Senior Thermal Engineer, Expeditionary AI / HPC Data Centers
About this role
The thermal engineering team at Anduril Industries builds modular, air-transportable compute and command-and-control infrastructure designed to operate reliably in austere, high-ambient forward operating locations. This Senior Thermal Engineer will own the end-to-end thermal management of expeditionary AI and HPC data centers, focusing on high-density cooling architectures that withstand extreme environments and limited power constraints.
Candidates stepping into this position will oversee everything from conceptual design and first-principles modeling to hands-on prototype builds, field testing, and operational deployment. A strong background in data center thermal management, fluid dynamics, and cross-functional hardware collaboration is essential for success in driving trade studies that balance reliability, efficiency, and cost.
What you will do
- Manage the complete thermal design and analysis of deployable data center cooling systems from the rack and chip level up to the full facility.
- Apply first principles to build initial hand calculations, spreadsheets, and MATLAB or Python first-order models before diving into detailed designs.
- Define cooling architectures and heat-rejection strategies such as CRAH units, chilled water plants, and liquid cooling to maintain proper equipment limits.
- Collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and facilities engineering teams to characterize equipment heat loads across normal and failure operating modes.
- Perform system-level modeling, thermal FEA, and CFD simulations to predict facility performance and establish operational limits.
- Lead physical prototype builds, field testing, commissioning, and validation activities using CAD and data acquisition equipment.
What you need
- Hold a Master of Science degree or higher in mechanical engineering, applied physics, or a related field focused on heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and HVAC.
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of fundamental heat transfer and fluid dynamics principles.
- Bring at least five years of experience designing thermal management systems specifically for data centers or comparable mission-critical infrastructure.
- Possess full-spectrum data center thermal experience spanning air-side and water-side cooling, heat rejection, and power density management.
- Show proven capability in steady-state and transient system modeling of thermal management systems, including HVAC and refrigerant simulations.
- Bring hands-on experience validating and testing data center thermal equipment while staying current with applicable operating standards.
- Maintain computer-aided design proficiency using Siemens NX or SolidWorks.
Nice to have
- Coding experience in Python or MATLAB for lumped-capacitance steady-state and transient analysis
- Thermal FEA and CFD experience utilizing STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, Icepak, or FloEFD
- Familiarity with PUE and WUE efficiency metrics and thermal design for high-density AI and HPC compute
- Background working with modular, transportable, or ruggedized data centers deployed in austere, high-ambient environments
Benefits
- Competitive base salary between $160,000 and $211,000 USD
- Highly competitive equity grants included in the majority of full-time offers
- Comprehensive and competitive benefits package covering health, recovery, and overall wellness
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the salary range for this role?
The salary range for this position is estimated between $160,000 and $211,000 USD in base salary, depending on factors such as work experience and education. Additionally, highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers.
What level of security clearance is required?
Candidates must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Secret security clearance. This requirement supports the defense technology mission of the company.
What kind of systems will I be designing thermal architecture for?
You will own the thermal management of expeditionary AI and HPC data centers, which are air-transportable, modular compute and command-and-control infrastructure built for forward operating locations. This involves designing air-side and water-side cooling, heat rejection, chilled water plants, and liquid cooling solutions.
What modeling and analysis tools are expected for this position?
The role requires CAD experience with Siemens NX or SolidWorks, alongside steady-state and transient system modeling capabilities. Preferred tools include Python or MATLAB for coding, and thermal FEA or CFD software such as STAR-CCM+, ANSYS, Icepak, or FloEFD.
The application is on the official Anduril Industries careers page.
Apply on company site