooling solutions (direct-to-chip, immersion) is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-disciplinary projects in a remote setting.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a virtual environment.
• Experience with DCIM and energy efficiency standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and validation of advanced thermal management systems for high-performance data centers, including air, liquid, and immersion cooling technologies.
• Conduct detailed thermal analysis using CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+) to predict and optimize heat dissipation.
• Develop thermal models and simulations for server racks, compute modules, power supplies, and other data center components.
• Collaborate remotely with product development, hardware engineering, and operations teams to integrate thermal solutions seamlessly.
• Define thermal performance specifications, testing protocols, and validation procedures.
• Troubleshoot complex thermal issues in operational data center environments and propose effective solutions.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging thermal management technologies and industry best practices.
• Author comprehensive technical documentation, white papers, and research proposals.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to other engineers within the thermal team.
• Evaluate and select appropriate cooling hardware and components based on performance, cost, and reliability.

Skills

CFD proficiency

Thermal analysis

Remote collaboration

Project leadership

Education

Master's or PhD in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering with thermal specialization

Tools

ANSYS Fluent

STAR-CCM+

Thermal modelling tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in cutting-edge data center infrastructure solutions, is seeking an exceptional Principal Thermal Management Engineer to join their highly innovative and fully remote engineering team. This senior role is critical to the design and optimization of advanced cooling systems for high-density computing environments. You will be responsible for architecting and implementing sophisticated thermal solutions that ensure optimal performance, reliability, and energy efficiency for state‑of‑the‑art data centers worldwide. This is a remote‑first position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa. The ideal candidate possesses extensive expertise in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and simulation tools, with a proven history of tackling complex thermal challenges in demanding IT infrastructure. You will lead challenging projects and significantly influence the thermal strategy of future products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and validation of advanced thermal management systems for high-performance data centers, including air, liquid, and immersion cooling technologies.
• Conduct detailed thermal analysis using CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+) to predict and optimize heat dissipation.
• Develop thermal models and simulations for server racks, compute modules, power supplies, and other data center components.
• Collaborate remotely with product development, hardware engineering, and operations teams to integrate thermal solutions seamlessly.
• Define thermal performance specifications, testing protocols, and validation procedures.
• Troubleshoot complex thermal issues in operational data center environments and propose effective solutions.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging thermal management technologies and industry best practices.
• Author comprehensive technical documentation, white papers, and research proposals.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to other engineers within the thermal team.
• Evaluate and select appropriate cooling hardware and components based on performance, cost, and reliability.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field with a specialization in thermal sciences.
• 10+ years of experience in thermal management design and analysis, with a strong focus on IT equipment, data centers, or high-performance computing.
• Expert-level proficiency in CFD software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+) and thermal modeling tools.
• In-depth knowledge of heat transfer principles, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and psychrometrics.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and validating liquid cooling solutions (direct-to-chip, immersion) is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-disciplinary projects in a remote setting.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively in a virtual environment.
• Experience with component-level thermal characterization and testing.
• Familiarity with data center infrastructure management (DCIM) and energy efficiency standards.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary and an attractive benefits package.
• This fully remote role includes comprehensive health coverage, a generous retirement savings plan, and ample paid time off.
• Professional development opportunities, including access to advanced training and conferences, are provided.
• Enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of working from home while contributing to world‑class data center innovation.