Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Kaiser Aluminum is an aluminum manufacturing company seeking a Corporate Hydraulic Engineer to provide enterprise-wide technical leadership and engineering support for hydraulic systems. The role focuses on improving equipment reliability, optimizing system performance, reducing lifecycle costs, leading root cause investigations, establishing corporate standards, and supporting plants, projects, vendors, and maintenance teams.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the corporate subject matter expert (SME) for hydraulic systems and fluid power applications
- Develop and maintain company-wide hydraulic engineering standards, specifications, and best practices
- Provide technical guidance to facilities, operations, maintenance, and engineering teams
- Evaluate new technologies and recommend innovative solutions to improve system performance and reliability
- Lead efforts to improve hydraulic system reliability and availability across all company sites
- Analyze equipment performance data, maintenance records, and failure trends
- Develop and implement preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance strategies
- Support oil analysis, contamination control, filtration, and fluid management programs
- Establish hydraulic system health metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Lead complex troubleshooting efforts involving hydraulic equipment failures
- Conduct root cause failure analyses (RCFA) and develop corrective actions
- Provide on-site and remote support during critical equipment outages
- Support reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) initiatives
- Review and approve hydraulic system designs, modifications, and upgrades
- Support capital projects involving hydraulic equipment installations and modernization efforts
- Develop hydraulic schematics, equipment specifications, and design standards
- Collaborate with project teams to ensure compliance with engineering and safety requirements
- Participate in equipment commissioning, startup, and performance validation
- Ensure hydraulic systems comply with applicable safety standards, regulations, and company policies
- Support lockout/tagout (LOTO) and stored energy management programs
- Conduct risk assessments related to hydraulic equipment and operations
- Promote safe work practices throughout all engineering and maintenance activities
- Develop and deliver hydraulic training programs for maintenance and engineering personnel
- Mentor plant engineers, maintenance supervisors, and technicians
- Create technical documentation, procedures, and troubleshooting guides
- Lead knowledge-sharing initiatives across business units
- Evaluate and manage hydraulic equipment suppliers, consultants, and service providers
- Review proposals, technical specifications, and contractor work scopes
- Support supplier qualification and performance improvement initiatives
Skills
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline
- Ten plus (10+) years of experience in hydraulic systems engineering, reliability engineering, or industrial maintenance
- Experience supporting heavy industrial, manufacturing, mining, forestry, energy, or similar operations
- Demonstrated success improving equipment reliability and reducing maintenance costs
- Experience leading complex troubleshooting and root cause investigations
- Extensive knowledge of:
- Hydraulic power units (HPUs)
- Pumps, motors, and cylinders
- Electro-hydraulic control systems
- Servo and proportional valve systems
- Accumulators and filtration systems
- Fluid contamination control
- Hydraulic system design and optimization
- Predictive maintenance technologies
- Reliability engineering principles
- Failure analysis methodologies
- Hydraulic modeling and simulation software
- CMMS platforms (SAP, Maximo, Infor, etc.)
- CAD software and hydraulic schematic development tools
- Microsoft Office Suite and data analytics tools
- Technical expertise in fluid power and hydraulic systems
- Strategic thinking and business acumen
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and presentation abilities
- Project leadership and organizational skills
- Ability to influence without direct authority
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Strong customer-service orientation toward operating facilities
- 25–50% travel to manufacturing plants, mills, operations, and project sites
- Ability to respond to critical operational issues and equipment failures as needed
- This is an onsite position
- At this time, we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role, either now or in the future. Therefore, we cannot move forward with candidates who would require sponsorship and or are on (e.g., H-1B, F-1, STEM OPT, OPT) visas
- This position is remote and will be located in one of the following states: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, California or Washington
- Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred
- Certified Fluid Power Specialist (CFPS)
- Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Experience supporting multiple facilities in a corporate environment
Benefits
- This position is remote and will be located in one of the following states: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, California or Washington.
- Employee growth
- Contributing back to our communities
- Championing an inclusive culture
Company Overview