Senior Data Center Thermal Engineer

A. O. Smith•Milwaukee, WI

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Provide senior-level technical expertise in data center thermal management, with an emphasis on liquid cooling, heat rejection, heat recovery and thermal storage. Evaluate data center cooling architectures, develop engineering concepts, support prototype and laboratory validation, and guide cross-functional teams on thermal system opportunities aligned with A. O. Smith capabilities. The role supports the full project lifecycle from opportunity assessment and concept development through testing, validation, and implementation. Approximately 60-70% of the role involves hands-on laboratory experimentation, partner evaluation, and field or customer-facing technical assessment. Travel may be required up to 20–25% of the time.

Requirements

MS in Mechanical Engineering or related thermal sciences discipline required; PhD preferred.
5+ years of relevant experience in thermal systems, HVAC/R, hydronics, data center cooling, heat transfer, or applied thermal-fluid product development; advanced graduate research in these domains counts toward this requirement
Strong understanding of data center thermal management, including air cooling, liquid cooling, heat rejection, facility water systems, coolant loops, and thermal reliability requirements
Demonstrated ability to translate market or customer needs into practical engineering requirements, concepts, test plans, and technical recommendations
Strong experimental and analytical background in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, HVAC/R systems, hydronic systems, or thermal storage
Familiarity with data center cooling equipment such as CDUs, cold plates, heat exchangers, dry coolers, chillers, pumps, valves, controls, and water treatment interfaces
Ability to design and build liquid cooling test loops and conduct validation campaigns on cold plate, CDU, or calorimetric test stands, including instrumentation selection, data acquisition, data reduction, and uncertainty quantification
Experience with engineering analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, Excel, LabVIEW, Minitab, EES, CFD, FEA, or equivalent tools
Ability to evaluate external suppliers, technologies, and partners from both a technical and practical implementation perspective
Excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills
Strong time management and prioritization across multiple concurrent projects
Demonstrated professionalism and collaboration consistent with A. O. Smith values

Nice To Haves

PhD in Mechanical Engineering or related field with research or industry focus in heat transfer, liquid cooling, data center thermal management, thermal storage, or heat reuse systems

Responsibilities

Lead senior-level engineering projects focused on data center thermal management, from concept definition through validation and implementation.
Serve as the technical lead on data center cooling architectures, including air cooling, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, immersion cooling, and facility water systems
Assess opportunities for A. O. Smith technologies in data center heat reuse, thermal storage, hot water generation, water treatment, and packaged mechanical room solutions, including concepts that capture, store, upgrade, or reject data center waste heat for building, district, edge, or industrial applications
Prototype, simulate, and validate thermal management solutions in laboratory and real-world environments, and generate experimental validation data for the company’s system-level models
Coordinate activities of engineers, technicians, prototype shop resources, suppliers, and external collaborators in support of concept demonstrations
Mentor engineering design team members on data center thermal fundamentals, liquid cooling trends, heat reuse, and model-informed design workflows
Conduct project meetings and prepare status reports for internal stakeholders
Document innovations through patents, technical reports, publications, and trade secrets
Monitor emerging technologies in data center cooling, HVAC/R, heat transfer, thermal storage, controls, and sustainability; bring innovative ideas to the table through industry groups and technical forums such as ASHRAE, ASME, OCP, or equivalent organizations
Other projects and duties as assigned