Functional Test Engineer - Hydraulics

Danfoss GmbH; Ames, Northern (IA, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus system

Paid vacation

Retirement plan

Flexible working hours

Personal insurance

Employee Referral Program

Job summary

Danfoss Power Solutions in Ames, IA is seeking a Functional Test Engineer - Hydraulics to design, review, and optimize hydraulic test stands for production. The role emphasizes custom circuit design, component selection, and ensuring equipment reliability across manufacturing operations.

You will participate in new test stand specifications with vendors, improve existing stands, and assist various teams with troubleshooting, supporting global manufacturing initiatives.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Agricultural, or Fluid Power Engineering or related field.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot hydraulic and electrical systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and review fluid power circuit schematics to fulfill test objectives.
• Select hydraulic components, valves, pumps, motors, sensors.
• Ensure functionality and quality of production test equipment.
• Collaborate with vendors to specify new test stands and with internal teams to improve existing stands.
• Support line-down troubleshooting with maintenance and IT.
• Drive continuous improvement in test stands locally and globally.

Skills

Fluid power circuits

Electrical control troubleshooting

PC/PLC programming (Siemens TIA Portal

Hydraulic components selection

Test stand optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation & reporting

Education

BS in Mechanical, Agricultural, or Fluid Power Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Electrical

Eplan

Job description

Segment: Danfoss Power Solutions Segment

Job Category: R&D, Technology and Engineering

Work Location Type: On-site

Functional Test Engineer - Hydraulics

Job Location: Ames, IA, US Employment Type: Full Time Segment: Danfoss Power Solutions Segment Job Category: R&D, Technology and Engineering Work Location Type: On-site Job Description

The Impact You’ll Make

Danfoss's is looking for a Test Engineer to provide development and support for our hydraulic end‑of‑line production test stands!

The chosen person will design and review fluid power circuits, select hydraulic components, and ensure the overall functionality and quality of production test equipment. The roles main focus will be on test stand support, continuous improvement projects, and the implementation of new manufacturing technologies.

Additionally, the chosen individual, will collaborate with external vendors for new test stands, internal stakeholders for improving existing test stands, and assisting various teams with troubleshooting to support our manufacturing operations.

What You’ll Be Doing

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Design and/or review fluid power circuit schematics to accomplish component test objectives.
• Identify and select hydraulic components, valves, pumps, motors, sensors.
• Responsible for functionality and quality of production test equipment.
• Participate in the specification, design, and commissioning of new production test stands working with external vendors.
• Maintain and improve existing test stands with continuous improvement projects both locally and globally.
• Assist maintenance, process technicians, and IT with line‑down troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, safety engineers, and customers with ongoing test equipment issues.

What We’re Looking For

Required qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Agricultural, or Fluid Power Engineering, or related field.
• Strong mathematical and fluid dynamic skills.
• Troubleshooting electrical control and power distribution, hydraulic/pneumatic, PC/PLC software.
• Understanding of hydraulic schematics and electrical schematics.
• PC programing (C and/or C#) and PLC programing (Siemens TIA Portal – STL and SCL).
• Ability to recognize test stand issues that impact customer’s quality and operator’s safety.
• Ability to document requirements for new projects and finalize documentation for completed projects.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and team building skills.

Preferred qualifications

• 2-5 Year of engineering experience.
• Experience with AutoCAD Electrical and/or Eplan.
• Experience directly related to data acquisition and signal conditioning.
• Experience in hydraulic/pneumatic/electrical circuit design.
• Experience in design of hydraulics systems for agricultural or construction machinery.
• Experience in automated testing of hydraulic components
• Basic data analysis.
• Knowledge of database development in SQL Server, and Oracle.
• Knowledge of axial piston pump/motor function and design.

Job Criteria

• Being able to communicate technical knowledge to both technical and non‑technical groups.
• Ability to affect change in areas you do not have control over.
• Time management skills.
• Being able to prioritize activities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to be detail‑oriented and to dive deep into very complex systems.
• Position requires a high level of self‑learning, augmented by mentoring.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (max. 10% of time).

What You’ll Get from Us

At Danfoss, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace fosters creativity, innovation, and a broader perspective in decision‑making. When you consider this job posting, do you feel like your profile is not a perfect match? Numerous studies have found that women and people of color are more likely to apply only when they meet all requirements listed in the job posting. Even if you do not check all the boxes, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are curious to find out how you can bring new insights to the role or to Danfoss as an organization.

• Bonus system
• Paid vacation
• Retirement plan
• Flexible working hours
• Personal insurance
• Opportunity to join Employee Resource Groups
• State of the art virtual work environment
• Employee Referral Program

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category.

Danfoss engineers solutions that increase machine productivity, reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and enable electrification.

Our solutions are used in areas such as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, power conversion, motor control, industrial machinery, marine, and on‑and off‑highway equipment. We also provide solutions for data centers, renewable energy, energy storage, heat recovery, as well as contribute to district energy solutions for cities.

Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933. Danfoss is family‑owned and employs over 39,000 people. We create long‑term value for our customers in more than 100 countries with a global footprint of around 100 factories.