Principal Thermal Rack Engineer (Rack Integration Solutions)

Jabil•Austin, TX

About The Position

At Jabil we strive to make ANYTHING POSSIBLE and EVERYTHING BETTER. We are proud to be a trusted partner for the world's top brands, offering comprehensive engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions. With over 50 years of experience across industries and a vast network of over 100 sites worldwide, Jabil combines global reach with local expertise to deliver both scalable and customized solutions. Our commitment extends beyond business success as we strive to build sustainable processes that minimize environmental impact and foster vibrant and diverse communities around the globe. How will you make an impact? We are looking for a Principal Thermal Rack Engineer within the Intelligent Infrastructure Segment to drive advanced cooling solutions for high-performance computing systems. This role involves incorporating thermal components such as direct liquid cooling (DLC) systems, coolant distribution units (CDUs), and manifolds into network and server racks (EIA 19” and ORv3). You will leverage CFD tools to perform rack and system-level thermal and fluid analysis, ensuring optimal flow distribution, pressure drop, and temperature performance. Additionally, you will create 3D CAD designs for seamless hardware integration, lead validation testing, and resolve thermal or flow issues through root cause analysis and corrective actions. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, customers, and global vendors is essential to align thermal architectures with overall system design and international standards. What will you do? Lead the end-to-end integration and testing of rack thermal solutions, including liquid cooling systems in varying form factors and product lines. Use CFD tools (FloTherm or Macroflow) to perform switch, rack, and system-level thermal/fluid analysis (flow distribution, pressure drop, and temperature profiling). Design and optimize thermal components using 3D CAD (Creo or SolidWorks) to support seamless hardware integration and testing. Participate in customer engagements and site visits to understand and document deployment constraints and gather feedback for design improvements. Partner with factory teams to ensure racks are built with proper airflow, hose routing, and thermal safeguards, while establishing best practices that improve build consistency across deployments. Collaborate with Architects/Compliance/Reliability and global vendors to align thermal architectures with total system design and international data center/thermal/mechanical standards (e.g., UL, OCP, ASHRAE, ISTA, ASTM, NEBS). Conduct thermal, mechanical, and reliability testing, analyzing airflow, coolant flow rates, pressure drops, and structural integrity to ensure compliance with the end-users’ specifications. Develop and maintain design documentation including BOMs, wetted materials compliance, test plans, and engineering change orders (ECOs). Manage relationships with mechanical/thermal component vendors to build out a robust partner ecosystem consisting of racks, CDUs, hoses, manifolds, QDs, and cold plates. Ensure mechanical designs support airflow management, thermal containment, and integration with cooling systems (e.g., in-row cooling, in-rack cooling, rear door heat exchangers). Conduct root cause analysis and corrective actions for mechanical and thermal failures or field issues. May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. How will you get here?

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical/Thermal Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field is required
Minimum of 7+ years of experience in thermal/mechanical systems integration
3+ years of specific experience in rack-scale thermal design and analysis
Strong understanding of mechanical systems, integration strategies, and large-scale program management
Familiarity with server design, heatsinks, cold plates, hoses, and blind-mate connectors
Proficiency in CFD simulation (e.g. ANSYS, 6Sigma, etc.) and 3D modeling software (e.g. SolidWorks, Creo)
Hands-on experience with thermal chambers, fans, and coolant
Excellent English communication skills (verbal and written) with strong technical leadership capabilities
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Creative, self-motivated, accountable, and team-oriented
Able to work independently with minimal oversight
Capable of assessing projects, articulating risks, and developing project milestones
Skilled in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedural guides
Effective at presenting information and responding to management and customers
Capable of influencing others and sharing best practices
Familiar with stage-gate processes in project lifecycle management (PLCM)
Ability to travel both domestically and internationally up to 30%

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering or related field is preferred
Experience designing mechanical systems for data centers, telecom, or industrial power/cooling products.
Active Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication and testing; experience working with global suppliers and contract manufacturers a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end integration and testing of rack thermal solutions, including liquid cooling systems in varying form factors and product lines.
Use CFD tools (FloTherm or Macroflow) to perform switch, rack, and system-level thermal/fluid analysis (flow distribution, pressure drop, and temperature profiling).
Design and optimize thermal components using 3D CAD (Creo or SolidWorks) to support seamless hardware integration and testing.
Participate in customer engagements and site visits to understand and document deployment constraints and gather feedback for design improvements.
Partner with factory teams to ensure racks are built with proper airflow, hose routing, and thermal safeguards, while establishing best practices that improve build consistency across deployments.
Collaborate with Architects/Compliance/Reliability and global vendors to align thermal architectures with total system design and international data center/thermal/mechanical standards (e.g., UL, OCP, ASHRAE, ISTA, ASTM, NEBS).
Conduct thermal, mechanical, and reliability testing, analyzing airflow, coolant flow rates, pressure drops, and structural integrity to ensure compliance with the end-users’ specifications.
Develop and maintain design documentation including BOMs, wetted materials compliance, test plans, and engineering change orders (ECOs).
Manage relationships with mechanical/thermal component vendors to build out a robust partner ecosystem consisting of racks, CDUs, hoses, manifolds, QDs, and cold plates.
Ensure mechanical designs support airflow management, thermal containment, and integration with cooling systems (e.g., in-row cooling, in-rack cooling, rear door heat exchangers).
Conduct root cause analysis and corrective actions for mechanical and thermal failures or field issues.
May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

Annual bonus opportunity
Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
Paid time off (PTO)
4 weeks of paid parental leave
11 company-paid holidays (9 fixed holidays and 2 optional floating holidays), subject to change yearly
401(k) retirement plan
Employee stock purchase plan

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