Sr. Principle Systems / Rack Thermal Engineer
Astera Labs · Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States
Posted 22 days ago · $195,000 to $250,000
or apply directly on Astera Labs's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 22 days Astera Labs's roles stay open a median of 45 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- Yes 43% of Astera Labs's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at Astera Labs
- high 116 stale, 8 reposted of 160 open
- Hiring momentum
- 218 roles opened in the last 90 days ↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
- Last confirmed on the employer's board
- 2026-09-17
Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Astera Labs's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Astera Labs.
About this role
The Senior Principal Thermal Engineer will lead the thermal architecture for next-generation AI systems and rack-scale infrastructure. This role involves defining thermal strategies, developing cooling solutions, and collaborating with various engineering teams and ODM partners to optimize thermal performance and ensure compliance with design objectives. The engineer will also drive thermal modeling and validation efforts to support high-density AI deployments.
- benefits
- 1/5
- freshness
- 4/5
- career value
- 5/5
- role clarity
- 5/5
- pay transparency
- 5/5
Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Astera Labs as an employer.
What you need
- BS, MS, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline
- 15+ years of thermal engineering experience
- Proven track record leading thermal architecture for AI infrastructure, networking platforms, servers, storage, or hyperscale systems
- Deep expertise in heat transfer, conduction and convection, airflow optimization, thermal characterization, cooling system design, and rack-level thermal architecture
- Hands-on experience using ANSYS Icepak, FloTHERM, 6SigmaET, and CFD tools and methodologies
- Strong experience with thermal validation and correlation techniques.
Nice to have
- Experience supporting NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel-based AI platforms
- Experience with Open Rack and OCP architectures
- Expertise in liquid cooling technologies
- Familiarity with PCIe Scale-Up and UALink systems
- Experience with Ethernet scale-out networking
What you get
- Salary range of $195,000 to $250,000 depending on experience, level, and business needs
- Eligibility for discretionary bonuses, incentives, and benefits.
Worth weighing
- The role involves a high level of responsibility and visibility, which may not suit everyone.
- The focus on advanced cooling technologies suggests a need for ongoing learning and adaptation to new methods.
- Collaboration with various partners and teams may require strong interpersonal skills and adaptability.
- The salary range is broad, indicating potential variability based on negotiation and experience.
Summarised from Astera Labs's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by Astera Labs on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-09-17. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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