Mechanical & Thermal Engineer
Engineers in this role design and optimize mechanical systems, thermal management solutions, and structural components for AI hardware infrastructure and advanced autonomous systems. They work hands-on across the full product lifecycle—from concept and CAD modeling through testing and production—solving complex engineering challenges like cooling strategies for high-density compute clusters, structural integrity under extreme operating conditions, and integration of electronics into ruggedized platforms. These roles typically sit within specialized engineering teams at AI and defense-focused companies, collaborating closely with thermal, electrical, and systems engineers to deliver mission-critical hardware that meets demanding performance and reliability standards.
Measured across 113 of 116 open postings.
This role is advertised at 3 levels, so a single figure for the role would describe none of them. Experience and pay are the midpoints for each level on its own.
| Level | Share | Median years | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | 26%(29) | 3 | $135k |
| Senior | 21%(24) | 7 | $190k |
| Staff / Principal | 38%(43) | 8 | $215k |
A dash means too few postings stated it to report a midpoint. Most companies do not publish a salary band, so pay is indicative rather than a market rate. 3 levels with fewer than 10 open postings are not shown.
“Experience using python or other programming languages for data review and analysis”
Requirements are a share of every open posting, so a role missing from this list is one where almost nobody asks. Work mode is different: many postings never say, so that figure counts only the ones that do. A posting stops being advertised when it is filled, cancelled or reorganised, so read the last figure as how long these stay on the market, not as time to hire.
Skills
What companies are looking for in this role.
Design for manufacturability
Thermal and structural analysis
Mechanical design and CAD
Hardware and embedded systems
Hardware test and validation
Rapid prototyping and fabrication
Functional safety engineering
Critical facility operations
Reliability and failure analysis
Supplier and vendor management
New product introduction and ramp
Manufacturing process engineering
High-density AI infrastructure delivery
Cross-functional collaboration
Technical documentation
Ownership in ambiguity
Technology
The tools and technologies that define this role.
Open Jobs
116 open Mechanical & Thermal Engineer jobs across 20 companies.
Other Physical Systems roles
Engineers designing and building electronic hardware, electrical systems, power electronics and signal chains. Covers circuit design, PCB layout, power delivery, RF/antenna design and signal integrity.
Engineers working on integrated circuit and system-on-chip design, including RTL design, physical design, silicon verification, ASIC/FPGA development, SoC architecture, and advanced packaging.
Engineers writing software that runs directly on hardware — firmware, embedded systems, RTOS, device drivers, microcontroller programming, and board support packages.
Engineers building physical robotic systems — manipulation, locomotion, motion planning, controls, perception for physical interaction, and autonomous navigation. Covers the full robotics stack from hardware integration through control software. Distinguished from Simulation Engineer (research_science) which builds virtual environments for training AI.
Engineers ensuring the safety of physical systems through functional safety analysis, hazard assessment, system safety engineering, and verification & validation of safety-critical systems.