Industrial Hydraulics Application Engineer

About the role

The Industrial Hydraulics Application Engineer serves as the primary technical expert supporting the sales and engineering teams in delivering high-performance hydraulic solutions. This individual is responsible for driving and managing technical evaluations throughout the sales process, ensuring proposed systems meet customer requirements and industry standards. By combining a deep understanding of hydraulic principles, control technologies, and applications with customer-facing skills, this role supports project success from concept through commissioning. The Industrial Hydraulics Application Engineer builds strong internal and external relationships, contributes to a collaborative culture, and consistently demonstrates integrity and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Engage with sales teams and customers to define system requirements and application needs
• Develop and evaluate hydraulic schematics, circuit logic, and system layouts
• Select and size pumps, valves, actuators, accumulators, and filtration components
• Prepare technical proposals, bills of materials (BOM), and concept designs
• Provide detailed technical input for project quotations and timelines
• Ensure system designs meet engineering principles, safety codes, and customer specifications
• Approve design changes and documentation in collaboration with engineering teams
• Coordinate prototype testing, factory acceptance testing, and validation activities
• Work with customer engineering to finalize system architecture and approvals
• Recommend improvements based on field performance, wear analysis, or failure modes
• Provide startup, tuning, and commissioning support on-site as required
• Diagnose hydraulic issues and provide remote or hands-on support
• Collaborate with service teams and 3rd-party integrators for seamless implementation
• Maintain working knowledge of legacy equipment and systems for retrofit projects
• Respond to technical inquiries, prepare reports, and maintain project records
• Participate in internal training, process improvements, and documentation updates
• Support the production and assembly team with technical documentation and troubleshooting

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Fluid Power, or a related discipline
• 2–4 years of experience (or 8–10 years of relevant experience in lieu of degree)
• Proficiency in hydraulic circuit design, sizing, and component selection
• Experience with industry standards UL and CE is a plus
• Registered Engineer or eligible for registration within 2 years

Skills

• Strong foundation in hydraulic theory and industrial applications
• Familiarity with mobile/off-highway and/or industrial stationary systems
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Proven problem-solving and project management capabilities
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, CAD and hydraulic modeling software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar)

Physical and mental demands

• Frequently required to sit, use hands, talk, and hear
• Occasionally required to lift up to 25 lbs and visit industrial facilities or customer sites
• Must be capable of analyzing complex data, making decisions, and working independently
• Visual abilities include color perception, depth, and near/far vision essential for schematic work
• Requires attention to detail, multitasking, and mental focus in a dynamic work environment

Working environment

• Typical office setting with regular visits to shop floor and customer facilities
• 40-hour work week, with occasional evening/weekend support depending on project needs
• Use of standard office equipment, CAD stations, and engineering tools
• Travel requirement: Up to 15%

Pay

$80,000–$110,000