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Bedrock Robotics is deploying autonomous systems on heavy construction equipment across the country. The company has raised $350M in two years and achieved the first fully autonomous excavator deployments in construction, with a team including veterans from Waymo, Segment, and Uber Freight.
As a Hydraulics System Engineer, you will own the hydraulic and electro-hydraulic (EH) actuation systems that enable autonomous control of steering, braking, implements, and travel on construction machines including excavators, articulated dump trucks, scrapers, graders, compactors, and wheel loaders. You will characterize OEM hydraulic systems, design retrofit valve and pilot-control interfaces that preserve factory function and serviceability, and collaborate with controls, electrical, software, safety, and supply chain teams to develop reliable, manufacturable, functionally safe subsystems that perform in demanding field conditions.
Key responsibilities include: reverse-engineering and documenting OEM hydraulic circuits with ISO 1219 schematics and PQ/pressure/response characterization; designing retrofit electro-hydraulic interfaces (proportional pilot valves, steering and brake valves, shuttle/selector logic, manifolds) for autonomous control while maintaining manual operation; specifying and sizing valves, manifolds, hoses, fittings, sensors, filters, and accumulators; partnering with the safety team on functional safety (DFMEA, FTA, hazard analysis per ISO 13849 and ISO 25119); collaborating with controls and software engineers on valve modeling, compensation, and closed-loop tuning; defining hose/tube routing and manifold placement within tight machine envelopes; planning and executing bench and on-machine tests (pressure, flow, leak, response, endurance, contamination); hands-on prototype build support including plumbing, commissioning, and bleeding; leading technical engagement with hydraulic suppliers (Danfoss, Bosch Rexroth, Hydac, Parker, Eaton); and maintaining schematics, BOMs, installation procedures, and service documentation through product lifecycle and field deployment.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Agricultural/Fluid Power Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
- 7+ years designing, integrating, or testing hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems for mobile machinery (construction, agricultural, mining, or off-highway vehicles)
- Strong command of open/closed-center and load-sensing circuits, pilot-operated and proportional valves, pump/valve PQ behavior, and hydraulic schematic reading/authoring (ISO 1219)
- Solid grounding in fluid mechanics: orifice and flow equations, laminar vs. turbulent flow, pressure losses, viscosity and temperature effects, bulk modulus and compressibility, cavitation and aeration, pressure transients
- Hands-on experience with pressure/flow instrumentation and data acquisition
- Familiarity with CAN/J1939 and hydraulic simulation tools (Amesim, Simscape, Automation Studio) a plus
- Exposure to ISO 13849, ISO 25119, or similar functional safety standards a plus
