Salt Recruitment

Staff Engineer – Hydraulics (Advanced Mechanical Systems)

Austin, Texas, USA

Industry: Industrial Equipment Manufacturing | Fluid Handling Systems | Automated Metering & Hydraulic Solutions

About the Role

We are seeking a Staff Engineer specializing in Hydraulics to join a leading company in the industrial fluid systems and automated metering sector. This role is ideal for an experienced mechanical or hydraulic engineering professional with deep expertise in fluid systems, mechanical design, and product development.

You will play a key role in both new product development and sustaining engineering, supporting manufacturing and production teams to ensure high performance, reliability, and manufacturability of complex hydraulic systems.

This position also includes occasional travel to manufacturing sites and customer locations to support product deployment, troubleshooting, and field performance optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and document new hydraulic components and modules using 3D CAD software
• Perform performance analysis focused on flow, pressure, and system accuracy optimization
• Select materials suitable for various fluids and demanding operating environments
• Build, assemble, and test prototype components; conduct calibration and pressure testing
• Collaborate with manufacturing and production teams to improve design for manufacturability
• Create technical documentation including BOMs and engineering change orders (ECOs)
• Support field service teams in troubleshooting and resolving customer site issues
• Develop and execute design verification testing methods; review test results for compliance
• Ensure designs meet relevant environmental and regulatory requirements

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering preferred)
• Strong experience with fluid handling components, including cast metal parts (sand cast and die cast aluminum, grey iron)
• Solid understanding of fluid dynamics, material science, and pressure vessel design principles
• Experience selecting and sizing pumps, motors, valves, and filters
• Familiarity with fabricated sheet metal, machined parts (aluminum, steel, plastic), and injection molded/elastomer components
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks preferred)
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Experience with electronic integration in hydraulic/mechanical systems

Nice to Have

• Prior experience in a manufacturing or industrial production environment
• Hands-on experience in machine shop or experimental prototype environments
• Exposure to cross-functional engineering design teams

Key Attributes

• Strong customer-focused mindset
• Engineering leadership and ownership mentality
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Collaborative and solution-oriented approach to engineering challenges

You should be proficient in:

• CAD Software
• Hydraulic Systems & Components