Hardware Engineer, Thermal Validation - Networking

Job Title

Hardware Engineer, Thermal Validation - Networking

Role Summary

Hands-on hardware engineer on the Networking Validation & Qualification team responsible for thermal validation of switches, adapters (HCAs), and optical transceivers. The role combines lab setup and operations, test automation, data analysis, and cross-functional coordination to validate cooling and thermal performance under real-world conditions.

Experience Level

Entry-level - approximately 2+ years of hands-on hardware lab experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Deliver thermal validation coverage by designing and executing lab tests, automating measurements, and reporting data-driven findings.

• Design, build, and maintain test setups to drive devices at maximum power; select and operate instrumentation such as power supplies, thermocouples/RTDs, FLIR cameras, and DAQ systems.
• Develop and maintain Python automation to control lab instruments, execute test sequences, and collect results with minimal manual intervention.
• Build data pipelines to aggregate, process, and visualize thermal and electrical test data; apply AI-assisted analysis to identify trends, outliers, and pass/fail status.
• Execute thermal validation plans for air-cooled and liquid-cooled configurations; operate and calibrate sensors, cameras, and airflow meters.
• Identify thermal risks (marginal design, overheating, throttling, hotspots) and collaborate with mechanical and thermal teams to validate cooling solutions.
• Own day-to-day lab operations: equipment availability, calibration, setup documentation, and readiness; lead small-scope engineering projects from scope through delivery.
• Partner with the Qualification PM to track deliverables, flag risks, and present data-driven findings to stakeholders.

Requirements

Required skills and experience for immediate contribution.

• 2+ years of hands-on hardware lab experience (industry, military unit, or equivalent).
• Proven experience with lab equipment: power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal analyzers; ability to probe, measure, and interpret analog and digital signals.
• Ability to read and understand schematics and board documentation.
• Experience writing test automation or lab scripts in Python (or equivalent).
• Structured, methodical approach to debugging and problem-solving.
• Good technical English for reading datasheets and writing clear test reports.
• Team-oriented mindset; comfortable working in a multi-discipline matrix environment.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with thermal or environmental testing: temperature chambers, burn-in, airflow measurement, FLIR thermography.
• Familiarity with electro-optical devices (lasers, photodiodes, optical transceivers) and their thermal behavior.
• Experience applying data science or AI to test and reliability data.
• Exposure to CFD or thermal simulation tools (ANSYS Icepak, FloTHERM).
• Experience in team leading, project coordination, or task ownership in multi-discipline teams.

Education Requirements

B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering or a closely related hardware discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

About the Company

Company: NVIDIA

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA

NVIDIA is a global leader in accelerated computing, renowned for its innovative solutions in AI and digital twins that transform diverse industries. The company specializes in networking technologies, providing end-to-end InfiniBand and Ethernet solutions for servers and storage that optimize performance and scalability. NVIDIA serves sectors such as high-performance computing, enterprise data centers, and cloud computing, constantly reinventing its products and services to stay ahead in the market.