Principal Thermal Product Engineer

Acceler8 Talent is proud to partner with a well-funded, VC-backed AI networking hardware startup in the SF Bay Area that’s redefining infrastructure for the world’s largest hyperscalers. Operating under a Joint Development Model (JDM), this company co-develops highly customized networking hardware, software, and optics solutions tailored to the evolving needs of large-scale AI workloads.

With over $610M in funding and rapid expansion underway, they are seeking a Hardware Product Engineer – Thermal to drive the development, qualification, and manufacturing scale-up of next-generation liquid cooling solutions for high-performance AI networking systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the productization and manufacturing readiness of advanced thermal solutions, including cold plates, liquid cooling assemblies, and rack-level cooling infrastructure.
• Partner with design, reliability, manufacturing, and supplier teams to ensure thermal solutions are successfully transitioned from development into volume production.
• Lead thermal qualification activities, including performance validation, leak testing, burst testing, and long-term reliability assessments.
• Provide hands-on support during NPI builds, manufacturing ramps, and factory deployments to resolve technical issues and improve production readiness.
• Define thermal manufacturing processes, test methodologies, and quality standards for cooling-related hardware.
• Work closely with suppliers and contract manufacturers to drive technical problem-solving, process improvements, and product quality.
• Evaluate new thermal technologies and manufacturing approaches to support future high-density AI infrastructure.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in hardware product engineering, NPI, manufacturing engineering, or thermal systems engineering.
• Proven experience supporting hardware builds on the manufacturing floor during NPI or mass production environments.
• Strong expertise in liquid cooling technologies, including cold plate design, manufacturing, qualification, and reliability testing.
• Deep understanding of thermal validation methodologies, including performance testing, leak testing, burst testing, and environmental qualification.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and cross-functional engineering teams to deliver products into production.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to bridge design intent and manufacturing execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience auditing suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Knowledge of supplier quality systems, Six Sigma methodologies, CPK/PPK metrics, and process capability analysis.
• Experience leading factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT) activities.
• Familiarity with thermal component manufacturing processes such as brazing, CNC machining, forging, and metal fabrication.