Senior Thermal Design Engineer

NVIDIA is hiring a Senior Thermal Design Engineer in Santa Clara, United States. It pays $152k-$253k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on NVIDIA.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
Level classes it as a senior role.
NVIDIA has 2,700+ other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Thermal Product Design Engineer to join this dynamic and innovative team to support the next generation of products and thermal solutions. As a member within our One Team model, you will support collaborative product design and development activities focusing on one business and possibly all business segments including but not limited to Data Center, Automotive, Robotics, Gaming graphics, and NVIDIA Shield products. Your contributions will be towards product development and supporting translation of thermal technologies into designs, specifications, and manufacturing from package to systems. Your design of new thermal solutions is essential, so that as a company we can anticipate and enable revolutionary products. Be an integral member of a multi-functional collaborative team that defines and develops thermal solutions from concept to production.
What you'll be doing:
On this team, the goals and objectives are carried out through a high degree of collaboration and use of state-of-the-art methods and technologies, analytical and computational analysis, and laboratory validation. These methods and processes are developed within NVIDIA’s thermal team. Part of your responsibility is driving trade-offs and validation aligned with product goals and contributing to thermal solution designs from conceptualization through mass production. You will:
- Work in a dynamic and fast-paced product development environment
- Design new thermal solutions to enable NVIDIA’s next generation of products
- Investigate relevant technologies and design concepts
- Perform thermal simulations using industry standard CFD tools
- Characterize thermal designs and electronic assemblies: Building-up physical prototype assemblies, instrumenting those assemblies for testing, carrying out testing with specific diagnostic software, summarizing data, disassembling, modifying and reassembling systems
- Present analysis summaries and test reports
What we need to see:
- BSME minimum (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years relevant experience in electronics thermal design
- Deep understanding and passion for heat transfer and fluid dynamics
- Strong proficiency in at least one thermal simulation tool (e.g., Icepak, Flotherm, Fluent)
- Hands-on experience and proficiency in thermal testing (i.e., thermal sensors, using automated data acquisition, system assembly, and data analysis techniques)
- Strong interpersonal skills, and specifically a proven ability to effectively guide and collaborate within a dynamic environment
- Background in leading resources including consultants, suppliers, and manufacturing partners
Ways to stand out from the crowd:
- Extensive experience with electronics cooling in one of NVIDIA’s core business areas
- Well-rounded background in product conceptualization, design, and manufacturing with good knowledge/experience from package to product level
- Knowledge of thermal solution manufacturing processes
- Experience with engineering statistical analysis methods and/or statistical process control for high volume manufacturing
NVIDIA is widely considered to be one of the technology world’s most desirable employers. We have some of the most forward-thinking people in the world working for us. Are you a creative engineer who loves a challenge? Come and be part of the best thermal team in the industry.

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and other objective job-related factors. The expected base salary range for this position is 152,000 USD – 253,000 USD.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until November 3, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

How we rate this

Senior Thermal Design Engineer at NVIDIA rates 22 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.