Lead Engineer

Position SummaryWe are seeking a highly experienced Lead Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) for hyperscale data center environments. This role is central to enabling next-generation liquid cooling solutions for AI and high-density compute, with a strong emphasis on maximizing heat extraction capacity per unit footprint and volume.A key focus of this role is to innovate and develop new heat extraction approaches, including the application of refrigerant-based and CO₂-based cooling technologies, to push beyond the limits of traditional water-based CDU systems.Key ResponsibilitiesLead end-to-end design of CDU systems supporting hyperscale deployments, including primary/secondary loop architectureDefine system requirements aligned with hyperscalers priorities: maximum kW removed per CDU footprint, rack density scaling, and floor space efficiencyDesign and integrate high-performance components: pumps, compact heat exchangers, manifolds, filtration systems, and controlsOptimize CDU designs for maximum heat transfer per square foot (kW/ft²) and per unit volume (kW/m³)Drive innovation in advanced heat extraction technologies, including: Two-phase cooling systems (boiling/evaporative heat transfer Refrigerant-based direct expansion (DX) or pumped refrigerant loops Trans critical and subcritical CO₂ cooling systems Hybrid liquid–refrigerant architectures for ultra-high heat flux applications Evaluate and implement phase-change cooling strategies to significantly increase heat transfer coefficients and reduce system footprintLead feasibility studies comparing water vs. dielectric fluids vs. refrigerants vs. CO₂ for performance, safety, cost, and scalability Address system challenges including pressure management, leak mitigation, safety compliance, and material compatibility for refrigerant/CO₂ systemsConduct advanced thermal and fluid modeling (including two-phase flow and phase-change dynamics)Optimize system-level tradeoffs between heat extraction capability, energy efficiency, and mechanical complexityDevelop CDU concepts capable of supporting 100–300+ kW per rack and future scaling beyondEnsure compliance with evolving environmental and regulatory considerations (low-GWP refrigerants, sustainability goals)Collaborate with hyperscale customers and partners to align next-generation CDU architectures with future infrastructure roadmapLead prototyping and validation of novel cooling architectures, including lab-scale and full-scale demonstrationsRequired QualificationsBachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Thermal, or Chemical Engineering (or related field)10+ years of experience in thermal-fluid systems, including liquid and/or refrigerant-based coolingDemonstrated experience with two-phase heat transfer, refrigeration cycles, or advanced cooling technologiesExperience designing for high heat flux and space-constrained environmentsProven ability to innovate and bring new thermal management concepts from idea to prototypeProficiency with CAD and advanced simulation tools (CFD, two-phase modeling where applicable)Preferred QualificationsExperience with refrigerants (e.g., HFOs, HFCs) and CO₂ (R-744) cooling systems in industrial or data center applicationsFamiliarity with ASHRAE standards (including refrigerant safety classifications) and Open Compute Project liquid cooling initiativesKnowledge of direct-to-chip, immersion cooling, and hybrid cooling architecturesExperience addressing regulatory, safety, and environmental constraints (pressure systems, refrigerant handling, low-GWP requirements)Background in system controls for managing dynamic thermal loads and phase-change systemsExperience working with hyperscalers or next-gen data center infrastructure providersKey CompetenciesInnovation in next-generation thermal management technologiesSystems-level thinking across mechanical, thermal, and refrigeration domainsStrong analytical capability in multi-phase heat transfer and system optimizationAbility to evaluate emerging technologies and translate them into scalable productsLeadership in cross-functional, R&D-driven engineering teamsSuccess MetricsHeat extraction density (kW per CDU footprint and volume)Demonstrated advancement of next-generation cooling concepts (refrigerant/CO₂ adoption, prototypes, patents)Maximum supported rack density (kW/rack), including next-gen AI workloadsThermal efficiency and system COP improvementsReduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) at hyperscaleReliability and safety performance of advanced cooling systemsWhy Join UsLead innovation at the frontier of data center cooling evolution beyond water-based systemsWork on breakthrough technologies enabling future AI infrastructureInfluence industry direction toward higher efficiency and sustainable cooling solutionsCollaborate with leading hyperscalers and technology innovators