Senior Principal Systems Development Engineer

Help architect and deliver Dell’s L11 rack-scale AI solutions: fully integrated racks that bring Dell IP and partner technologies together to fuel our customers’ AI growth. As a Principal Systems Development Engineer, you’ll own the system-level architecture and engineering of complete AI racks across compute, mechanical, thermal, software, diagnostics, and factory enablement. Working hands-on at Dell facilities, Dell factories, and customer data centers, you’ll partner with engineering SMEs across Dell and with partner technology providers to turn complex, large-scale AI deployments into repeatable, manufacturable solutions. This is a highly visible role spanning Engineering, Operations, and Product Management, with direct impact on how the world’s most demanding AI infrastructure gets built and deployed.

Join us to do the best work of your career and make a profound social impact as aSenior Principal Systems Development Engineer on ourSystems Development Engineering team in Santa Clara, California.

Responsibilities

You will:

• Design and define system-level requirements for complex L11 rack-scale AI solutions, integrating Dell IP and partner IP into a cohesive, deployable rack.
• Determine system specifications, interfaces, and working parameters across compute, mechanical, thermal, software, and diagnostics for full hardware/software compatibility.
• Coordinate the design and integration of subsystems into complete rack-level systems that meet performance, quality, and manufacturability requirements.
• Ensure the manufacturability, reliability, and serviceability of rack designs, including factory enablement for large-scale production.
• Engage directly with customer teams to plan and prepare for their large-scale AI deployments.
• Coordinate with engineering SMEs across Dell’s mechanical, thermal, software, supply chain, services, and factory teams to enable full solution delivery.
• Conduct benchmarking, testing, and analysis across all phases of development; diagnose issues, recommend corrective actions, and document results.

Knowledge Application

• Applies deep, wide-ranging systems-level expertise across compute, mechanical, thermal, software, and diagnostics to develop and resolve complex rack-scale integration challenges.
• Understands the interrelationships across engineering disciplines and partner technologies, and applies that insight to optimize complete AI rack solutions.
• Directs the application of established engineering principles and guides the development of new methodologies for integrating Dell and partner IP at rack scale.

Problem Solving

• Works on complex system-level issues where analysis requires in-depth evaluation of variable factors across hardware, software, thermal, and mechanical domains.
• Determines methods and procedures on new deployment and integration assignments, exercising judgment in selecting and adapting complex techniques and evaluation criteria.
• Diagnoses root causes across the full rack stack and its manufacturing and deployment environment, delivering well-supported, defensible solutions.

Collaboration & Interaction

• Partners hands-on with engineering SMEs across Dell and with partner technology providers to deliver integrated rack-level solutions.
• Engages customer teams, Operations, and Product Management to plan large-scale deployments and align on solution requirements.
• Represents system-level and customer-deployment realities in cross-functional decisions, ensuring designs are manufacturable and deployable at scale.
• Conveys technical findings, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly to both engineering and non-engineering audiences.

• 12+ years of related experience in a professional role with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8+ years with a Master’s degree; or 5+ years with a PhD; or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on experience leading system-level architecture and integration of rack-scale or data center solutions, spanning compute, mechanical, thermal, software, and diagnostics, is strongly preferred.
• Computer architecture, software architectures & compute system design; Design for Manufacturability (DFM); Requirements management & System Requirement Specification (SRS)
• Testing strategies; Root cause problem solving & troubleshooting
• Cross-team collaboration & stakeholder engagement

Desirable Requirements

• Proven experience integrating third-party/partner technologies, enabling factory production, and supporting large-scale customer deployments
• Customer experience management, Delivery management, Product management

Dell is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary range for this position is $ 210,162 - 271,975 USD.