Hydraulic Engineer – Product DevelopmentAre you a Hydraulic Engineer who wants to work directly with the products you design and see your work move from concept through production? Manpower Engineering is partnering with an established Milwaukee-area manufacturer to add a Hydraulic Engineer – Product Development to its engineering team. This is a hands-on product development opportunity supporting hydraulic systems used in commercial mobile equipment. You'll be involved throughout the full product lifecycle, including concept development, system and component design, prototyping, testing, validation, production introduction, troubleshooting, and ongoing product improvement. This isn't an engineering environment where designs simply get handed off once they're released.
You'll work closely with manufacturing, have direct access to the equipment, and stay involved as products move from an idea to something being built and used in the field. You'll also be joining at an interesting time. The organization is beginning a significant evolution of one of its major product platforms, creating an opportunity to contribute to new products and systems that will shape the portfolio for years to come.Why This Opportunity Stands Out:Work directly with the hardware.Own more than one piece of the engineering process.Make a visible impact.Help develop the next generation of products.Build your career in different directions.What You'll Be Doing:Design, develop, test, and support hydraulic systems and components used in commercial mobile equipment.Participate in new product development from initial concepts and requirements through design, prototype development, testing, validation, and production.Work directly with hydraulic components, assemblies, and physical prototypes.Evaluate components and engineering solutions based on performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, availability, and application requirements.Develop and execute test and validation plans.Troubleshoot hydraulic system and product-performance issues.Investigate field and quality issues, determine root causes, develop solutions, and validate corrective actions.Work closely with manufacturing and internal machining capabilities to develop, modify, and test hydraulic hardware.Support existing products through sustaining engineering and continuous product improvement.Partner with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, technical service, and other engineering resources.Manage multiple engineering projects and priorities in a fast-moving product environment.Contribute to upcoming product-platform and next-generation development initiatives.What We're Looking For:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related engineering discipline.Ideally 2+ years of engineering experience involving hydraulic systems, fluid power, mobile equipment, industrial equipment, or a related product environment.Practical experience working with hydraulic systems and components.Understanding of hydraulic system operation, application, testing, and troubleshooting.Hands-on approach to engineering and problem solving.Ability to work comfortably with physical products, prototypes, and manufacturing operations.Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities.Self-directed working style with the ability to take ownership without requiring constant direction.Strong communication skills and the ability to work across engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, and other business functions.Experience That Would Be a Plus: You don't need to check every box. Relevant experience could include:Mobile hydraulic systemsFluid power systemsOff-highway or commercial equipmentAgricultural or construction equipmentHydraulic cylinders and actuation systemsPumps, valves, manifolds, or related hydraulic componentsHydraulic component selection and applicationHydraulic system testing and troubleshootingAutomation StudioSolidWorksManufacturing, machining, or prototype developmentElectromechanical product developmentElectrical, controls, or mechatronics experienceExperience that crosses both hydraulic and electrical systems would be particularly valuable, but it isn't required. Who Will Do Well Here?
Someone who likes getting their hands on the product. Someone who doesn't want to spend every day behind a computer designing something they'll never actually see being built. Someone who's comfortable moving between engineering work, prototype development, testing, troubleshooting, and the manufacturing floor. Someone who can take a problem, dig into it, figure out what's happening, and work with the team to develop a practical solution. You don't need experience in this exact industry.
Backgrounds involving mobile hydraulics, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, off-highway equipment, industrial machinery, fluid power, or other hydraulically operated products can translate well. What matters is that you've worked with real hydraulic systems, understand how the components interact, and enjoy hands-on product engineering.Compensation, Benefits & Work Environment:Competitive base salary based on experienceEligible for company profit sharingFull benefits package including health and welfare benefits, retirement benefits, paid time off, and additional company programsPrimarily onsite at the Milwaukee facility due to the hands-on nature of the positionSome flexibility to work remotely when the work allowsTypical working hours are approximately 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM, with flexibility around start and end timesStrong emphasis on work-life balance and practical flexibilityInterested? If you're a Hydraulic Engineer who wants more hands-on product ownership and the opportunity to work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and the actual equipment you're helping develop, I'd be interested in speaking with you. * Please note all resumes and candidate information submitted are kept in the strictest confidence. No resume will be released without the candidate's prior permission.