Fluid Power Systems & Applications Engineer

Depatie Fluid Power Company; Portage (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Depatie Fluid Power Company in Michigan seeks an engineer who will be a visible technical partner, shaping solutions and influencing customers as part of the fluid power team.

You’ll connect customers, sales, and manufacturing to translate real-world challenges into scalable hydraulic systems, lead discussions, and drive continuous improvement across projects and processes.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in fluid power, mechanical systems, or application engineering.
• Experience designing or working with hydraulic and/or pneumatic systems.
• Proficient with CAD tools and creating technical drawings.
• Excellent problem-solving and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality.
• Strong communication skills translating technical details to practical understanding.

Responsibilities

• Own work and grow expertise while delivering hydraulic solutions.
• Lead conversations with customers, sales, and manufacturing.
• Translate real-world challenges into scalable fluid power solutions.
• Drive process improvements and standardization across the team.

Skills

Fluid power

Mechanical systems

Application engineering

SolidWorks

Technical drawings

Troubleshooting

Communication

ERP/CRM

Multi-tasking

Education

Degree or hands-on experience in related field

Tools

SolidWorks

Schematics

Job description

Description

Why This Role Stands Out

This isn’t a back-room engineering role. You’ll be a visible, trusted technical partner—involved in conversations that shape solutions, influence customers, and drive real business outcomes.

What You Bring to the Table

If you’re someone who wants to own your work, grow your expertise, and make a tangible impact, you’ll fit right in.

You’re the kind of engineer who doesn’t just design systems—you connect people, ideas, and execution. You thrive at the intersection of customers, sales, and manufacturing, translating real-world challenges into smart, scalable fluid power solutions.

You’re naturally curious and always learning. You take pride in mastering your craft, whether that’s deepening your hydraulic expertise, earning certifications, or staying ahead of emerging technologies. You don’t wait to be told what to do—you see opportunities to improve things and take action.

You’re organized without being rigid, analytical without losing sight of the big picture, and confident enough to lead conversations with customers while humble enough to keep learning.

Most importantly, you follow through. When you commit to something, it gets done—accurately, on time, and with a level of quality that builds trust.

Requirements

How You Show Up

• You think like an owner, balancing technical excellence with business impact
• You communicate clearly and confidently, whether you’re talking to a customer, a salesperson, or someone on the shop floor
• You bring structure to complexity, managing multiple projects without letting details slip
• You collaborate naturally, building strong relationships across teams and with external partners
• You continuously improve, creating tools, templates, and processes that make the team better over time
• You take initiative, identifying problems before they become issues and solving them proactively

Where You'll Grow

This role is built for someone who wants to level up their technical expertise and influence.

• You’ll deepen your knowledge in fluid power systems and work toward industry certifications (like IFPS Hydraulic Specialist within your first year)
• You’ll expand your impact beyond individual projects by helping standardize processes and improve how work gets done across the organization
• You’ll gain exposure across the full lifecycle—from concept and design to manufacturing and customer delivery

What You Bring

• A strong foundation in fluid power, mechanical systems, or application engineering (degree or equivalent hands‑on experience)
• Real experience designing or working with hydraulic and/or pneumatic systems
• Comfort with CAD tools like SolidWorks and creating technical drawings or schematics
• A problem‑solving mindset—you enjoy troubleshooting and getting to root causes
• The ability to manage multiple priorities without sacrificing quality
• Strong communication skills—you can translate technical details into practical understanding

Bonus points if you:

• Have (or are pursuing) IFPS certification
• Have worked in manufacturing, distribution, or OEM environments
• Are familiar with ERP/CRM systems like NetSuite
• Enjoy thinking about how technology (including AI) can improve efficiency and workflows