Principal Thermal/Mechanical Engineer

(IND) Ecolab Global Services Private Limited Principal Thermal/Mechanical Engineer Apr 24, 2026

$101K - $152K

Nalco Water, an Ecolab Company, is seeking a talented scientist with expertise in thermal engineering, cooling equipment design and testing to join the Global High Tech R&D team located in Naperville, IL as a Principal Thermal/Mechanical Engineer . The GHT team supports the Light Water business for Data Centers, Microelectronics, and Colloidal Technologies. This role will lead cooling equipment innovation projects for our Data Center portfolio, communicate regularly with the field/customers/business leaders, design/test/implement new equipment, and ensure a robust pipeline for new products and platforms that help our customers solve complex cooling problems. What you will do: Manage and drive projects that deliver unique data center hardware solutions. Improve design and testing of data center hardware systems (i.e. Cooling distribution units (CDU) and other hardware systems in direct to chip cooling applications). Create and evaluate new mechanical design concepts for innovative cooling solutions. Develop solutions to complex research problems requiring creativity and ingenuity. Ensure protection of Nalco Water intellectual property through patenting, licensing, and joint development agreements. Collaborate with a diverse, cross‑functional team of sales leaders, researchers, industry technical consultants, functional business partners, and OEM partners to develop new ideas that solve difficult problems related to water usage and energy efficiency in Data Centers. Develop and design new cooling technologies in data centers such as novel liquid and immersion cooling. Minimum Qualifications Degree or advanced degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering or related discipline: BS and 5+ years; MS and 3+ years or PhD. Experience in thermal/mechanical engineering, thermal management systems preferably for Data Center hardware systems. Experience with electronics cooling, heat transfer, fluid dynamics and thermal control systems for data center hardware applications. Experience in experimental testing and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Immigration sponsorship not available for this role. Preferred Qualifications Extensive knowledge of cooling technologies, cold plates, and cooling distribution units. Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail. Strong communication and teamwork abilities. Knowledge of customer requirements, industry standards, and regulations related to cooling distribution units. Annual or Hourly Compensation Range The pay range for this position is $101,400.00 – $152,100.00. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws. Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market‑competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. Potential Customer Requirements Notice To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer‑facing roles may need to: Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing. Be fully vaccinated for COVID‑19, including a booster if eligible, unless a religious or medical accommodation is requested by the applicant and approved by Ecolab. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website. #J-18808-Ljbffr Dormont Manufacturing Co