Hydraulic Engineer

Astec Industries Inc•Chattanooga, TN

42d

About The Position

Under general supervision, execute complex engineering projects focused on the design, analysis, and validation of mobile equipment hydraulic systems. The engineer will be responsible for component selection, system integration, and creation of technical documentation that ensures the performance, reliability, and manufacturability of our paving and processing machinery.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree required in, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, a related field or equivalent and/or combination of training and experience.
2+ Years of Engineering experience in hydraulic system design for heavy mobile equipment (e.g., construction, agriculture, mining, or paving). Proven proficiency in reading, interpreting, and generating detailed hydraulic schematics using CAD tools. Deep knowledge of hydraulic component characteristics and application standards.
Maintain positive, collaborative working relationships by engaging with various personalities including customers, vendors, co-workers, and management while working both individually and as part of a team.
Must be able to take on more complex and advanced engineering projects while balancing project management responsibilities.
Proven ability to influence, lead teams, and drive change.
Skill in working efficiently and accurately to keep up with engineering, sales, and production requirements.
Flexible and adaptable in prioritizing workloads, coping with pressure, deadlines, and rapidly changing situations.
Proven results with creation and maintenance of engineering design standards and drawing standards.
Ability to attract and retain engineering talent.
Customer-oriented, with the ability to represent engineering ideas, and designs to non-technical audiences.
Extensive cross functional team experience including technical and non-technical work.
Proficient in a combination of the following software packages, or equivalent: MS Office Suite (e.g., Excel, Word, Outlook), Oracle PIM, Solidworks
Detail-oriented with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Must be a creative thinker, results-oriented, analytical mindset, and a focused problem-solver.

Nice To Haves

Certification highly desired but not required: Fluid Power Engineer Certification (CFPE) from the International Fluid Power Society (IFPS).

Responsibilities

Create accurate and optimized hydraulic system designs and project specifications.
Generate and maintain detailed, accurate hydraulic schematics and Bills of Material.
Drive continuous improvement in hydraulic system efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and robustness.
Ensure all hydraulic components and documents adhere to established engineering and industry standards (e.g., ISO, ANSI/NFPA).
Develop standard work templates and revision control processes.
Lead the design, development, and analysis of complete mobile equipment hydraulic power and control circuits. Perform system-level hydraulic calculations to determine flow, pressure, power, and thermal management requirements. Develop, troubleshoot, and document component and system-level reliability and durability validation tests in laboratory and field environments to ensure design robustness. Select and size key hydraulic components, including:
Pumps: Specifying piston, gear, and vane type pumps typically used in mobile paving applications.
Drive Motors: Selecting appropriate hydraulic motor types (e.g., fixed-displacement, variable-displacement, axial piston, bent-axis) for propulsion and machine work functions.
Valve and Manifolds: Specifying types such as proportional directional control valves, counterbalance valves, cartridge valves, logic elements, and sectional spool valves for optimal system control. Concepting, review, and approval of hydraulic manifolds.
Hydraulic Cylinders: Responsible for the selection and application of hydraulic cylinders, specifying appropriate seals, wipers, glands, rod coatings, and bearings to maximize durability and performance in harsh, debris-prone environments.
Ancillary Equipment: Selecting gearboxes, pump drives, power units, and custom manifolds.
Design and select all related fluid conveyance components, including sizing and routing high-pressure hydraulic hoses and specifying appropriate hydraulic fittings (e.g., JIC, ORFS, flange connections).
Specify and optimize hydraulic system accessories, including reservoir (tank) design, breathers, filters, and fluid cleanliness protocols.
Selection and design of vibratory systems
Initiate and execute the Product Design and Development (PDD) process to ensure product definitions and specifications are met by all stakeholders.
Participate and contribute to product design meetings including product specifications, material selection, 3D CAD models, and detailed 2D drawings.
Collaborate as a member of cross-functional project teams from concept to testing, and ultimately to production.
Conduct design for manufacture assessments involving manufacturing expertise to ensure that final design will support lean manufacturing principles, build quantity, cost, and performance requirements.
Develop design concepts to meet cost objectives and, interface with vendors and suppliers to locate and approve components.
Administer design history and practice proper engineering document control processes to ensure drawings are up to date.
Work toward identifying commonality in design to assist with manufacturing standardization.
Demonstrate technical and written skills via generating and filing reports of design analyses for future reference and demonstrate interpersonal skills via preparing and presenting findings.
Provide timely response to Root Cause Analysis and Corrective action requests related to design issues and/or warranty problems to support the engineering solution applied in the field.
Assist peers with workloads as needed for total project completion by management expectations or production deadlines.
Proficient in promoting a safe and healthy work environment.
Adheres to established company policies and procedures paying special attention to safety regulations.
Wears personal protective equipment in accordance with training guidelines.
Maintain cleanliness in designated workspace by practicing 6S principles to reduce safety risks.