Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer – Hydraulic & Equipment Design

Hydracore Drills Ltd. | Delta, BC

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Schedule: Monday to Friday

Location: On-site – Delta, BC

About Hydracore Drills

Established in 1975, Hydracore Drills Ltd. is a Canadian manufacturer specializing in the design and production of advanced mineral exploration drilling equipment. Our equipment operates in demanding environments around the world, and we take pride in developing innovative, reliable, and high-performance drilling systems.

As our company continues to grow and develop new technologies, we are seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer with strong hydraulic system design capabilities to join our engineering team.

This is a hands-on engineering position offering the opportunity to take projects from initial concept through manufacturing, testing, and production.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a motivated, practical engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and seeing their designs become working machines.

The successful candidate will be involved in mechanical design, hydraulic schematic development, complete hydraulic system engineering, and new product development. You will work closely with our manufacturing and assembly teams to design, build, test, and improve custom drilling equipment.

We value engineers who understand how equipment works in the real world and are comfortable getting involved on the shop floor.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Design & Product Development

• Design mechanical assemblies, structural components, and complete drilling equipment using SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Lead new product development from concept through detailed design, prototyping, testing, and production.
• Perform engineering calculations, structural analysis, and finite element analysis (FEA) using SolidWorks Simulation.
• Prepare and review engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and manufacturing documentation.
• Improve existing equipment designs for performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost efficiency.
• Work directly with machining, fabrication, assembly, purchasing, and production teams.

Hydraulic Schematic & System Design

• Design and develop complete hydraulic systems and detailed hydraulic schematics for mobile drilling equipment.
• Engineer open-loop, closed-loop, load-sensing, and pressure-compensated hydraulic circuits.
• Perform hydraulic calculations involving flow, pressure, horsepower, torque, pressure losses, heat generation, and system efficiency.
• Select and size hydraulic pumps, motors, cylinders, proportional and directional control valves, manifolds, filtration, and related components.
• Design hydraulic power units and integrated electrohydraulic control systems.
• Integrate hydraulic systems with PLCs, sensors, electronic controls, and machine automation.
• Work with hydraulic component suppliers to develop effective and reliable system solutions.
• Troubleshoot hydraulic performance issues and optimize system efficiency and reliability.
• Develop and maintain hydraulic schematics, component specifications, and technical documentation.

Project Management & Engineering Coordination

• Manage assigned engineering projects, including schedules, budgets, design reviews, and technical deliverables.
• Coordinate engineering activities with production, procurement, and other departments.
• Evaluate design alternatives based on performance, cost, safety, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and manufacturing process development.
• Assist with research and development, technical documentation, and patent-related activities.

Testing & Field Support

• Participate in prototype development, equipment testing, and commissioning.
• Provide hands-on technical support during manufacturing and assembly.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, hydraulic, and system integration issues.
• Occasionally travel to customer sites for equipment commissioning, testing, and technical support.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in British Columbia, or eligibility for registration with Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant engineering experience in mechanical equipment or machinery design.
• Strong proficiency in SolidWorks, including 3D modelling, assemblies, and manufacturing drawings.
• Demonstrated experience developing hydraulic schematics and designing complete hydraulic systems.
• Strong understanding of hydraulic pumps, motors, cylinders, control valves, and hydraulic circuit operation.
• Ability to perform mechanical and hydraulic engineering calculations.
• Knowledge of machining, welding, fabrication, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to independently manage engineering projects from concept through completion.

Preferred

• Experience designing mobile hydraulic equipment, drilling rigs, mining machinery, construction equipment, or other heavy industrial machinery.
• Experience with load-sensing, pressure-compensated, and closed-loop hydraulic systems.
• Familiarity with Danfoss, Bosch Rexroth, Parker, HYDAC, or similar hydraulic components.
• Experience with electrohydraulic controls, PLCs, CAN bus, and machine automation.
• Experience with SolidWorks Simulation (FEA) and hydraulic schematic design software.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or similar ERP systems.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a practical, solutions-oriented engineer who:

• Enjoys designing equipment that gets manufactured, assembled, and put to work.
• Understands how mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic systems work together.
• Can independently troubleshoot complex equipment and develop effective solutions.
• Communicates effectively with engineers, machinists, welders, technicians, and management.
• Takes ownership of projects and follows them through to completion.
• Has strong attention to detail, safety, and engineering quality.
• Is motivated by innovation, product development, and continuous improvement.

Benefits & Opportunities

• Annual performance-based bonus.
• Extended health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Opportunities for career advancement.
• Direct involvement in innovative equipment and product development.
• Collaborative working environment with experienced manufacturing and technical teams.
• Opportunity to see your designs manufactured, tested, and used in real-world applications.

Why Join Hydracore?

At Hydracore, engineering goes beyond producing drawings. Our engineers are directly involved in developing, building, testing, and improving the equipment we manufacture.

You'll have the opportunity to work on challenging mechanical and hydraulic systems, contribute to innovative drilling technologies, and play an important role in the continued growth of an established Canadian manufacturer.

If you're passionate about mechanical engineering, hydraulic system design, and developing high-performance equipment, we encourage you to apply.