This Principal Mechanical Engineer is responsible for helping lead and shape the strategic direction of next-generation thermal management technologies - including liquid cooling, cryo-cooling, waste heat recovery, footprint density improvement, etc. - for data center and critical infrastructure applications. The goal is to advance Vertiv's thermal technology portfolio from concept through proof-of-concept, establish technical best practices across the advanced development organization, and deliver robust design guidelines that enable seamless handover to New Product Development & Introduction (NPDI) teams for productization.
Responsibilities
Define and lead the technical strategy for mission critical thermal advanced development projects from concept through prototype validation.
- Serve as the senior technical lead on cross-functional project teams, directing engineering activities, resolving complex technical challenges, and ensuring milestones are met on time and within budget.
- Develop and document comprehensive design guidelines and specifications for handover to NPDI teams when projects transition from advanced engineering to product development.
- Communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences including senior leadership, cross-functional teams, external partners, and customers.
- Mentor and lead engineers and technicians on projects, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment and helping to develop the next generation of technical talent.
- Establish and maintain relationships with external research partners (e.g., universities, national labs) to identify and advance emerging thermal technologies.
- Conduct and oversee thermal analysis, modeling, and testing to validate cooling concepts.
- Influence technology roadmaps and provide expert guidance on industry trends, competitive technologies, and regulatory developments in thermal management and refrigerants.
- Drive continuous improvement in advanced development methods, tools, and processes across the organization.
- Perform a variety of engineering calculations using traditional engineering methods to verify design requirements, which may include stress calculations, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
Education and Certifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or directly related degree at minimum.
- Advanced Degree preferred
Requirements
- Min 6+ years of experience
- Highly self-directing with the ability to set priorities, define project scope, and drive results with minimal oversight
- Extensive track record as a technical lead directing multi-disciplinary project teams from concept through prototype/validation, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent programs.
- Demonstrated leadership in guiding and developing others to complete projects efficiently and on schedule
- Deep expertise in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics
- Strong ability to write clear, actionable design guidelines and technical documentation suitable for use by downstream product development teams
- Demonstrated history of delivering quality products to market with understanding and respect for phases of the product development process
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to present complex technical concepts to executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders
- Recognized as a technical authority within the organization or industry
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