Data Center Thermal Engineer

Supermicro•San Jose, CA

About The Position

The Supermicro Data Center team is seeking a Data Center Thermal Engineer to support the design, validation, and operational maintenance of advanced liquid cooling infrastructure across our AI lab(s) and next-generation data center facilities. This role focuses on assisting with fluid system integration, Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) monitoring, heat rejection loop testing, assisting in high-density GPU cluster thermal management, and cooling tower management, maintenance, monitoring.

Requirements

BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering
5+ years of hands-on experience in thermal management, liquid cooling, fluid systems, mechanical design, data center infrastructure, or a related field.
Relevant internships, laboratory experience, or academic project work may be considered.
Hands-on experience with mechanical systems, laboratory equipment, thermal/fluid testing, or data center cooling infrastructure is preferred.
Foundational understanding of Direct-to-Chip (D2C) liquid cooling, heat exchangers, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
Working knowledge of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, hydraulic networks, pressure/flow relationships, and basic CFD concepts.
Familiarity with Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) operation, pumps, control valves, manifolds, piping systems, and liquid cooling architectures.
Understanding fundamental thermal resistance, heat transfer, flow balancing, pressure drop, and system performance concepts.
Basic knowledge of coolant chemistry and materials compatibility, including corrosion control, bio-fouling prevention, glycol-based coolants, and dielectric fluids.
Hands-on familiarity with temperature, pressure, flow, and other laboratory instrumentation, including sensors, data acquisition systems, and test equipment.
Ability to interpret system data and perform diagnostic troubleshooting, failure analysis, and root-cause analysis for thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical issues.
Familiarity with BMS/PLC systems, instrumentation, telemetry, or control systems is a plus.
Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to document test results, troubleshoot systems, maintain engineering documentation, and communicate effectively.
Demonstrates a hands-on, analytical, and continuous-learning mindset, with the ability to work effectively in laboratory, data center, and field environments.

Responsibilities

Assist with the specification, evaluation, installation, and physical assembly of high-density liquid cooling systems, including primary and secondary fluid loops, Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs), manifolds, piping, and associated interfaces.
Troubleshoot hydraulic, thermal, and mechanical issues and support root-cause analysis (RCA) to identify and resolve system performance and reliability issues.
Support site commissioning, system energization, functional verification, and performance testing of large-scale liquid cooling installations.
Develop and maintain operational runbooks, procedures, and troubleshooting documentation for liquid cooling infrastructure.
Assist with monitoring and managing fluid chemistry, material compatibility, pressure-drop budgets, flow requirements, and system redundancy.
Set up, validate, and monitor sensors and instrumentation, and support control-logic frameworks for real-time BMS/PLC data collection, system monitoring, and telemetry analytics.
Lead or coordinate Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) reviews and support rapid-response containment and recovery procedures for fluid leaks, thermal excursions, and other cooling-system anomalies.
Collaborate closely with senior hardware engineers, thermal engineers, controls engineers, and facility deployment teams during system development, integration, and high-density site expansions.
Inspect, evaluate, and assist with qualification and testing of vendor-supplied components, including quick-disconnect couplings (QDCs), heat exchangers, valves, pumps, piping materials, manifolds, sensors, and cooling fluids.
Support system validation by collecting and analyzing flow, pressure, temperature, and other operational data to verify performance against design requirements.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on system reliability, maintainability, scalability, safety, and operational efficiency.