Microsoft

Principal Mechanical Engineer - AI Systems

Microsoft • $142K — $274K *
Mountain View, CA 94040In-Person
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or related field with 3+ years of experience OR Master's with 4+ years OR Bachelor's with 6+ years OR equivalent experience.
  • Ability to meet critical security screening requirements, including Microsoft Cloud Background Check.
  • Expertise in CAD software like PTC Creo and mechanical design principles.
  • Knowledge of cloud infrastructure, data center operations, and related technologies.
  • Experience with liquid cooled AI or HPC systems development.
  • Familiarity with specifications, interface control documents, and design requirements management.
  • Proven analytical skills for identifying and resolving mechanical design issues.

Responsibilities

  • Deliver innovative mechanical designs for server and cooling systems integrating multiple engineering domains.
  • Apply advanced modeling and empirical testing to validate design performance.
  • Ensure manufacturability, cost-efficiency, and reliability through effective material selection and supplier engagement.
  • Set clear goals and manage risk to ensure timely delivery of hardware solutions.
  • Translate business and customer needs into scalable mechanical strategies.
  • Develop innovative design strategies to anticipate industry trends.
  • Mentor engineers to foster their growth and technical expertise.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver customer-focused solutions.
  • Encourage patent filings and contribute to the intellectual property portfolio.
  • Implement new tools and methodologies to enhance design quality and productivity.

Benefits

  • Access to Microsoft’s innovation portfolio through intellectual property development.
  • Opportunities for mentoring and professional growth within a leading tech company.
  • Dynamic and collaborative work environment engaging with various engineering disciplines.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

  • Lead Mechanical Development: Deliver innovative mechanical designs for server and cooling systems, integrating thermal, structural, and electrical constraints with a deep understanding of server architecture and adjacencies.


  • Predictive Analysis & Empirical Validation: Apply advanced modeling (FEA, CFD, tolerance analysis) and empirical testing to validate structural, thermal, and reliability performance.


  • Design for Manufacturing & Reliability: Ensure manufacturability, cost-efficiency, and long-term reliability through material selection, tolerance control, supplier engagement, and understanding of tooling and manufacturing processes.


  • Drive for Results: Set clear goals with measurable outcomes, manage risk, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality hardware solutions across product lines.


  • Strategic Thinking: Translate business and customer needs into scalable mechanical strategies that align with long-term product and platform vision.


  • Technology Pathfinding: Develop and explore innovative design strategies that anticipate future trends, opportunities, and industry shifts.


  • Develop Technical Talent: Mentor engineers to become thought leaders, fostering growth through challenging assignments and continuous feedback.


  • Engineering Rigor & Agility: Balance innovation with disciplined execution, ensuring quality as a key participant in structured design reviews, test planning, and root cause analysis.


  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with electrical, thermal, reliability, and other domains to deliver cohesive, customer-focused solutions.


  • Invent & Protect: Identify and develop intellectual property, encouraging patent filings and contributing to Microsoft's innovation portfolio.


  • Tool & Process Advancement: Evaluate and implement new tools, technologies, and methodologies to improve design quality and team productivity.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

  • Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years related technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 4+ years related technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years related technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.


Other Requirements:

  • Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements is required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following specialized security screening:


    • Microsoft Cloud Background Check. This position is required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Expertise in CAD software (e.g., PTC Creo,) understanding of mechanical design principles, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, manufacturing processes, and validation.


  • Working knowledge of cloud infrastructure, data center operations, and related technologies, such as server racks, power distribution, cooling systems, and cable management.


  • Prior development experience of liquid cooled AI or HPC systems.


  • Experience with development of specifications, interface control documents, and managing design requirements.


  • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve mechanical design issues and optimize system performance.


  • Experience with cabling and networking interconnect technology.


  • Experience partnering with ODM and suppliers to develop products.


Mechanical Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

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Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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