Principal Technologist, Data Centers & Advance Cooling

We’re Watts. Together, we’re reimagining the future of water.

We feel proud every day about what we do. We're all part of the same crucial mission, no matter what function we support -- it's to provide safe, clean water for the world, and to protect our planet's most valuable resource.

What we do:

For 150 years, Watts has built best-in-class products that are trusted by customers in residential and commercial settings across the world. We are at the forefront of innovation, working with cutting-edge technology to provide smart and connected, sustainable water solutions for the future. Watts is a leading brand with a quality reputation — and we have a dynamic future ahead.​

Scope of Position:

Watts Water Technologies is seeking a visionary, technically accomplished, and market-savvy leader to serve as Principal Technologist, Data Centers & Advanced Cooling Solutions. This senior-level role is ideal for an individual with deep expertise in the data center industry, particularly in direct-to-chip liquid cooling technologies, and a strong understanding of the Data Center community and their requirements to drive collaborative ecosystems.

As Principal Technologist, you will lead Watts’ strategic engagement with the emerging Open Compute Project (OCP) standards, representing the company in technical working groups and industry forums focused on sustainable, high-efficiency cooling solutions for AI, hyperscale, and high-performance computing environments. You will also be responsible for continuous engagement with top customers and industry stakeholders, identifying emerging trends, estimating market potential, and defining product development and market penetration strategies.

This position requires a unique blend of technical depth, cross-functional leadership, industry influence, and business development acumen. You will be expected to author white papers, contribute to open specifications, and collaborate across engineering, product, and commercial teams to translate technical innovation into scalable revenue growth.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Industry Leadership and Advocacy by representing Watts in OCP working groups and technical committees focused on cooling, sustainability, and AI infrastructure.
• Influence and co-develop OCP specifications for direct-to-chip and modular cooling systems.
• Author and present white papers, technical briefs, and thought leadership content to position Watts as a leader in next-gen cooling.
• Lead cross-functional business initiatives to design and validate advanced liquid cooling solutions aligned with requirements for AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, product management, and marketing teams to interpret industry trends and customer requirements and translate them into commercially viable solutions.
• Evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., immersion cooling, CDU integration, smart manifolds) for strategic fit and differentiation.
• Identify and support new market opportunities and partnerships within the AI, HPC, and hyperscale infrastructure ecosystem.
• Support go-to-market strategies for OCP-compliant cooling solutions, including pricing, positioning, and customer engagement.
• Coordinate with business development team to engage with hyperscaler’s, OEMs, and colocation providers to drive adoption of Watts’ thermal management solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Thermal Science, or a related field; PhD a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in thermal systems, data center infrastructure, or hardware architecture.
• Deep understanding of direct-to-chip cooling technologies, and mission critical AI infrastructure demands.
• Recognized as a trusted voice in the industry through media, panels, or keynote speaking.
• Proven track record of contributing to open standards or collaborative engineering communities.
• Strong technical writing and public speaking skills; experience publishing white papers or presenting them at industry events.
• Experience working with hyperscale operators, OEMs, or liquid cooling vendors is highly desirable.
• Exceptional executive presence and ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Skilled in narrative building, storytelling, and persuasive communication.
• Demonstrated ability to lead without authority across engineering, product, marketing, and sales.
• Strong stakeholder management and conflict resolution skills.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

General Applicable Company Competencies

• Commitment to Watts’ values of integrity, accountability, continuous improvement and innovation, and transparency.
• Punctuality and dependability.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work priorities and stressful conditions.
• Adherence to all personnel policies, procedures, and standards of process as implemented by Watts.
• Maintain productive and collaborative relationships with other Watts employees.
• Adherence to Watts’ seven cultural beliefs: Growth Mindset, Customer-Focused Innovation, Constant Communication, Clear Goals, Collaborate Globally, Be Inclusive, and Take Action.

Working Conditions:

While performing the job duties, you will be working remotely in an office environment. You may be required to occasionally travel to Watts or Customer location for meetings, trainings, or as otherwise required by Company management.

Physical Requirements: Specific physical abilities required for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Ability to remain seated at a desk or workstation for extended periods.

• Ability to perform repetitive tasks like typing on a keyboard or using a mouse for extended periods.
• Ability to physically move around the office, organize or transport files, packages, or other office-related materials.

• Ability to read documents, use a computer, and perform data entry tasks.
• Ability to communicate clearly with management and coworkers, particularly in meetings or phone calls.

• Ability to operate standard office equipment such as computers, printers, phones, and copiers.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry light objects, such as office supplies, documents, or small equipment.

Pay Range:

The expected salary range for this position is $157,000 - $172,000/yr. Actual compensation will be dependent upon individual skills, experience, qualifications, and applicable law.

Nothing in this job description restricts Watts’ right to assign or reassign duties, responsibilities, and working hours/conditions to this position at any time. This position is “at will,” which means that either the employee or Watts may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and for any lawful reason.

#LI (Hybrid/Remote)

Watts in it for you:

Please note that the following benefits apply only to permanent roles and do not apply to internship roles.

• Competitive compensation based on your skills, qualifications and experience
• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits
• Family building benefits, including paid maternity/paternity leave
• 10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Continued professional development opportunities and educational reimbursement
• Additional perks such as fitness reimbursements and employee discount programs
• Learn more about our benefit offerings here: https://tapintowattsbenefits.com/

How we work:

At Watts, our culture is team-oriented and supportive. Employees here genuinely care about the quality of their work, and about each other. Our people are the heart of who we are and contribute to our longevity and continued success.

And this is a place where you can have a big career. No matter your role, there are opportunities for learning and development, and your daily contributions make a meaningful impact on the lives of people who use our products and on the future of water.

Watts is committed to equal employment opportunity. We follow a policy of administering all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, military or veteran status, minorities, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the obligations of state and federal law, Watts will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Any employee who needs a reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.