Position Overview

Concentric Corporation is conducting a search for an experienced Director of Engineering to lead engineering and product development for a growing manufacturer of hydraulic components and fluid power systems.

This is a hands-on engineering leadership role for someone who wants to remain deeply involved in the technical work while also building the processes, standards, and team needed to support continued growth. The Director of Engineering will lead new product development, product improvement, and sustaining engineering while serving as a key technical authority for hydraulic product design and performance.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in hydraulic systems and fluid power, along with the leadership ability to establish structure, develop engineers, and collaborate across manufacturing, operations, quality, sourcing, and sales.

Location: Ontario, CA | Onsite

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, validation, launch, and continuous improvement of hydraulic products and fluid power systems
• Remain a hands-on technical contributor, including hydraulic circuit design, CAD modeling, engineering analysis, prototype development, testing, and troubleshooting
• Design and support hydraulic components including pumps, PTOs, cylinders, valves, manifolds, motors, and related systems
• Translate customer and business requirements into reliable, manufacturable, and cost-effective product solutions
• Develop and maintain 3D models, manufacturing drawings, BOMs, specifications, and engineering documentation
• Establish engineering standards, design review practices, documentation requirements, and product development processes
• Develop and execute validation plans, durability testing, product benchmarking, and performance analysis
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions related to product performance, manufacturing, warranty, and field issues
• Serve as a technical resource for customers, suppliers, manufacturing teams, and internal stakeholders
• Provide technical leadership around product quality, reliability, manufacturability, performance, and safety
• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering team members while remaining actively involved in day-to-day engineering work
• Support the continued growth of the engineering function, including hiring, team development, and performance management
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Sourcing, Operations, and Sales to improve products and support business objectives
• Support supplier qualification and manufacturing process improvements
• Evaluate new technologies and identify opportunities for product innovation and continuous improvement
• Travel periodically to customer locations, suppliers, testing facilities, and industry events as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline required
• 10+ years of engineering experience with significant exposure to hydraulic systems, fluid power, or mobile hydraulics
• 5+ years of direct, hands-on experience with hydraulic pumps, PTOs, cylinders, valves, manifolds, motors, or similar components
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering projects from initial concept through production release
• Strong knowledge of hydraulic circuit design, pressure compensation, load holding, flow control, contamination control, and system optimization
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD software
• Strong understanding of engineering drawings, tolerancing, and GD&T as applied to fluid power components
• Experience with manufacturing processes such as machining, casting, forging, welding, and assembly
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor engineers or technical professionals
• Ability to balance engineering leadership responsibilities with significant hands-on technical work
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple technical priorities in a growing and evolving environment
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on an ongoing basis

Preferred Experience

• 15+ years of hydraulic product development experience
• Previous leadership of an engineering or product development team
• Certified Fluid Power Hydraulic Specialist (CFPHS), Certified Fluid Power Engineer (CFPE), or similar certification
• Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP)
• Experience with mobile, commercial truck, construction, agricultural, refuse, or off-highway equipment
• Experience matching PTOs and hydraulic pumps with commercial vehicle applications
• Hydraulic simulation, system modeling, FEA, or gear/transmission design experience
• Familiarity with tools such as Amesim, Kisssoft, Romax, or Ansys
• Experience with heavy equipment or automotive quality systems and supplier quality processes
• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline

Who You Are

You are an engineer first and a leader second. You enjoy developing people and setting technical direction, but you are equally comfortable opening a CAD model, working through a hydraulic circuit, troubleshooting a product issue, or getting involved in prototype testing.

You bring structure without unnecessary bureaucracy and are energized by the opportunity to help build and strengthen an engineering organization. You are technically credible, decisive when needed, and collaborative in how you work with engineering, manufacturing, customers, suppliers, and other business teams.

This is an opportunity for an experienced hydraulic engineering leader to have significant ownership over both the products and the future direction of the engineering function within a growing manufacturing environment.

About Concentric Corporation

Concentric Corporation is an executive recruiting and staffing firm specializing in connecting exceptional professionals with organizations across engineering, operations, technology, accounting and finance, sales, and executive leadership.

If you are an experienced engineering leader with deep hydraulic and fluid power expertise who wants to remain hands-on while building a high-performing engineering function, we encourage you to apply. Only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.