Job Description

Kaiser Aluminum is known around the world for its superior quality. Our secret is what we put into it—innovative thinking, industry-leading reliability, and a world-class commitment to customer service. In short, the same qualities we look for in our people. We are looking for a Corporate Hydraulic Engineer to join the Kaiser Aluminum team!

The Corporate Hydraulic Engineer provides enterprise-wide technical leadership, engineering support, and strategic direction for hydraulic systems across manufacturing, industrial, mining, forestry, pulp and paper, or heavy equipment operations. This role is responsible for improving equipment reliability, optimizing hydraulic system performance, reducing lifecycle costs, leading root cause investigations, and establishing corporate standards for hydraulic design, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

The Corporate Hydraulic Engineer partners with plant operations, maintenance teams, reliability engineers, OEMs, and vendors to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation of hydraulic equipment throughout the organization.

This position will report to the VP, Engineering & Maintenance or Director of Engineering.

This position is remote and will be located in one of the following states: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, California or Washington.

What you will work on:

Technical Leadership

• 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.

Reliability & Asset Performance

• 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).

Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis

• 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.

Engineering & Project Support

• 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.

Safety & Compliance

• 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.

Training & Knowledge Development

• 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.

Vendor & Contractor Management

• 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.

Qualifications

What you will bring to the role:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.

Experience

• 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.

Technical Knowledge

• 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

Software Skills

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

Key Competencies

• 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.

Travel Requirements

• 25–50% travel to manufacturing plants, mills, operations, and project sites.
• Ability to respond to critical operational issues and equipment failures as needed.

Performance Measures

• Reduction in hydraulic-related downtime.
• Improvement in equipment reliability and availability.
• Reduction in hydraulic component failures.
• Improvement in maintenance cost performance.
• Increased compliance with hydraulic standards and best practices.
• Successful completion of capital and reliability improvement projects.
• Training effectiveness and workforce capability development.

No third-party candidate submissions are being accepted at this time for this opening.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered based on job-related qualifications and abilities. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

About Kaiser Aluminum: Talented people join our team because we are a company passionate about environmental sustainability, employee growth, contributing back to our communities and championing an inclusive culture.