Senior Thermal Engineer

aristanetworks· Hardware Engineering
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About this role

Company Description

Arista Networks is an industry leader in data-driven, client-to-cloud networking for large data center, campus and routing environments. What sets us apart is our relentless pursuit of innovation. We leverage the latest advancements in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and software-defined networking to provide our clients with a competitive edge in an increasingly interconnected world. Our solutions are designed to not only meet the current demands of the digital landscape but to also anticipate and adapt to future challenges.

At Arista we value the diversity of thought and perspectives that each employee brings to the table. We  believe that fostering an inclusive environment, where individuals from various backgrounds and experiences feel welcome, is essential for driving creativity and innovation.

Our commitment to excellence has earned us several prestigious awards, such as Best Engineering Team, Best Company for Diversity, Compensation, and Work-Life Balance. At Arista, we take pride in our track record of success and strive to maintain the highest standards of quality and performance in everything we do.

Job Description

Who You’ll Work With

Arista seeks to add a Senior Thermal Engineer to address thermal engineering design challenges of high-end switching products in Santa Clara, California.  This position reports to the Mechanical Engineering Manager.  

The total estimated annual compensation range for this position, inclusive of base salary, bonus, and equity, is $300,000 to $655,000. This range is a good faith estimate only. Bonus and equity are discretionary, subject to plan terms, and are not guaranteed components of total compensation. Actual total annual compensation may vary based on employee performance, company or equity performance, company policy, board approval, or similar factors. Please see additional base salary information below.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you will work closely with the Electrical design and hardware validation teams to ensure fulfillment of overall system requirements.  As the Senior Thermal Engineer you will be responsible for addressing all thermal design related issues on different projects and shape thermal strategy for future products.

  • Develop thermal cooling strategies for next-generation, high-performance switching products.
  • Work independently to perform complete thermal analysis and design using Icepak.
  • Support thermal analysis requests from hardware team, product management team and other cross functional teams with either spreadsheet calculations or detailed simulation results.
  • Capable of conducting different engineering experimental tests to verify design (e.g., components, system level, etc.) and correlate with computational results.

 

Qualifications

 

  • MS Degree in Mechanical Engineering - Ph.D. preferred. 
  • Minimum of 5 years of direct professional experience in thermal design and analysis of electronic appliances using Icepak, FloTHERM, SmartCFD, etc.
  • Experience with high power (>800W) SoC liquid cooling thermal models and system-level analysis.
  • Experience in cold plate liquid cooling design and analysis, open loop or closed loop liquid cooling, CDU at rack level or facility level design and analysis.
  • Experience in numerical modeling based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) (convergence, discretization, meshing).
  • Knowledge and familiarity with electronic cooling and challenges of systems within data center environments.
  • Knowledge of heat transfer modes; conduction, convection (passive and active), and radiation.
  • Thorough understanding of heat sink type/design, heat pipes, vapor chambers, fans, blowers, pumps, thermal interface material. Experience in vendor selection.
  • Flow and thermal measurement techniques, mechanical (thermal and structural) validation and qualification tests including, Environmental Test (ETE), etc.
  • Knowledge of thermal airflow testing, fans, pumps, liquid loop cold plate testing, and augmentation to system thermal simulation models.
  • Experience using ProEngineer (PTC Creo) a plus.
  • Good verbal and written communication skills.

Compensation Information:

The new hire base pay for this role has a pay range of $180,000 to $275,000. Arista offers different pay ranges based on work location, so that we can offer consistent and competitive pay appropriate to the market. The actual base pay offered will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, relevant experience, and work location. The salary range provided reflects base pay only. As described above, this position may also be eligible for discretionary Arista bonuses and equity. US- based employees are also entitled to benefits including medical, dental, vision, wellbeing, tax savings and income protection. The recruiting team can share more details during the hiring process specific to the role and location.

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Additional Information

Arista Networks is an equal opportunity employer.  Arista makes all hiring and employment-related decisions in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other factor determined to be unlawful under applicable federal, state, or law law.  All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Senior Thermal Engineer position at aristanetworks?
The salary for this Senior Thermal Engineer role at aristanetworks is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Senior Thermal Engineer position at aristanetworks located?
This Senior Thermal Engineer role at aristanetworks is based in CA, Santa Clara, Santa Clara, CA, United States, us. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Senior Thermal Engineer role at aristanetworks full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a Full time position. It is posted as a Senior Thermal Engineer role in the Hardware Engineering department at aristanetworks.
Which team or department does the Senior Thermal Engineer at aristanetworks belong to?
This Senior Thermal Engineer position is part of the Hardware Engineering department at aristanetworks. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Senior Thermal Engineer position at aristanetworks?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to aristanetworks's official application portal hosted on smartrecruiters where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Senior Thermal Engineer job at aristanetworks posted?
This Senior Thermal Engineer position at aristanetworks was posted on Jun 9, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Senior Thermal Engineer
aristanetworks
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