Senior Thermal Engineer

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Lab access

On-site training

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Placements24 in Pretoria seeks a Senior Thermal Engineer to drive thermal management for electronic and mechanical systems. You will design, analyze, and validate cooling solutions, utilizing CFD tools and lab testing to ensure reliability and performance in complex products.

You will work hands-on with R&D and manufacturing teams on-site, delivering refined thermal designs, documenting results, and contributing to advanced technologies requiring sophisticated thermal control.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering with Thermodynamics/Heat Transfer.
• 7+ years of professional experience in thermal engineering, electronics cooling.
• Proficiency with CFD software (ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL) and thermal analysis tools.
• Experience with thermal testing methodologies and equipment.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex data.
• Excellent communication and teamwork for on-site collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and validate thermal management systems for electronic and mechanical equipment.
• Use CFD and other simulation tools to model heat transfer and optimize designs.
• Develop test plans, conduct experiments, and analyze thermal performance data.
• Collaborate with design teams to integrate thermal solutions into new product development.
• Troubleshoot thermal issues in prototypes and production units, proposing solutions.
• Document design processes, test results, and recommendations in technical reports.

Skills

Thermal engineering expertise

Analytical skills

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (Thermodynamics/Heat Transfer)

PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Thermodynamics/Heat Transfer)

Tools

ANSYS Fluent

COMSOL

CFD software

Thermal testing equipment

Job description

About the Role

Our client seeks a highly experienced Senior Thermal Engineer to join their dedicated R&D team in Pretoria. This role requires a specialist with a deep understanding of thermal management principles to design and optimize cooling solutions for complex electronic and mechanical systems. You will be pivotal in ensuring the reliability and performance of products by managing heat dissipation effectively. This position involves hands-on work, laboratory testing, and close collaboration with design and manufacturing engineers on-site, contributing to the development of advanced technologies that require sophisticated thermal control.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and validate thermal management systems for electronic and mechanical equipment.
• Utilize CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and other simulation tools to model heat transfer phenomena and optimize designs.
• Develop test plans, conduct experiments, and analyze thermal performance data to ensure designs meet specifications.
• Collaborate closely with product design teams to integrate effective thermal solutions into new product development.
• Troubleshoot thermal issues in prototypes and production units, proposing and implementing solutions.
• Document design processes, test results, and recommendations in comprehensive technical reports.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with a specialization in Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer.
• 7+ years of professional experience in thermal engineering, particularly in electronics cooling.
• Proficiency with CFD software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL) and thermal analysis tools.
• Experience with thermal testing methodologies and equipment (e.g., thermal chambers, heat flux sensors).
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills for on-site collaboration.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus structure.
• Opportunities to work on challenging and innovative thermal management projects.
• Access to advanced laboratory equipment and simulation software.
• On-site professional development programs and training opportunities.
• Contribution to a stable and growing company with a strong focus on R&D.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement benefits.