Technical Expert II

Summary - **Summary**

The Hydropower Hydraulic Controls Service Engineer is responsible for providing expert technical service and support for hydraulic control systems used in hydroelectric power plants throughout North America. This includes commissioning, troubleshooting, maintenance, and upgrades of hydraulic power units (HPUs), governors, and associated control systems. The incumbent works closely with customers to ensure reliable and efficient operation of hydro plant hydraulic controls, while also identifying opportunities to expand the service business and deliver best-in-class customer support.

Responsibilities -

- Support regional sales strategies for hydraulic controls service growth.

- Conduct customer site visits to assess, maintain, and troubleshoot hydraulic control equipment, fostering long-term relationships.

- Assist in marketing and promoting new hydraulic control products and services.

- Prepare, review, and update hydraulic system designs and documentation for customer projects.

- Collaborate with engineering teams to drive process improvements and standardization in hydraulic controls.

- Contribute to proposal development by preparing preliminary design and service plans for hydraulic systems.

- Operate CAD/CAE tools to develop and update hydraulic circuit diagrams and system layouts.

- Locate and interpret OEM hydraulic schematics and customer-supplied documentation.

- Utilize SAP or equivalent systems to create Bills of Materials for hydraulic control equipment procurement and installation.

- Participate in design and system reviews for hydraulic controls projects.

- Prepare and process design changes and change notifications for hydraulic systems.

- Assess and disposition non-conforming hydraulic components and assemblies for suitability and corrective action.

- Adhere to project schedules and communicate progress, challenges, and milestones to supervisors.

- Liaise with vendors, manufacturing, and field service personnel to optimize design, installation, and maintenance solutions for hydraulic controls.

- Support the quality department in continuous improvement and problem-solving related to hydraulic equipment.

- Assist with system startup, testing, and commissioning of hydraulic control systems; evaluate test results and performance metrics.

- Prepare technical data reports and forms related to hydraulic controls service activities.

- Communicate with customers to address engineering and operation concerns regarding hydraulic control systems.

- Collaborate with sales and account management to develop and execute sales plans for hydraulic control service offerings.

- Present new hydraulic control products, technologies, and concepts to internal teams and customers.

- Perform detailed system engineering and field service work for hydraulic control projects, including commissioning and troubleshooting.

- Manage onsite resources and contractor scheduling for hydraulic controls service projects.

- Ensure project profitability through effective planning and execution.

- Gather necessary machine and system data from customers for hydraulic controls application development.

- Provide product training and technical support for hydraulic controls.

- Assist in trial planning, proposal development, evaluation, and documentation for hydraulic system improvements.

Qualifications -

- Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related field) or equivalent experience.

- Minimum 10 years' experience in hydropower hydraulic controls or similar role.

- Proven ability to communicate effectively with customers, vendors, and internal teams.

- Extensive experience and technical understanding of hydroelectric plant hydraulic controls, including turbines, governors, HPUs, exciters, and balance of plant equipment.

- Strong customer service orientation and problem-solving skills.

- In-depth knowledge of PLCs, hydraulic control systems for hydro turbines and generators, governor systems (including HPU), excitation systems, and balance of plant equipment.

- Specific expertise in governor HPUs, including both new and legacy systems.

- Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% to customer and project sites.

Physical Demands -

- Regularly required to walk, stand, and use hands to handle or feel equipment.

- Frequently required to reach with hands and arms; occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and communicate verbally.

- Regularly required to lift up to 10 pounds; occasionally required to lift up to 50 pounds.

- Frequent travel required.

*This job description outlines the general responsibilities and qualifications for the Hydropower Hydraulic Controls Service Engineer position and may be subject to change as business needs evolve.*