Senior Hydraulic Systems Engineer

RFA Engineering; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunity

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) match

Company credit for work expenses

Employer paid life insurance

Job summary

RFA Engineering in the Chicago area is seeking a Senior Hydraulic Systems Engineer to join our client's engineering team. You will apply hydraulic knowledge to customer equipment, select solutions, and support field testing and product validation.

The role blends engineering, problem solving, and technical sales support, with 20% domestic travel, collaboration across engineering, quality, manufacturing and sales, and a hybrid work model in the greater Chicago area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of engineering experience in hydraulic systems or mobile equipment.
• Strong understanding of hydraulic principles and system interactions.
• Experience troubleshooting hydraulic, mechanical, or electrohydraulic systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for hydraulic systems, components, and customer applications.
• Work directly with OEM customers and distributors to understand equipment requirements and operating conditions.
• Recommend hydraulic products and system solutions that align with performance objectives.
• Support new business opportunities through technical consultation and guidance.
• Assist with product selection, system optimization, and application development.

Skills

Hydraulic systems

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Project management

Independent work

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

RFA Engineering ( www.rfamec.com ) is an engineering service provider dedicated to delivering our clients with timely engineering support and expertise. We are currently supporting one of our clients in the industrial equipment and hydraulics space in their search for an experienced engineer.

This is a direct hire opportunitywhere the selected candidate will join our client’s engineering team and work closely with both engineering and sales functions to support customer applications and deliver technical solutions.

Senior Hydraulic Systems Engineer

The Senior Hydraulic Systems Engineer serves as a technical expert supporting the successful application of hydraulic products and systems within customer equipment and machinery.

This role combines engineering, problem solving, customer engagement, and technical sales support. The successful candidate will work directly with OEM customers to understand performance requirements, evaluate system needs, recommend solutions, and help ensure successful implementation of hydraulic technologies.

The ideal candidate enjoys working with customers, solving complex technical challenges, and helping transform engineering requirements into practical real-world solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for hydraulic systems, components, and customer applications
• Work directly with OEM customers and distributors to understand equipment requirements and operating conditions
• Recommend hydraulic products and system solutions that align with customer performance objectives
• Support new business opportunities through technical consultation and application guidance
• Assist with product selection, system optimization, and application development efforts
• Investigate and resolve complex customer issues through structured troubleshooting and root cause analysis
• Develop technical presentations, training materials, and customer-facing documentation
• Support field testing, product validation, and customer implementation activities
• Collaborate with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and sales teams to drive successful project outcomes
• Share technical knowledge with internal team members and assist in developing engineering best practices
• Travel as needed to support customer relationships, training events, and application reviews (~20% domestic travel)

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field
• 5+ years of engineering experience supporting hydraulic systems, fluid power products, or mobile equipment applications
• Strong understanding of hydraulic principles, components, and system interactions
• Experience troubleshooting mechanical, hydraulic, or electrohydraulic systems
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Self-starter capable of working independently while collaborating across multiple functions

Desired Attributes

• Experience with hydraulic cylinders, valves, pumps, motors, or fluid power systems
• Experience in construction, agriculture, mining, material handling, lift equipment, marine, or industrial machinery markets
• Customer-facing engineering, applications engineering, field engineering, or technical sales support experience
• Familiarity with mobile equipment systems and controls
• Experience utilizing CRM tools or customer support systems
• Working knowledge of CAD software such as SolidWorks or similar platforms
• Experience working with global engineering teams
• Mandarin language capability is a plus
• Hybrid work environment based in the greater Chicago area
• Well-qualified remote candidates will be considered
• Candidates should be located near a major airport to support travel requirements
• Primarily domestic travel with occasional international collaboration opportunities
• Flexible work schedule with coordination required to support global teams

About the Client

Our client is a global provider of hydraulic components and systems supporting OEMs across industries such as construction, agriculture, mining, and heavy equipment. With a growing presence in North America, the organization is focused on expanding its engineering and application support capabilities.

This role is a key part of that growth, focused on building team capability, improving engineering processes, and strengthening collaboration across global operations.

• Competitive base salary $90,000 – $150,000 Commensurate with experience
• Bonus opportunity for team and individual performance
• Insurance options include Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability plans
• Employer paid life insurance
• Health Savings option available with employer contribution
• Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays
• Monthly allowances for phone, car, home office use
• 401(k) match - 100% match for 4% salary
• Company credit for work expenses

Qualifications

Education

Preferred

Bachelors of Science or better in Agricultural Engineering or related field.

Bachelors of Science or better in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.