Thermal & Cooling Liquid Engineer (SME)

What you'll be doing

Lead the technical strategy for industrial liquid cooling systems, including large-scale direct-to-chip, cold-plate, and immersion deployments
Apply thermal theory to validate system-level heat balance, fluid chemistry, and heat exchanger performance
Support end-to-end liquid-cooled rack deployments, providing project management support for full lifecycle execution
Serve as a subject matter expert in valves, pumps, VFD controls, and piping hydraulics to ensure stable flow and pressure management
Define and optimize control logic, alarm thresholds, and fail-safe interlocks in collaboration with automation teams (PLC/BMS)
Support commissioning activities for liquid systems, including hydro-testing, flow balancing, and thermal validation under load
Lead root-cause analysis (RCA) for thermal and fluid incidents and drive continuous improvement to reduce MTTR and repeat failures
Develop maintenance protocols, SOPs, MOPs, and training programs for water treatment and safe operation of liquid cooling systems

What you'll have

7+ years of experience in industrial water cooling or critical infrastructure, with a strong focus on large-scale fluid systems
Proven experience in deployment and maintenance of hyperscale data center liquid cooling systems strongly preferred
Strong understanding of thermal heat transfer and fluid dynamics, with expert knowledge of industrial valves, heat exchangers, and pumping systems
Proficiency in reading and developing P&IDs and mechanical schematics
Hands-on experience with industrial controls (PLC/BMS), alarm management, and data-driven troubleshooting
Ability to manage complex projects and influence cross-functional teams (Construction, Engineering, Operations) without direct authority
Ability to meet physical job requirements and work in a data center environment
Preferred experience in Mechanical Engineering, Fluid Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Preferred Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical Engineering) or a related field.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive Salary: Base range (commensurate with experience) + bonus + sign-on equity grant.
Long-Term Growth: Eligible to participate in Riot’s equity incentive programs and share in the success you help build.
401(k) Retirement Plan: Incudes a generous company match.
Comprehensive Health Coverage: Multiple medical plan options, including 100% company-paid plans.
Wellness & Lifestyle Perks: Enjoy free gym memberships, pet insurance, childcare discounts, and more to support your life both in and out of work.

Riot is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Skills Required
7+ years of experience in industrial water cooling or critical infrastructure
Proven deployment and maintenance experience with hyperscale data center liquid cooling systems
Expert knowledge of thermal heat transfer, fluid dynamics, industrial valves, heat exchangers, and pumping systems
Proficiency in reading and developing P&IDs and mechanical schematics
Hands-on experience with industrial controls (PLC/BMS), VFDs, alarm management, and data-driven troubleshooting
Experience supporting commissioning activities including hydro-testing, flow balancing, and thermal validation under load
Ability to manage complex projects and influence cross-functional teams (Construction, Engineering, Operations) without direct authority
Ability to meet physical job requirements and work in a data center environment
Preferred experience in Mechanical Engineering, Fluid Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related discipline
Preferred Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or related field
Willingness/ability to travel up to 75% to support site activities and troubleshooting