Thermal Mechanical Engineer - Bay Area

Ecolab Inc. • San Jose, CA

6d • $150,000 - $200,000 • Remote

About The Position

CoolIT, an Ecolab company, is hiring a Thermal Mechanical Engineer to design, develop, and validate liquid cooling solutions for high-performance electronics and demanding computing environments. Products include passive cold plates, coolant distribution manifolds, and modular cooling system components. The role applies thermal, fluid, and mechanical engineering expertise to deliver products that meet performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability objectives.

The engineer leads product development from concept through production, including design studies, prototype development, verification, risk assessment, and manufacturing release. The role works directly with customers throughout the design cycle, providing technical guidance, supporting design integration, and resolving engineering challenges remotely and at customer sites. The position is remote when not at customer sites, requires residence within commuting distance of the Bay Area, and includes customer travel in the Bay Area, occasional travel to Calgary, Alberta, for training, and potentially minimal international travel. It reports to the Thermal Mechanical Engineering Team Lead and is full-time during standard business hours.

The advertised annual salary range is $150,000–$200,000. Compensation may vary based on factors including experience, education, training, and geography.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Proven experience designing mechanical components and assemblies for mass production using multiple manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance stack-up and statistical tolerance analysis, mechanism design and analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), design for manufacturing (DFM), design failure mode and effects analysis (DFMEA), product lifecycle management (PLM), engineering testing, validation, and root-cause analysis.
• Proficiency with CAD and simulation tools, such as SolidWorks, to create production-ready models and drawings, perform analyses, and optimize design performance.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience working directly with customers to gather requirements, explain technical concepts, and resolve engineering challenges.
• Ability to reside within commuting distance of the Bay Area, California.
• Ability to travel to customer sites in the Bay Area; occasional travel to Calgary, Alberta, for training and minimal international travel may also be required.

Nice To Haves

• At least 5 years of experience in thermal-mechanical product development.
• Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and cooling system design.
• Experience designing products for high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Mechanical Engineering specializing in Fluid Dynamics, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop thermal-mechanical products and components, including passive cold plates, coolant distribution manifolds, and modular cooling system assemblies, with attention to performance, reliability, cost, and manufacturability.
• Lead product development from concept through production, including design studies, prototype development, design verification, risk assessment, and release to manufacturing.
• Create and maintain CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and related documentation in accordance with company standards, GD&T practices, and DFM requirements.
• Conduct thermal, fluid-flow, and structural analyses; perform laboratory testing, data analysis, and root-cause investigations to validate designs and optimize product performance.
• Collaborate with customers and cross-functional teams, including testing, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and product management, to gather requirements, resolve technical challenges, and support successful product integration.
• Represent the engineering team at customer sites, provide hands-on engineering support, participate in design reviews, gather product and application feedback, and help resolve issues from development through early production.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, flex days, and a paid company-wide holiday-season shutdown.
• Comprehensive benefits plan, with the majority of premiums funded by CoolIT.
• Company-funded 401(k) contributions.
• Annual professional development allowance.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, accident, and critical illness insurance; hospital indemnity insurance; auto, home, and pet insurance; identity theft protection; short- and long-term disability; pension plans; and retirement health care benefits.
• Short-term incentives, 12 vacation days, holidays, and parental leave.
• Employee stock purchase plans for full-time associates.
• Discounts on day care and caregiver services, adoption assistance, group legal services, employee assistance program, employee discount program, and education assistance program.
• On-site childcare and fitness facilities may be available at select Ecolab locations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level