Hydraulics System Engineer

Bedrock Robotics Inc•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Bedrock is deploying autonomous systems on heavy construction equipment to improve job-site safety and accelerate infrastructure projects. As a Hydraulics System Engineer, you will own the hydraulic and electro-hydraulic actuation that enables the autonomy kit to command steering, braking, implements, and travel on construction machines, including excavators, articulated dump trucks, scrapers, graders, compactors, and wheel loaders. You will characterize OEM hydraulic systems and design retrofit valve and pilot-control interfaces that preserve factory function and serviceability. You will collaborate with controls, electrical, software, safety, and supply chain teams to develop reliable, manufacturable, functionally safe subsystems. The systems must operate in demanding field conditions, including high pressure, contamination, heat, shock, vibration, and around-the-clock duty cycles on active job sites. The role includes hydraulic circuit documentation and characterization; electro-hydraulic interface design; component specification and sizing; functional-safety analysis; controls collaboration; routing and packaging; bench and machine testing; prototype commissioning; supplier engagement; and lifecycle documentation. The position involves hands-on work with technicians in the shop and at customer job sites. Bedrock Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Reasonable accommodations are available during the application and interview process; applicants can contact their recruiter to request support.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Agricultural/Fluid Power Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 7 years designing, integrating, or testing hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems for mobile machinery, such as construction, agricultural, mining, or off-highway vehicles.
Strong command of open- and closed-center and load-sensing circuits, pilot-operated and proportional valves, pump/valve PQ behavior, and reading and authoring hydraulic schematics using ISO 1219.
Solid grounding in fluid mechanics relevant to hydraulic systems, including orifice and flow equations, laminar and turbulent flow, pressure losses, viscosity and temperature effects, bulk modulus and compressibility, cavitation and aeration, and pressure transients.
Hands-on experience with pressure/flow instrumentation and data acquisition.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with CAN/J1939.
Familiarity with hydraulic simulation tools such as Amesim, Simscape, or Automation Studio.
Exposure to ISO 13849, ISO 25119, or similar functional-safety standards.

Responsibilities

Reverse-engineer and document OEM hydraulic circuits, including pumps, main control valves, pilot circuits, and steering and brake systems; produce ISO 1219 schematics and characterize PQ, pressure, and response behavior for autonomous control.
Design retrofit electro-hydraulic interfaces, including proportional pilot valves, steering and brake valves, shuttle/selector logic, and manifolds, while preserving manual operation.
Specify and size valves, manifolds, hoses, fittings, pressure/position/flow sensors, filters, and accumulators against flow, pressure, response, and duty-cycle requirements.
Partner with the safety team to define safe states and failure behavior for hydraulic actuation and contribute to DFMEA, FTA, and hazard analysis in line with ISO 13849 and ISO 25119.
Collaborate with controls and software engineers on valve modeling, deadband and hysteresis compensation, closed-loop tuning, and machine system identification.
Define hose and tube routing, manifold placement, and mounting within machine envelopes, accounting for articulation, abrasion, heat, and service access.
Plan and execute bench and on-machine pressure, flow, leak, response, endurance, and contamination tests; investigate and resolve hydraulic issues found in the field.
Plumb, commission, and bleed prototype systems alongside technicians in the shop and at customer job sites.
Lead technical engagement with hydraulic suppliers from RFQ through validation, including make-versus-buy evaluations.
Maintain schematics, bills of materials, installation procedures, and service documentation through the product lifecycle and field deployment.