Technical Project Manager Mechanical NPI & liquid Cooling Systems for Datacenter

Job Title: Technical Project Manager Mechanical NPI & Cooling Systems (For DataCenters, specifically L10/L11)

Location: Santa Clara, CA (Fully Onsite) + up to around 6 weeks of travel to various Domestic/International sites
Type: 6-Month Contract-to-Hire
Interviews: 3 Rounds (MS Teams + Onsite with NPI/Manufacturing Teams)
Start Date: ASAP
Requirements: Background Check + Valid U.S. Passport
Travel: Typically, up to 4 6 weeks over a 6-month period (domestic, near-shore, offshore sites)

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Project Manager with a strong background in mechanical engineering projects, particularly in thermal and liquid cooling systems. This role will oversee the end-to-end execution of complex mechanical programs, ensuring successful New Product Introduction (NPI) and scaling into high-volume manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional project teams to deliver mechanical systems and cooling solutions on time, within scope, and budget.
• Manage NPI programs, driving schedules, risk assessments, and deliverables from concept through production release.
• Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM) and smooth transition to mass production.
• Oversee integration of thermal and liquid cooling systems into product designs and ensure readiness for scale.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and resource allocation for complex mechanical assemblies.
• Ensure supplier engagement and readiness for mechanical commodities such as:
• Sheet metal
• Die casting
• Plastics
• Copper heatsinks with vapor chambers and/or heat pipes
• Cold plates, liquid fittings, and fluid delivery systems
• Drive implementation of fluid delivery systems at facility and system levels.
• Provide leadership and guidance based on 10+ years of experience introducing products into manufacturing environments.
• Report project status, risks, and mitigation plans to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in mechanical engineering or related field; PMP certification preferred.
• 10+ years of experience managing mechanical engineering projects and NPI programs.
• Proven track record of delivering products with thermal and liquid cooling solutions at scale.
• Strong understanding of mechanical commodities and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Familiarity with high-level assembly release processes for complex products (e.g., networking or server systems).

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Arista-like products or similar high-performance computing/networking systems.
• Knowledge of DFM/DFX principles and PLM systems.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira).