Sr. / Principal Hose Design Engineer

Sr. /

Principal Hose Design Engineer Location:

203A Log Canoe Circle, Stevensville, MD 21666-2128

Work Hours:

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through

Friday Salary:

$116,000 - $156,000/yr. Hydrasearch is looking for a Senior Principal Hose Design Engineer to join our team in Stevensville, MD. In this role you will be a senior technical contributor responsible for developing advanced hose and fluid conveyance solutions for aerospace and defense programs. This role will focus on solving complex technical problems and accelerating product development efforts. This is a hands-on engineering role focused on design, testing, qualification strategy, and technical problem solving. The Senior Principal Hose Design Engineer will work within a small, highly capable technical team executing rapid development cycles including design, prototype, validation, and transition to production. While the role emphasizes speed and innovation, the engineer must maintain the technical rigor and configuration discipline required in regulated aerospace and defense environments.

About Us:

Hydrasearch is a U.S. manufacturer specializing in fluid-transfer and control systems for maritime, aerospace, and defense applications. Since its founding in 1962, Hydrasearch has developed capabilities in hose assemblies, valve fittings, and customer machined parts, often to meet MIL-SPEC and naval standards. At Hydrasearch, we value the contributions of our Military Veterans and proudly employ our nation's heroes. Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do:

Innovation & Design:

Serve as the senior technical lead for hose innovation initiatives, designing custom assemblies for aerospace and defense.

Rapid Development:

Execute rapid design-build-test-iterate cycles to translate performance specifications into manufacturable solutions.

Standards & Compliance:

Establish design assumptions and qualification margins that meet MIL, NAVSEA, and AS9100 requirements.

Technical Analysis:

Perform engineering analysis related to burst, fatigue, impulse, vibration, and environmental factors.

Internal Capability:

Support the development of proprietary Hydrasearch hose constructions and internal testing capabilities to reduce dependency on external design authorities.

Production Transition:

Coordinate with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure mature designs transition effectively into production.

What We're Looking For:

Required Qualifications Education:

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.

Experience:

8+ years of relevant hose or fluid conveyance design experience.

Technical Expertise:

Deep knowledge of hydraulic, pneumatic, fuel, or seawater hose systems, including fatigue and impulse life performance.

Material Science:

Proficiency with elastomers, PTFE, metallic reinforcement technologies, and fitting/end connection design.

Full Lifecycle Ownership:

Demonstrated experience owning the full product lifecycle from initial concept through qualification and production release.

Testing:

Direct involvement in hose testing programs (burst, impulse, or fatigue).

Mindset:

A "builder" mentality with a bias toward execution and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with limited structure.

Travel:

Travel may be required, both domestically and internationally.

Advanced Education:

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Certification:

Professional Engineer (PE) license or active involvement in industry bodies like SAE or ASME.

Specialized Standards:

Deep familiarity with NAVSEA Tech Pubs or specific SAE aerospace standards.

Advanced Development:

Experience specifically working in advanced development environments or with proprietary hose construction development.

Leadership:

Experience mentoring internal engineers and leading technical discussions with customers.

What We Offer:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family Competitive salary Bonus programs 401K retirement plan Training opportunities Tuition reimbursement Paid vacation, PTO, and holidays Gym reimbursements, and more! Join us and be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your goals! Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.