Senior Thermal Systems Engineer (Remote)

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Remote-friendly culture

Professional development opportunities

Flexible hours

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Thermal Systems Engineer to lead design, analysis, and optimization of thermal management for advanced products in a remote-friendly environment.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in thermal systems, with proven expertise in CFD (ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL) and thermal FEA, and strong CAD ability. Remote-first role offering professional development and competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 6 years of hands-on thermal system design and analysis.
• Proven CFD and thermal FEA experience with ANSYS Fluent and COMSOL Multiphysics.
• Strong heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics knowledge.
• Experience with data acquisition and experimental thermal testing.
• Proficiency in CAD for component and assembly design.
• Excellent problem-solving and remote collaboration skills.
• Experience in electronics cooling or similar applications is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and analyze complex thermal management systems (electronics, machinery, etc).
• Perform CFD/FEA to predict temperature distributions and heat flux.
• Develop and validate thermal models against data and theory.
• Specify and select heat sinks, fans, pumps, exchangers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate thermal solutions.
• Create design specs, analysis reports, and testing procedures.
• Conduct experimental testing and recommend design improvements.
• Stay updated on thermal tech advances and methodologies.
• Troubleshoot thermal issues during development/production.
• Mentor junior engineers in thermal engineering.

Skills

CFD

Thermal design

Heat transfer

Remote collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS Fluent

COMSOL Multiphysics

CAD software

Job description

About the Role

Our client is searching for a highly skilled and dedicated Senior Thermal Systems Engineer to join their innovative and fully remote engineering team. This role is central to the design, analysis, and optimization of thermal management systems for cutting-edge products. The ideal candidate will possess a profound understanding of heat transfer principles, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics, coupled with extensive experience in using advanced simulation tools. As a remote-first company, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and productive virtual work environment, utilizing sophisticated communication platforms to ensure seamless teamwork and project execution. You will play a critical role in developing solutions that ensure optimal performance and reliability under various operating conditions. This is an excellent opportunity to leverage your specialized expertise in a challenging and rewarding remote setting, contributing to the advancement of technology and driving product innovation from your home office. We support our remote employees with the necessary resources and professional development opportunities to foster growth and success in their careers, ensuring they can make significant contributions to our client's goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and analyze complex thermal management systems, including cooling solutions for electronics, machinery, and other critical applications.
• Perform detailed thermal analysis using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element analysis (FEA) to predict temperature distributions and heat flux.
• Develop and validate thermal models, ensuring accuracy against experimental data and theoretical principles.
• Specify and select appropriate thermal components, such as heat sinks, fans, pumps, and heat exchangers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate thermal solutions into overall product designs.
• Create comprehensive documentation, including design specifications, analysis reports, and testing procedures.
• Conduct experimental testing and validation of thermal systems, analyzing results and recommending design improvements.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in thermal management technologies and methodologies.
• Troubleshoot thermal-related issues during product development and production phases.
• Mentor junior engineers in the principles and practices of thermal engineering.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with a specialization in thermal sciences.
• Minimum of 6 years of hands‑on experience in thermal system design and analysis.
• Proven expertise in CFD software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics) and thermal FEA tools.
• Strong theoretical knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.
• Experience with data acquisition and experimental thermal testing techniques.
• Proficiency in CAD software for component and assembly design.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, essential for remote collaboration.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively in a remote setting.
• Experience with thermal management in electronics cooling or similar applications is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Retirement savings plan with company contribution.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development and skill enhancement.
• Access to leading-edge remote work technology and collaboration tools.
• Flexible working hours supporting a healthy work-life balance.
• A culture that values innovation, collaboration, and individual contribution.
• Involvement in challenging and impactful engineering projects.