Job Details

Technical Lead – Thermal Engineering – bp Castrol joint venture

Location: San Francisco Bay area (Site based, or remote working with travel)

bp Castrol, a global leader in the lubricant space, is a rapidly growing presence in thermal management for data centers via immersion cooling fluids, which is aligned with bp's purpose of reimagining energy for people and the planet and helping the world reach net zero. It has formed a partnership with a global business which will be announced imminently (but which is confidential for the time being).

The partner is a leading engineering consulting firm specializing in thermal management and design solutions for electronics systems, with global clients in industries ranging from semiconductors and aerospace to automotive, data centers, and consumer electronics, delivering cutting-edge thermal simulations, analysis, and validation services.

We are looking for a Technical Lead in Thermal Engineering who will drive high-impact projects, mentor engineers, and serve as a trusted advisor to our clients. This is a unique opportunity to combine technical depth in thermal sciences with consulting, leadership, and customer-facing responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee thermal design and analysis projects across multiple industries and product types.
• Develop advanced CFD and FEA thermal models (ANSYS Icepak, FloTHERM, FloEFD, ANYSYS Mechanical, etc.) and correlate with lab test results.
• Guide project teams in developing solutions for electronics cooling challenges, including natural/forced convection, heat sinks, heat pipes, vapor chambers, and liquid cooling.
• Partner with clients to define requirements, review design trade-offs, and present findings in a clear and actionable way.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, ensuring high-quality analysis and deliverables.
• Contribute to proposals, project scoping, and client communications as part of consulting engagements.
• Stay up to date on industry trends, tools, and best practices to bring innovation into projects.
• Represent the JV as a subject matter expert in technical discussions, industry forums, and conferences.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, or related field (Master's or PhD preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in thermal engineering, with significant hands-on work in electronics cooling and CFD simulation.
• Proven ability to lead technical projects and mentor engineering staff.
• Strong knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.
• Proficiency with thermal simulation tools (ANSYS Icepak, FloTHERM, FloEFD, ANSYS Mechanical).
• Experience with lab testing, thermal measurement, and data correlation.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex results to clients and stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Prior consulting experience or client-facing engineering work.
• Familiarity with electronics packaging, PCB-level thermal analysis, and system-level thermal design.
• Exposure to multiple industry domains (semiconductors, aerospace, automotive, datacenter, etc.).
• Publications, patents, or recognition in thermal management or electronics cooling.

What we offer

• The opportunity to work with world-class clients solving some of the toughest thermal challenges.
• A collaborative and knowledge-rich environment with a focus on professional development.
• Leadership opportunities in both technical excellence and consulting practice growth.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and career advancement potential.