Hydraulic Specialty - Fluid Power Application Specialist

Hydraulic Specialty Inc.; Fridley (MN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Hydraulic Specialty Inc. in Blaine, MN, is seeking a Fluid Power Application Specialist to serve as the technical resource for hydraulic systems. You will support technicians, assist with customer applications, and work closely with the sales team to develop technical solutions.

This role is open to early-career candidates with a fluid power education or experienced specialists; responsibilities grow with experience. The position is 1st shift, 100% onsite at our Blaine facility.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 2+ years hands-on hydraulic experience.
• Ability to read hydraulic schematics and interpret specifications.
• Experience supporting technicians and customer applications.

Responsibilities

• Answer hydraulic questions for Blaine Brothers and North American Trailer.
• Join outside sales on customer calls and site visits.
• Support technicians in diagnosing hydraulic problems.
• Read schematics and troubleshoot using pressure, flow, and temperature.
• Develop and maintain test procedures and test-bench standards.
• Assist with purchasing/parts references and stocking.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Fluid power knowledge

Communication

Math & calculations

Documentation & reporting

Multi-tasking

Education

Associate degree in Fluid Power Technology

2+ years hydraulic experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP software

CRM software

Job description

Description

If you are looking for a great place to continue your career, let's talk!!

Awarded Star Tribune’s Top Workplaces 7 years in a row. We like to work hard, play hard, and take pride in everything we do!

Schedule: 1st shift Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (this is a 100% onsite position)

We are a Minnesota-based, family-owned business with an opening for a Fluid Power Application Specialist at our Blaine location. We are looking for someone with strong hydraulic and pneumatic knowledge, hands-on troubleshooting experience, and a passion for solving complex problems. This position will support technicians, assist with customer applications, and work closely with our sales team to develop technical solutions.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Fluid Power Application Specialist is Hydraulic Specialty's technical resource for hydraulic systems. This person helps technicians diagnose and repair difficult systems, answers fluid power questions from across the Blaine Brothers Family of Companies and works with outside sales on customer applications and solutions. The role is open to early-career candidates with a fluid power education and to experienced specialists. Responsibilities and independence grow with experience.

Essential Job Functions

• Answer fluid power questions from Blaine Brothers and North American Trailer, such as, truck and trailer hydraulics, wet kits, PTO systems, and yard truck hydraulics.
• Join outside sales on customer calls and site visits to gather application and operating requirements.
• Support HSI technicians in diagnosing hydraulic problems on pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, and complete systems.
• Read and interpret hydraulic schematics and troubleshoot using pressure, flow, and temperature to find root causes.
• Help develop and maintain test procedures and test-bench standards for pumps, valves, and cylinders.
• Review returns, warranty claims, and repeat failures, then document findings.
• Help purchasing / parts mangerwith part selection, cross-references, and stocking alternates.
• Support installation, start-up, and post-sale troubleshooting of fluid power applications or systems.
• Work with vendors and manufacturer application engineers on component selection and pricing.
• Build and maintain a shared library of schematics, specifications, and repair procedures.
• Help train technicians and share lessons learned (expected at Specialist II and Senior levels).
• Follow all company safety policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Position Requirements

• Associate degree in Fluid Power Technology, Mechanical or Electromechanical Technology, or a related field; OR 2+ years of hands‑on hydraulic experience (repair, field service, design, or technical sales).
• Preferred: IFPS certification (Fluid Power Specialist, Hydraulic Specialist, or Mobile or Industrial Hydraulic Mechanic).
• Working knowledge of hydraulic principles: pressure, flow, pumps, motors, valves, actuators, reservoirs, filtration, and cooling.
• Ability to read hydraulic schematics.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record for travel to customer sites.
• Preferred: experience with mobile equipment (trucks, trailers, forklifts, loaders) or industrial hydraulic systems.
• Senior level: 8+ years in fluid power design, application engineering, or technical sales, with a record of designing and quoting complete systems.

Skills

• Structured, hands‑on troubleshooting of hydraulic and mechanical systems.
• Use of hydraulic test equipment: gauges, flow meters, and test benches.
• Clear written and verbal communication with technicians, sales staff, and customers.
• Basic math and fluid power calculations (flow, pressure, force, horsepower).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; ability to learn ERP, CRM, and quoting software.
• Organization and follow-through on multiple open jobs and quotes.

Attributes

• Curious problem solver who enjoys figuring out why things fail.
• Eager to learn and grow; open to coaching.
• Team player who shares knowledge freely with technicians and sales.
• Customer‑focused, dependable, and accountable for results.
• Safety‑minded in the shop and in the field.
• Lives the Blaine Brothers family values.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who fits with our company values:

• Values people
• Gives people with strengths the opportunity to exercise them
• Doesn't treat lack of success as failure
• Is very affirming and brings out the best in others
• Values and gives high quality
• Works hard
• Sees opportunities and integrates with existing business
• Is a good communicator
• Is humble
• Assumes responsibility for actions and commitments
• Attends to details
• Attends to operations
• Is competitive

A little about who we are:

Founded in 1979, Blaine Brothers is a distributor of quality branded parts, complete heavy‑duty truck and trailer service, tank trailer service, mobile service, emergency service and tank/trailer sales. We have are located in Scanlon, MN. We specialize in the repair of medium and heavy duty (class 4-8) trucks, school buses, commercial buses and RVs We utilize the best computers and software to aid in the diagnostic and servicing of the equipment. Blaine Brothers is affiliated with North American Trailer, Inc. Offering 24‑hour service, 365 days a year. Our mobile service team comes to our customers with their rolling garages to get them back on the road in a timely manner with the combined nine locations and 27 service trucks. At Blaine Brothers our clients are treated with honesty and respect.

Our Vision To be respected because of our strong family values that we put into every job we do.

Our Mission Through our values we will strive to offer every one of our partners a helping hand in realizing their full potential by delivering value in parts, service, and sales in the industries we serve.

We value the skills, leadership, and dedication of our military community. Veterans, active‑duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, and military spouses are encouraged to apply.