Thermal Engineer, Staff

Job Title

Staff Thermal Engineer

Role Summary

Design and validate thermal architectures for high-performance packages used in data center AI applications. Work on package- and system-level cooling solutions, combining simulation and laboratory verification.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams and OEMs/ODMs to drive thermal solutions through development and into production.

Experience Level

Senior — typically 8+ years of industry experience in electronics cooling, preferably with data center package and system work.

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include simulation, test, and cross-team technical execution.

• Perform package- and system-level thermal modeling to optimize thermal performance.
• Design, set up, run, and analyze thermal experiments to validate hardware performance.
• Manage technical projects and coordinate with internal teams and OEMs/ODMs throughout the development cycle.
• Run CFD simulations and physical tests; prepare and present results to stakeholders.
• Enable and operate test hardware and data acquisition systems; execute test vectors and debug platforms.
• Design laboratory thermal test plans and execute them to specification.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and hands-on capabilities for this role.

• Extensive experience conducting CFD simulations using tools such as ANSYS-Icepak, Flotherm, or Celsius-EC.
• Hands-on experience enabling test hardware and executing thermal validation/verification.
• Proficiency with scripting and data analysis (Python; experience with C/C++ is a plus).
• Experience with debugging, hardware bring-up, and operating data acquisition equipment.
• Thermal design experience for PCBs, enclosures, and heat sinks; experience selecting thermal management materials.
• In-depth understanding of forced convection and liquid cooling; exposure to data center cooling systems is a plus.
• Familiarity with 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks or Creo.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and communication skills.

Education Requirements

Degrees and equivalent experience accepted: Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering or related field (with ~4+ years related experience); Master's degree in those fields (with ~3+ years); PhD (with ~2+ years). The posting explicitly references MSME or PhD in Mechanical Engineering as suitable qualifications.

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.