Sr. Thermal Systems Engineer

We’re seeking a skilled Thermal Systems Engineer to join our engineering team in Lake Forest, California. This position offers the opportunity to contribute across multiple disciplines in the design and development of high-performance electronic test systems used in semiconductor, photonics, and embedded device applications.

Overview

The Thermal Systems Engineer will lead efforts in the design, analysis, and validation of advanced thermal systems that support complex electronic products. This role involves hands-on testing, prototype development, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver efficient, reliable, and cost-effective thermal solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design & Development: Create and refine thermal components and interfaces for active thermal control systems.

• Thermal Analysis: Perform detailed analyses to assess performance, efficiency, and reliability of thermal designs.

• Integration: Work with mechanical, electrical, and software teams to integrate thermal solutions into broader product architectures.

• Testing & Validation: Conduct thermal testing, data collection, and validation to ensure compliance with specifications and performance standards.

• Optimization: Improve existing designs for better efficiency, lower cost, and enhanced system performance.

• Documentation: Prepare and maintain detailed reports on design iterations, test results, and engineering analyses.

• Cross-Functional Support: Partner with procurement, manufacturing, and quality teams to define component specifications, evaluate suppliers, and support production.

• Customer Interaction: Provide technical support during installations, commissioning, and field issue resolution.

• Continuous Improvement: Stay informed on emerging technologies, tools, and methods in thermal management.

• Risk & Quality Management: Identify potential design risks and recommend mitigations or optimizations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or Physics (Master’s preferred).

• 5+ years of experience in thermal or mechanical design, ideally within high-technology or capital equipment environments.

• Proven experience in thermal system design, validation, and product support.

• Expertise in liquid-cooled and refrigerant-based systems.

• Familiarity with chillers, condensing units, and heat exchangers.

• Background in electronic packaging, burn-in testing, or thermal integration for automated or high-reliability systems.

• Experience working on cross-disciplinary teams involving motion control hardware, electronics, and embedded software.

• Hands-on experience with thermal components such as heaters, Peltiers, heat sinks, cryogenics, or airflow systems.

• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.

• This position is onsite in Lake Forest, CA.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with thermal modeling and simulation tools (e.g., SolidWorks Flow, ANSYS Icepak).

• Prior involvement in the design and deployment of semiconductor test equipment or capital systems.

• Knowledge of thermal component design (e.g., cold plates, two-phase systems, ceramic heaters, heat exchangers).

• Demonstrated ability to move designs from prototype to production with a focus on validation and reliability.

Thermal Systems
Thermal component design
No H1b's