Senior Principal Thermal Engineer

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

. Establish organization-wide thermal architectures, design methodologies, specifications, validation practices, and technology roadmaps for liquid-cooled hardware .

Posted 10/15/2026full-timeRoseville • California • United StatesSenior💰 $181,000 - $367,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Establish organization-wide thermal architectures, design methodologies, specifications, validation practices, and technology roadmaps for liquid-cooled hardware
Serve as the technical leader for direct liquid cooling, cold plates, manifolds, quick disconnects, hoses, piping, pumps, heat exchangers, coolant distribution units, facility-water interfaces, immersion systems, hybrid cooling, and two-phase solutions
Lead system-level thermal architecture, analysis, and design from concept through qualification, NPI, manufacturing ramp, and sustaining engineering
Perform and direct thermal-fluid CFD modeling using FloTHERM, FloEFD, Macroflow, or equivalent tools; correlate models with test data
Define fluid, thermal, mechanical, reliability, serviceability, manufacturability, safety, and regulatory requirements
Develop and oversee validation plans and empirical testing across component, subsystem, chassis, rack, and facility interfaces
Review designs and project activities for compliance with technology, quality, reliability, and development standards
Evaluate and select technologies, suppliers, outsourced development partners, and manufacturing processes
Partner with mechanical, electrical, PCB, silicon, optics, firmware, systems, reliability, manufacturing, operations, service, sourcing, and data-center infrastructure teams
Develop schedules, deliverables, resource plans, risk assessments, and support requirements for major programs
Communicate progress, trade-offs, escalations, and issue analysis to senior and executive stakeholders
Influence business leaders, customers, partners, suppliers, and industry standards groups
Drive invention, intellectual property, reusable design practices, knowledge sharing, and engineer mentorship

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a closely related engineering discipline; an advanced degree is preferred
Typically 15+ years of relevant engineering experience
Extensive hands-on experience leading electronics thermal design and liquid-cooling development for complex products
Demonstrated technical impact on significant products, programs, or strategic architecture across multiple NPI cycles
Deep expertise in single-phase liquid cooling
Strong knowledge of immersion, dielectric fluids, refrigerant-based or two-phase technologies, and air-liquid hybrid architectures
Expert understanding of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermal resistance, boiling and dry-out limits, flow distribution, pressure drop, pump and heat-exchanger performance, and system controls
Strong knowledge of cold-plate and manifold design, materials, joining and sealing methods, leak and proof-pressure testing, cleanliness, corrosion, coolant chemistry, reliability, and field service considerations
Advanced capability with CFD and thermal-network tools
Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks or equivalent
Experience designing for cost, manufacturability, reliability, safety, serviceability, energy efficiency, and sustainability
Demonstrated business acumen and program leadership, including prioritization, risk management, resource planning, supplier engagement, and negotiation
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
Evidence of innovation through patents, publications, standards contributions, or differentiated cooling technologies is highly desirable

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive health and wellbeing benefits supporting physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing
Personal and professional development programs
Flexible work and personal needs management
Inclusive workplace culture
Reasonable accommodation during application or interview process for disabilities