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# Thermal Application Engineer- Data Center

- **Company:** Ingersoll Rand
- **Location:** Junction City, OR, United States
- **Salary:** $130,000.0 - $150,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Application Notes, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Data Centers, Data Center Infrastructure Management (CIM), Software Requirements Analysis, Integration Tests, Ansys
- **Published:** October 16, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.dice.com/job-detail/6a54f820-293f-4672-a2d2-f8ed755af96f

## About the Role

* Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Thermal Engineering
 * 5+ years of experience in data center cooling, thermal engineering, or HVAC systems
 * 1+ years of experience hands-on experience with at least one of the following:
 + CDUs and liquid cooling systems (direct-to-chip, liquid loops)
 + Dry Cooler/Adiabatic Dry Cooler
 + Fan arrays/walls or large-scale airflow systems, * Experience with hyperscale or colocation data center environments
 * Candidate would need to be familiar with chiller sizing criteria and the refrigeration cycle, as that is definitely a major part of the need here.
 * Familiarity with AI/HPC high-density rack (>30-100kW+) cooling challenges
 * Knowledge of controls and monitoring of CDU systems (BMS/DCIM integration)
 * Experience in commissioning and field deployment of cooling systems
 * Professional Engineer (PE) license or certifications in data center design (CDCDP/CDCS)
 * Proficiency in CFD and thermal simulation tools
 * Strong understanding of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and chilled water systems
 * Experience working with external suppliers or OEM partners in a technical capacity
 * Knowledge of ASHRAE TC9.9 guidelines and data center standards
 * Strong communication skills with ability to work across internal teams and external vendors

Core Competencies

 * Strong program and project management capability
 * Leadership and influence across matrixed organizations
 * Financial and commercial acumen
 * Risk management and problem-solving
 * Excellent communication and stakeholder management
 * High attention to detail and execution discipline
 * Use CFD and system modeling tools (e.g., 6SigmaDCX, ANSYS Icepak, FloTHERM) to validate thermal performance
 * Analyze liquid flow characteristics, pressure drops, and heat exchanger performance
 * Conduct lab and field validation, including thermal testing of CDU, Dry Cooler/Adiabatic Dry Cooler and airflow systems
 * Continuously improve system efficiency, energy usage (PUE), and reliability
 * Work closely with mechanical, electrical, controls, and data center infrastructure teams

## Description

We are seeking a skilled Data Center Thermal Application Engineer to support the design, integration, and deployment of advanced cooling solutions in modern data centers. This role will play a critical part in enabling high-density workloads (AI/ML, HPC) by working closely with Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU), Dry Cooler/Adiabatic Dry Cooler and Fan Array/Wall system suppliers to deliver efficient, scalable, and reliable cooling architectures. This position requires strong expertise in liquid cooling systems, airflow management, and system-level thermal integration, along with the ability to collaborate with external partners and internal cross-functional teams., * Design and implement thermal solutions leveraging liquid cooling (CDUs, direct-to-chip) and high-performance air-cooling systems (Dry Cooler/Adiabatic Dry Cooler, fan walls/arrays)

 * Candidate would need to be familiar with chiller sizing criteria and the refrigeration cycle, as that is definitely a major part of the need here.
 * Define system-level cooling architectures integrating CDU loops, facility water systems, and rack-level cooling solutions
 * Evaluate and optimize airflow strategies, including cold aisle/hot aisle containment and fan wall deployment
 * Perform thermal calculations, system sizing, and redundancy planning
 * Support site-specific solution design by assessing customer requirements, heat loads, and facility constraints
 * Provide technical guidance during installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting
 * Collaborate with field teams and customers to resolve thermal performance issues and optimize system operation
 * Develop application notes, design guides, and best practices for deployment, * Support procurement and quality teams in supplier selection and qualification
 * Contribute to product development and roadmap planning for next-generation cooling solutions
 * Act as the primary technical interface with CDU, Dry Cooler/Adiabatic Dry Cooler and fan array/wall system suppliers
 * Review vendor designs, specifications, and performance data to ensure alignment with system requirements
 * Coordinate integration testing, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and site acceptance testing (SAT)

Travel & Work Requirements

 * 25%-40% travel (project sites, factory inspections, FAT/SAT, customer reviews