Hydraulics Engineer

Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC); Workman (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off 120 hours/year

10 paid holidays

Job summary

Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC) is hiring a Hydraulics Engineer to design, maintain, and optimize hydraulic systems across forging and manufacturing equipment. You will analyze performance, develop schematics, and support reliability programs to maximize uptime and efficiency.

The role collaborates with manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, quality, and operations to meet production goals and safety standards. A strong background in hydraulic systems and CAD tools is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace or related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years in forging/metals/manufacturing environments.
• Experience designing or maintaining industrial hydraulic systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize hydraulic systems for forging and manufacturing equipment.
• Perform hydraulic system sizing, analysis, and performance evaluations.
• Develop and maintain hydraulic schematics, P&IDs, and drawings.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for hydraulic failures.
• Support maintenance programs and reliability initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Troubleshooting

Project management

Communication skills

Hydraulic design principles

Reading schematics/drawings

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Inventor

Job description

Position Summary

The Hydraulics Engineer is responsible for the design, maintenance, optimization, troubleshooting, and reliability of hydraulic systems supporting forging operations and manufacturing equipment. This role ensures hydraulic systems operate safely, efficiently, and reliably to support production goals, equipment uptime, quality requirements, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Hydraulics Engineer will work closely with manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, quality, and operations teams to improve equipment performance and support capital improvement projects across the facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize hydraulic systems used in forging presses, manipulators, material handling equipment, heat treat systems, and other manufacturing equipment.
• Perform hydraulic system sizing, analysis, and performance evaluations for pumps, cylinders, accumulators, valves, reservoirs, filtration systems, and fluid distribution networks.
• Develop and maintain hydraulic schematics, equipment specifications, P&IDs (piping and instrumentation diagrams), engineering drawings, and technical documentation.
• Analyze hydraulic system performance, including pressure, flow, temperature, contamination control, energy consumption, and cycle times.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts for hydraulic equipment failures, identifying root causes and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Support preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance programs for hydraulic systems throughout the facility.
• Partner with maintenance personnel to improve equipment uptime, reduce downtime, and increase system reliability.
• Manage hydraulic system upgrades, retrofits, rebuilds, and capital improvement projects from concept through implementation.
• Evaluate and recommend improvements to hydraulic circuits, controls, filtration systems, and component selection to enhance performance and reduce operating costs.
• Support installation, commissioning, and startup of new production equipment and hydraulic systems.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineering and operations teams to improve productivity, process consistency, equipment performance, and workplace safety.
• Conduct failure investigations and reliability assessments using root cause analysis, FMEA, and other engineering methodologies.
• Develop equipment standards, maintenance procedures, operating instructions, and training materials related to hydraulic systems.
• Work with suppliers, contractors, and equipment manufacturers to specify, procure, and support hydraulic components and systems.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety regulations, environmental requirements, and company standards.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost reduction, and operational excellence.

• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline required
• 3+ years of experience in forging, metals manufacturing, steel processing, foundry, heavy industrial, or similar manufacturing environments.
• 3+ years of experience designing, maintaining, troubleshooting, or optimizing industrial hydraulic systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret hydraulic schematics, engineering drawings, and technical specifications.
• Experience supporting industrial equipment such as forging presses, stamping presses, heavy machinery, steel processing equipment, or other large-scale manufacturing systems.
• Familiarity with CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor, or equivalent engineering tools.
• Knowledge of root cause analysis, preventive maintenance, and equipment reliability methodologies.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, project management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and provide hands-on support on the production floor.
• Strong knowledge of hydraulic system design principles, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and mechanical systems.
• Experience with hydraulic components including pumps, cylinders, servo valves, proportional valves, accumulators, filtration systems, and pressure control devices.
• Knowledge of PLC-controlled hydraulic systems and industrial automation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with hydraulic press systems ranging from 500 to 10,000+ tons.
• Familiarity with servo-hydraulic systems, closed-loop controls, and motion control applications.
• Experience with reliability engineering, predictive maintenance, vibration analysis, and oil contamination monitoring.
• Knowledge of OSHA safety regulations and industrial equipment standards.
• Experience leading equipment installation, commissioning, and capital projects.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement certification.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent professional certification

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

Benefits & Compensation

• For informational purposes only, the range of pay for this role is $100,000 to $130,000 US Dollar (USD) Salaried based on a variety of factors.
• For informational purposes only, this role is eligible to participate in the Company's Quarterly Cash Bonus Plan, paid out at the quarterly bonus factor of 2X the Company's bonus multiple, based on the Company's performance in the applicable quarter.
• Employees will receive 120 hours paid time off every year.
• Employees will also receive 10 paid holidays.
• Employees (and their families) are eligible to participate in the company's medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance.
• Employees are eligible to enroll in the Company's 401(k) plan.

This position requires use of information or access to production processes subject to national security controls under U.S. export control laws and regulations (including, but not limited to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR)). To comply with those regulations, this position may require applicants to be U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Company Profile

With more than 120 operations and approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, Precision Castparts Corp. is the market leader in manufacturing large, complex structural investment castings, airfoil castings, forged components, aerostructures and highly engineered, critical fasteners for aerospace applications. In addition, we are the leading producer of airfoil castings for the industrial gas turbine market. We also manufacture extruded seamless pipe, fittings, and forgings for power generation and oil & gas applications; commercial and military airframe aerostructures; and metal alloys and other materials for the casting and forging industries. With such critical applications, we insist on quality and dependability - not just in the materials and products we make, but in the people we recruit.

PCC is relentless in its dedication to being a high-quality, low-cost and on-time producer; delivering the highest value to its customers while continually pursuing strategic, profitable growth.

In 2016, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Chairman and CEO Warren E. Buffett, acquired Precision Castparts Corp.