Sr Hardware Engineer

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real‑world problems with cutting‑edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values:
Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real‑world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real‑time problem‑solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Your Career We are seeking an experienced Thermal Engineer to support the development and optimization of thermal solutions for PAN (Product Area Network) products. In this role, you will collaborate directly with mechanical engineers to design, evaluate, and improve thermal systems. You will ensure optimal performance, efficiency, and cost‑effectiveness in all thermal aspects of our NPI (New Product Introduction) and sustaining programs.

• Support all PAN product development thermal effort in both NPI & Sustaining
• Support ASIC team in determining thermal package performance prior to release for manufacture
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers to co‑develop NPI product thermal solutions
• Conduct early‑stage thermal feasibility studies and case studies to evaluate design viability & product environmental requirements
• Create, present and maintain thermal simulation models throughout the product development from conceptual to FCS
• Optimize both internal and external thermal design solutions to ensure high‑quality, low‑cost solutions
• Attend regularly scheduled engineering meetings to review progress and updates
• Co‑present thermal solutions, risk during system design reviews at each release
• Support thermal profiling testing. Review and approve the final thermal reports prior to each mechanical release
• Assist with sustaining thermal efforts when requested, ensuring long‑term product performance
• Support PAN NPI sustaining programs during early development phases, including tasks like air temperature plots, junction/case temperatures, enclosure touch temperatures, and heat spreader/heat sink design guidelines
• Provide practical recommendations on thermal interface materials, assembly mounting, and overall thermal solution performance

Your Experience

Technical Expertise:
Deep knowledge of both active and passive thermal design solutions. Strong understanding of telecom 19" rack and desktop design solutions. Ability to work across functional teams, including hardware engineering, operations, manufacturing, and quality teams.

Excellent understanding of ASIC package design. Excellent cross‑functional communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate thermal concepts and collaborate with various stakeholders.

Experience:

3-7 years of experience in PAN product design, specializing in both passive and active cooling solutions, Flowtherm & Icepak modeling capabilities.

Education:

PhD, MS, or BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent military experience required.

Additional Information:
You will be an integral part of our product development lifecycle, providing essential thermal solutions for both new product introductions and sustaining programs. This role requires flexibility and a proactive mindset, as you will be supporting multiple efforts simultaneously across various stages of development.

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications,…