Hydraulic Design Engineer

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME); Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 53,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work from home possibilities

Flexible working hours

Pension scheme with employer contrib

Budget for workplace setup

Job summary

Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe (HCME) in Amsterdam seeks a Hydraulic Design Engineer to develop hydraulic systems for European customization from concept through production release, ensuring safety, durability, efficiency and EU compliance.

You will collaborate with Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrialization teams across Europe and Japan to deliver robust, manufacturable solutions and maintain engineering documentation and BOM changes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Fluid Power Engineering, or a related field.
• Several years of experience in hydraulic system design and development, preferably within construction or heavy equipment industries.
• Strong understanding of hydraulic circuits, components, machine interfaces, and attachment applications.
• Experience contributing to engineering projects within cross-functional development teams.
• Knowledge of product development processes from concept through production launch.
• Familiarity with prototype validation, risk assessment, and engineering change processes.
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Proactive mindset with ownership and collaborative problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop hydraulic systems for European customization options on construction machinery products.
• Create hydraulic concepts, circuit designs, component selections, and integration solutions for Hitachi base machines.
• Execute hydraulic design activities from requirement definition through feasibility studies, concept development, detailed design, prototype build, validation, and release.
• Collaborate with Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrialization teams to ensure seamless system integration.
• Ensure hydraulic designs meet performance, durability, safety, serviceability, and manufacturability requirements.
• Participate in hydraulic risk assessments, design reviews, and problem-solving activities throughout the development process.
• Support prototype builds, machine testing, validation activities, and issue resolution with internal stakeholders, suppliers, dealers, and customers.
• Ensure all hydraulic systems comply with EU regulations and standards while conforming to Hitachi global requirements.
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation, BOM releases, engineering changes, and technical approvals up to start of sales.

Skills

Hydraulic design

Cross-functional collab

English comms

Proactive mindset

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mechanical/Automotive/Fluid Power Engineering

Job description

Who We Are

At Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe (HCME), we design and manufacture one of the world’s most extensive ranges of hydraulic excavators—from compact one-tonne units to colossal 780-tonne mining machines. Our portfolio also includes wheel loaders, rigid dump trucks, and highly specialized equipment for unique applications.

But at HCME, we believe we build more than machines.

We build the future of construction.

As part of the global Hitachi family, we are driven by innovation, environmental responsibility, and a deep commitment to customer trust and satisfaction. Our Amsterdam headquarters is home to a diverse, forward-thinking team developing next-generation technologies and support services that empower customers across Europe and beyond.

Location: Amsterdam

Type: Full-time

Our Values

• Honesty & Sincerity – The foundation of every interaction.
• Environmental Respect – Protecting the world we help shape.
• Social Responsibility – Valuing people, culture, and community.
• Reliable Leadership – Agreed is agreed. We stand behind our commitments.

Your Mission

As a Hydraulic Design Engineer, you will play a key role in developing the hydraulic systems behind our European customization options for construction machinery.

You will be responsible for designing robust, high-performance hydraulic solutions—from early concept through production release—ensuring our machines meet the highest standards in safety, durability, efficiency, and compliance.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute your hydraulic engineering expertise to innovative machine development projects while working closely with multidisciplinary teams across Europe and Japan.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Design and develop hydraulic systems for European customization options on construction machinery products.
• Create hydraulic concepts, circuit designs, component selections, and integration solutions for Hitachi base machines.
• Execute hydraulic design activities from requirement definition through feasibility studies, concept development, detailed design, prototype build, validation, and release.
• Collaborate closely with Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrialization teams to ensure seamless system integration.
• Ensure hydraulic designs meet performance, durability, safety, serviceability, and manufacturability requirements.
• Participate in hydraulic risk assessments, design reviews, and problem-solving activities throughout the development process.
• Support prototype builds, machine testing, validation activities, and issue resolution with internal stakeholders, suppliers, dealers, and customers.
• Ensure all hydraulic systems comply with EU regulations and standards while conforming to Hitachi global requirements.
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation, BOM releases, engineering changes, and technical approvals up to start of sales.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Fluid Power Engineering, or a related field.
• Several years of experience in hydraulic system design and development, preferably within construction machinery, agricultural machinery, automotive off-highway, or heavy equipment industries.
• Strong understanding of hydraulic circuits, components, machine interfaces, and attachment applications.
• Experience contributing to engineering projects within cross-functional development teams.
• Knowledge of product development processes from concept through production launch.
• Familiarity with prototype validation, risk assessment, and engineering change processes.
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Proactive mindset, strong ownership, and collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Ability to work effectively in an international matrix organization and collaborate with colleagues across Europe and Japan.
• Genuine interest in Hitachi products and construction machinery.

What We Offer

• Compensation built of a yearly gross salary between 53.000 and 88.000 euro (including holiday allowance and based on experience)
• 27 days of leave + 13 extra collective days of leave (ADV).
• 'Metalektro' Collective Labour Agreement (CLA).
• Excellent pension scheme with a high employer contribution.
• Working from home possibilities and flexible working hours.
• Budget of €1,500 to set up your workplace.
• Collective accident insurance.
• International learning and development program.
• Career opportunities within a global organization.

At HCME, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace—everyone is welcome.