Mechanical Principal Engineer - AI Technologies at Dell

Mechanical Principal Engineer - AI Technologies

Thermal / Mechanical Engineering leads and delivers the development of innovative and compliant mechanical design solutions, as well as cross-functional interfaces for datacenter and server computer systems and peripherals. Our team conducts the analysis, feasibility studies and testing of mechanical products, instruments, subassemblies and packaging for new and existing products - and then oversees the introduction of design changes to the manufacturing organizations.

Join us to do the best work of your career and make a profound social impact as a Mechanical Principal Engineer on our Mechanical Engineering Team in Austin, Texas or Franklin, Massachusetts.

What you'll achieve

This role is critical to enabling next-generation AI and high-density computing by ensuring reliable, efficient, and scalable thermal solutions. You will directly influence customer success and shape the future of data center cooling technologies.

We are seeking a highly skilled Mechanical / Thermal Engineer specializing in Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) to support customer-facing deployments of advanced data center infrastructure. This role bridges engineering design, system integration, and customer engagement, ensuring optimal thermal performance and reliability of high-density compute platforms. The ideal candidate will work directly with customers, internal engineering teams, and partners to deliver innovative cooling solutions at scale.

You will:

• Serve as the technical subject matter expert (SME) for mechanical and thermal systems, with a focus on DLC technologies in customer environments

• Lead customer engagements, including design reviews, site readiness assessments, and deployment support for liquid-cooled systems

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (electrical, systems, manufacturing, and field engineering) to ensure end-to-end thermal solution delivery; influence product design by incorporating customer feedback and field learnings into next-generation solutions

• Analyze and optimize thermal performance of racks, servers, and cooling distribution units (CDUs) under real-world operating conditions; develop and present technical documentation, whitepapers, and customer-facing materials

• Support installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting of DLC systems, including manifolds, cold plates, and facility integration; provide root cause analysis and corrective actions for thermal or mechanical issues encountered during deployments

Take the first step towards your dream career
Every Dell Technologies team member brings something unique to the table. Here's what we are looking for with this role:

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related field

• 5+ years of experience in thermal design, fluid dynamics, or data center cooling technologies

• Hands-on experience with Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) systems, including cold plates, fluid loops, and heat exchangers

• Strong understanding of heat transfer, CFD analysis, and fluid mechanics; experience working in customer-facing or field engineering roles

• Ability to travel (up to 30-50%) for customer deployments and site support

Desirable Requirements

• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC), AI infrastructure, or GPU-based systems; knowledge of coolant chemistry, reliability, and contamination control

• Familiarity with data center infrastructure, including chilled water systems and facility integration; proficiency in thermal simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS Icepak, Fluent, or similar)

• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex engineering concepts for customers and executives

Compensation

Dell is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this position is $145k - $187k.

Benefits and Perks of working at Dell Technologies

Your life. Your health. Supported by your benefits. You can explore the overall benefits experience that awaits you as a Dell Technologies team member - right now at

Who we are

We believe that each of us has the power to make an impact. That's why we put our team members at the center of everything we do. If you're looking for an opportunity to grow your career with some of the best minds and most advanced tech in the industry, we're looking for you.

Dell Technologies is a unique family of businesses that helps individuals and organizations transform how they work, live and play. Join us to build a future that works for everyone because Progress Takes All of Us.

Dell Technologies is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Read the full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy here.