Senior Hydraulics Engineer

Here is the revised job description tailored for a Senior Hydraulics Engineer

.

I have maintained Durin’s ambitious, mission-driven tone and specific company details while pivoting the technical responsibilities to focus on fluid power, electro-hydraulic control, and high-pressure systems.

Senior Hydraulics Engineer

Durin was founded under the belief that raw materials should not be a constraint on civilization's progress. We are actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of becoming the foundation of the global supply chain.

WHO WE ARE

Durin builds and operates automated drill rigs to accelerate mineral discovery.

Our modern way of life, from smartphones to skyscrapers, starts as ore in the ground. But mines don't simply appear. In fact, the exploration process required to find valuable ore is incredibly long and expensive. This is done by drilling hundreds of surgical holes into the earth to recover cylindrical core samples.

Mining is a trillion-dollar industry, but the drills used to explore haven't changed in nearly 100 years. Mines are becoming harder to find, which is a danger to the future of civilization. Our mission is to change that. The first step is mass production of automated drilling rigs to find more mines, faster. That is just the beginning.

POWERING THE RIG

As a

Senior Hydraulics Engineer

at Durin, you will be the architect of the high-power "muscles" behind the world's most advanced drill rigs. You will move beyond standard off-the-shelf implementations to design high-efficiency, high-response fluid power systems that enable precise automation in harsh environments.

You will have ownership of the hydraulic architecture, taking your systems from first-principles calculations and schematic design through component selection, manifold design, simulation, and field validation.

Note:

You don't need mining or drilling experience to excel in this role, but a passion for heavy machinery and fluid power is essential.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

- Own the Hydraulic Architecture:

Architect complete hydraulic systems for next-generation rigs, including closed-loop hydrostatic drives, implement circuits, and auxiliary systems.

- Design from First Principles:

Develop custom solutions for power density and efficiency rather than relying solely on catalog components. Perform sizing calculations for pumps, motors, cylinders, and accumulators.

- Simulation & Analysis:

Utilize 1D simulation tools (e.g., Automation Studio, Simscape, Amesim) to model system dynamics, pressure drops, and thermal behavior before metal is cut.

- Electro-Hydraulic Integration:

Collaborate closely with the Controls and Software teams to select high-response proportional valves and sensors, ensuring the hydraulic system can support precise autonomous operations.

- Component Engineering:

Design custom manifolds to minimize footprint and leak points. Select and qualify hoses, fittings, and seals capable of withstanding extreme vibration and environmental conditions.

- Thermal & Contamination Management:

Design robust filtration and cooling systems to ensure reliability in unbelievably harsh operational conditions.

- Build & Test:

Lead the assembly and testing of your systems. Troubleshoot issues on the shop floor and conduct field visits to validate performance in real-world mining environments.

- Vendor Management:

Source, retain, and advise vendors for critical hydraulic components, managing lead times and quality standards.

WHO YOU ARE

- Experience:

Proven track record designing, analyzing, and testing high-performance mobile hydraulic systems (construction, mining, aerospace, or agricultural machinery).

- Fluid Power Proficiency:

Deep understanding of hydraulic schematics (ISO 1219), pump controls (load sensing, torque limiting), and closed-loop control strategies.

- CAD & Simulation:

Proficiency in CAD (NX, SolidWorks) for routing and manifold design, and simulation tools (Automation Studio, Matlab/Simulink, or similar).

- Control Theory:

Understanding of how hydraulic hardware interacts with control loops (PID tuning, hysteresis, bandwidth).

- Hands-on:

You are comfortable getting your hands dirty, using pressure gauges, flow meters, and wrenches to debug systems on the rig.

- Analytical Coding:

Ability to use Python, Matlab, or Excel for complex sizing calculations and data analysis.

- Communication:

Self-motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

- Mindset:

Have a bias to action, take pride in your work, and care more about getting to the right solution than being right.

Compensation & Benefits:

This role will pay

$150,000–$180,000

, plus

equity

, so you have a real stake in Durin's success. Everyone is an owner, so as the company grows, your equity grows too.

Aside from base compensation, we invest heavily in our team. You'll have the freedom and resources to try new things and iterate quickly. We're a high-growth company without middle management, which means fast decision making and the ability for you to own major initiatives from day one.

We also offer:

- 100% healthcare coverage

(medical, dental, vision)

- All meals included

(breakfast, lunch, dinner) are paid for when you're at headquarters

- Relocation assistance

to help you find housing nearby

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

- Must be willing to work from our headquarters in El Segundo.

- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.