A system and method for controlling the temperature of a heat-generating component such as a laser. A microelectromechanical system for controlling the temperature of the heat-generating component includes a magnetic heat sink device, a temperature sensor, and control circuitry. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the heat-generating component through the heat sink and feeds the sensed temperature to the control circuitry. The detected temperature is compared to a predetermined temperature set point. When the detected temperature is higher than the temperature set point, a command is sent to the magnetic heat sink to take more heat out of the heat-generating component. When the detected temperature is lower than the temperature set point, a command is sent to the magnetic heat sink to take less heat out of the heat-generating component. One embodiment of a magnetic heat sink device includes a laser system, an actuator system, and a heat sink material disposed between the laser system and the actuator system.