Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems

etched· Platform
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📍 San JoseFullTime💰 USD 200K–250K/yr

About this role

About Etched

Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers - delivering over 10x higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than a B200. With Etched ASICs, you can build products that would be impossible with GPUs, like real-time video generation models and extremely deep & parallel chain-of-thought reasoning agents. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems to join our team and lead our efforts in optimizing thermal management for high-performance systems. As a Senior Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems at Etched, you will play a crucial role in developing and implementing advanced thermal management solutions for our high-performance data center products. Your expertise in water cooling, thermal simulations, and cooling system design will be essential in ensuring optimal thermal performance and reliability. You will work with various water cooling components, including internal manifolds, quick disconnects, CDU (Coolant Distribution Units), heat exchangers, and advanced thermal interface materials.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead the design and optimization of thermal management systems for high-performance data center products, focusing on water cooling solutions and advanced cooling concepts.

  • Develop and implement water cooling solutions, including internal manifolds, quick disconnects, CDUs (Coolant Distribution Units), and heat exchangers. Ensure effective cooling and thermal management for high-power processors and other critical components.

  • Design and manage direct-to-processor water cooling systems to efficiently dissipate heat and maintain optimal operating temperatures.

  • Conduct detailed thermal simulations to predict and analyze thermal performance. Use simulation results to guide the design and optimization of cooling systems.

  • Evaluate and select thermal interface materials (TIMs) for various heat sinks and cooling solutions. Optimize TIM performance to enhance thermal conductivity and heat dissipation.

  • Explore and implement advanced thermal cooling concepts, including phase change cooling, liquid cooling, and other cutting-edge technologies.

  • Oversee the testing and validation of thermal management systems to ensure they meet performance, reliability, and efficiency standards. Address any issues related to thermal performance and provide solutions.

  • Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for thermal management designs, including design specifications, simulation results, and testing reports. Report on performance and any issues identified during testing.

  • Work closely with cross-functional teams, including mechanical engineers, electrical systems engineers, and vendors, to ensure seamless integration and operation of thermal management solutions.

You maybe a good fit if you have

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Thermal Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in thermal management or related areas are highly desirable.

  • A Minimum of 10 years of experience in thermal engineering with a strong focus on water cooling systems and advanced thermal management solutions. Proven expertise in designing and managing direct-to-processor cooling systems and thermal simulations.

  • Extensive experience with water cooling systems, including internal manifolds, quick disconnects, CDUs, and heat exchangers

  • Expertise in direct-to-processor cooling solutions and thermal management for high-power components

  • Proficiency in thermal simulation tools and techniques to predict and analyze thermal performance

  • Knowledge of various thermal interface materials (TIMs) and heat sink designs

  • Experience with advanced thermal cooling concepts and technologies.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every single qualification.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage

    • $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits

  • Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office

  • Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)

  • Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more

  • Daily lunch + dinner in our office

  • Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification

How we’re different

Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We think most of the progress in the AI field has come from using more FLOPs to train and run models, and the best way to get more FLOPs is to build model-specific hardware. Larger and larger training runs encourage companies to consolidate around fewer model architectures, which creates a market for single-model ASICs.

We are a fully in-person team in San Jose (Santana Row), and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems role at etched?
The listed salary for this Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems position at etched is USD 200K–250K/yr. This is an FullTime role.
Where is the Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems position at etched located?
This Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems role at etched is based in San Jose. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems role at etched full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems role in the Platform department at etched.
Which team or department does the Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems at etched belong to?
This Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems position is part of the Platform department at etched. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems position at etched?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to etched's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems job at etched posted?
This Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems position at etched was posted on Jan 14, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Sr. Thermal Engineer, Liquid Cooling Systems
etched · 💰 USD 200K–250K/yr
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