Job Description

Sr. Principal Engineer - Thermal Advanced Development

This senior technical position 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 advanced 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.
• Represent Vertiv as a subject matter expert at industry conferences, standards bodies, and customer engagements.
• Perform a variety of engineering calculations using traditional engineering methods to verify design requirements, which may include stress calculations, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
• Develop solutions to complex problems where little or no precedence exists - the use of ingenuity and creativity is regularly required.
• Other Duties as assigned

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or directly related degree at minimum.
• Advanced Degree preferred

Requirements

• Min 10-15 years of experience
• Able to travel 10%
• 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
• Demonstrated record of meeting deadlines and project goals
• 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
• Experience with 3D CAD software, preferred CREO 4.0 and greater

Preferred:

• Experience in cryogenic cooling system development
  • Experience in programming and/or creating thermal system energy models to compare new ideas to baseline systems
  • Experience using AI design tools for thermal components or systems (e.g., generative design, topology optimization, AI-driven CFD)
  • Experience with 2-Phase heat transfer fluids, including "natural" refrigerants, such as R744, R718, etc.
  • Experience with 1-phase and/or 2-phase Liquid Cooling technologies
  • Knowledge of psychometric chart and refrigeration cycles
  • Experience with CFD and/or FEA software, preferred Ansys
  • Understanding of manufacturing limitations, break sheet metal and formed copper tubes
  • Familiarity with data center thermal architecture and critical infrastructure cooling requirements
  • Patent portfolio or published research in thermal management technologies

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv's Core Principles & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities.

OUR CORE PRINCIPLES: Safety. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork. Inclusion.

OUR CORE PRINCIPALS: Safety. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork. Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
• High-Performance Culture• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation
• Financial Strength

VERTIV BEHAVIORS
• Own it
• Act with urgency
• Foster a customer-first mindset
• Think big and execute
• Lead by example
• Drive continuous improvement
• Learn and seek out development
• Promote transparent & open communication

About the Team

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.