Thermal Integration Engineer - Vehicle and Bench Validation

Job description

HireArt is helping our client find a Thermal Integration Engineer - Vehicle and Bench Validation to oversee the integration of complex thermal loops to support autonomous compute stacks, high-voltage battery systems, drive units, and cabin climatization.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for the performance and efficiency of the vehicle thermal management system across a global operating range of -20°C to 50°C. You will lead the transition from theoretical design to physical reality through rigorous bench-level development and vehicle-level validation.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years of experience in automotive thermal integration and a strong mastery of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer. You bring hands-on experience using automotive communication protocols and data acquisition tools like CANape, CANalyzer, or INCA and have successfully developed and validated heating and cooling systems for high-voltage batteries, electronics, and passenger cabins.

As a Thermal Integration Engineer, you'll:

• Develop thermal management solutions for autonomous vehicle architectures in partnership with attribute leads, hardware owners, and systems engineers.
• Conceptualize and document practical thermal solutions and test protocols to ensure the fleet meets all performance and cabin comfort requirements.
• Own the thermal test lifecycle, including the creation of detailed test plans, the organization of logistics for North American test campaigns, and the execution of data-driven validation.
• Utilize system-on-bench environments to calibrate components, validate firmware, and de-risk thermal control logic prior to vehicle integration.
• Partner with HVAC integration, hardware, and firmware teams to ensure the thermal requirements of cooled components and occupied spaces are satisfied under all ambient conditions.
• Analyze multifaceted data sets to provide architectural and design recommendations aimed at optimizing system efficiency and cooling capacity.
• Be responsible for the identification, documentation, and resolution of system deficiencies through the management of formal trouble tickets and root-cause analysis.
• Travel within the Bay Area to worksites as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
• 6+ years of professional experience in automotive thermal integration, mechanical design, or thermal controls development.
• Demonstrated success in developing heating and cooling solutions for electric motors, high-voltage batteries, high-performance electronics, and passenger cabins.
• Advanced mastery of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat-transfer principles.
• Expert use of automotive communication protocols and professional data acquisition tools, including IPetronik hardware and software, CANape, CANalyzer, or INCA.
• Ability to manage complex logistics and material requirements for large-scale test campaigns.
• Analytical precision in interpreting telemetry to influence hardware and software design.
• Commitment to project ownership, ensuring all identified thermal issues are tracked to verified closure.

Benefits:

• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Employer (HireArt) Subsidized healthcare benefits (eligibility begins on the first of the month following 60 days of service)
• Flexible Spending Account for healthcare-related costs
• HireArt covers all costs for short and long-term disability and life insurance
• 401k package

Commitment: This is a full-time, ongoing contract position staffed via HireArt. It will be onsite and available to candidates who are local to the Foster City, CA area.

HireArt values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor visas or employ corp-to-corp.