Mechanical Engineering Lead - AI Rack Scale Systems

MatX•Mountain View, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

MatX is building next-generation AI compute infrastructure purpose-built for large-scale LLM training and inference. We are looking for a Mechanical Engineering Lead to own the mechanical design, thermal architecture, and system integration of our rack-scale AI platform from concept through production. This is a hands-on leadership role. You will drive the mechanical design of our AI compute trays, ORV3/ORW rack systems, and fully liquid-cooled infrastructure, working closely with hardware, thermal, electrical, and JDM/ODM partners to bring a world-class AI data center platform to life.

Requirements

15+ years of mechanical engineering experience in server, data center, or AI compute hardware, with hands-on experience designing mechanical components, sub-assemblies, and assemblies at the tray and rack level
Experience leading mechanical teams to design rack-scale hardware: compute trays, rack enclosures, or server platforms delivered to OCP Open Rack standards
Experience in volumetric analysis, stack tolerance analysis, and FEA analysis
Experience integrating liquid cooling systems (cold plates, manifolds, CDU interfaces) into the whole architecture
Experience generating DFMA with sheet metal, extrusion, casting, and machining manufacturing processes
Experience in sustainable manufacturing compliance, and design of fixtures and test setups for multiple applications (in-process testing, reliability testing, functional testing)
Experience leading the ODM/JDM in setting up an assembly line through EVT, DVT, PVT, and MP phases
All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and work from our offices in Mountain View Tuesdays-Thursdays.
This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant's capacity to perform job functions in compliance with U.S. export control laws without obtaining a license from U.S. export control authorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience with high-power AI accelerator platforms
Prior experience designing for OCP ORV3 or Open Rack Wide (ORW) platforms, or direct involvement in an OCP contribution/workstream.
Hands-on experience with direct-to-chip liquid cooling at rack scale — cold plate design, manifold routing, QD fitting selection, and CDU integration for high power racks.
Experience taking a mechanical design through high-volume manufacturing with JDM/ODM partners in Taiwan or China, including on-site NPI support.
Familiarity with rear door heat exchanger (RDHx) integration as a complement to DLC for residual thermal load.

Responsibilities

Own mechanical design of AI compute trays, rack enclosures, and full rack-scale systems from concept through production, built to OCP standards — covering structural design, sheet metal, extrusions, castings, and rack-level integration.
Direct mechanical engineers on 3D models and 2D drawings for every component and assembly (DFMA-based datum schemes), and run tolerance stack-ups to define IQC, IPQC, and OQC criteria across EVT, DVT, and PVT.
Own rack-level integration (power distribution, cable management, blind-mate connectors, backplane interface, tray insertion/extraction) and packaging design, partnering with JDM/ODM to refine both.
Lead liquid cooling design and qualification — cold plates, manifolds, CDU interfaces, QD fittings — from components through L10/L11/L12 validation; partner with thermal engineering on cooling architecture and leak detection.
Champion DFM/DFA practices, drive 100% functional test coverage, and guide reliability testing, RMA, and failure analysis.
Serve as lead mechanical point of contact for JDM/ODM — running DFM/qualification reviews, owning BOM and drawings, and authoring DVT/PVT test plans (structural, vibration, shock, thermal, prototype builds).
Ensure designs meet OCP, ASHRAE, and IEC standards; build and mentor the mechanical/thermal team while managing schedules and risk alongside TPM.

Benefits

4 weeks PTO (accrued)
12 company Holidays
up to 3 weeks remote work
Company-subsidized Medical (Kaiser or Anthem) for employees & dependents
Guardian Dental and Vision insurances for employee & dependents
life insurance (employee only)
HSA and FSA offerings via Lively
Roth IRA/ 401K (or both) retirement plans with up to 5% company contribution to 401K
100% company-paid life insurance (up to $300K)
$1500 Professional Development Budget (per year)
Onsite team lunch & dinner Monday - Friday
Company Uber account for commute
Reimbursement for train rides
$50/mo to use on the perk you value most
$35/mo for cellular
$40/mo for wifi
100% paid mental health benefit via SpringHealth and Guardian EAP
Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave regardless of path to parenthood
10 weeks pregnancy disability leave
flexible return-to-work hours
Benepass reproductive health & parental benefit
Up to $20K/month for AI Resources
dedicated internal AI Tooling Team