Thermal Engineer

Thermal Engineer

This role has been designed as "Onsite" with an expectation that you will primarily work from an HPE office.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyze, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today's complex world. Our culture thrives on finding new and better ways to accelerate what's next. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you. Open up opportunities with HPE.

Job Description

HPE Networking is seeking an experienced thermal engineer to join our product development team, focusing on design, analysis, and testing of switching hardware. Ideally, candidates will bring expertise from the networking, compute, or related industries, along with a strong background in thermal design and electronics packaging for high-power, high-density systems. Our design and testing processes are conducted in-house, and our engineering team is known for being highly hands-on and involved throughout all stages.

Collaboration is at the heart of our group. We value data-driven decision making, solid engineering fundamentals, smart risk taking, and a culture where individual ownership goes hand-in-hand with team accountability. Our approach encourages the development of a broad skillset, with opportunities to gain depth in strategic areas and become a subject matter expert when needed. Engineers are empowered with a wide range of responsibilities, and there are plenty of opportunities to pursue areas of personal interest. Our team is composed of both recent hires and seasoned industry veterans, working together with the broader engineering teams across the US and internationally. We are excited to welcome a candidate who will thrive in our high-performing, dynamic environment.

This position focuses on designing, simulating, analyzing, and testing thermal and mechanical systems. Responsibilities include conducting feasibility studies, developing solutions, assessing design margins, performing validation analysis, and carrying out empirical testing on both new and modified designs. The role may also involve leading or assisting in architecture development and evaluation, as well as directing support teams or partner organizations through the detailed phases of design, testing, prototype fabrication, and production tooling. Applying engineer is expected to solve technical challenges, recommend alternative solutions when necessary, and exercise independent judgment while collaborating with others to determine the most effective strategies for achieving project objectives. This position may also entail serving as a project lead and mentoring less experienced professionals. Mechanical design experience is considered a valuable asset for this role.

Responsibilities

• Design, test, and validate engineering solutions for thermal and mechanical hardware, including electronics enclosures and ensuring compliance with reliability, acoustics, power, system tolerances, shock and vibration, electromagnetic interference, and safety standards.
• Perform thermal simulation, heatsink design, in-lab testing, and data analysis to ensure product viability, quality, and long-term reliability.
• Develop and implement comprehensive parameters and test plans for both new and existing designs, including validation of critical performance metrics and system requirements.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with hardware and software teams, project stakeholders, and management regarding design status, project progress, and issue resolution.
• Support project teams of mechanical and thermal hardware engineers, including internal and outsourced development partners, to develop reliable, cost-effective, and high-quality solutions for complex products.
• Represent the mechanical/thermal team across all phases of major development projects.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced team members to support skill development and project success.

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field.
• 6 plus years of experience.

Knowledge and Skills

• Expertise in thermal design and electronics packaging, especially for high-density, high-power systems such as those used in data center compute and networking applications; familiar with design tradeoffs and stakeholder engagement.
• Proficient in analytical and problem-solving skills, including the use of CFD software (FloTherm, IcePak, Fluent) and thermal mockups for validating thermal solutions.
• Experience in thermal testing using data acquisition systems (DAQ), thermocouples, thermal chambers, metered flow benches, and familiar with scripting languages such as Python.
• Understanding and experience in system thermal control, including fan control.
• Skilled in designing heatsinks, cold plates, sheet metal, and plastic parts, as well as associated production tooling and processes; experience working with vendors to develop and deliver solutions.
• Proficient in using 3D CAD software (Creo/Parametric, SolidWorks, or similar) for mechanical design.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse project team in a fast-paced development environment.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, effective communication, independence, and experience managing design tradeoffs in a system design environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate product architectures and design proposals, and to negotiate options at various management levels.