Associate Specialist – Hydraulics

Associate Specialist – Hydraulics

Job Description:

Position Requirements

Provide high-quality CFD and hydraulics support while contributing as an experienced mechanical engineer across new product development, engineering testing, proof-of-concept development, rapid prototyping, design improvement and product issue resolution. The role combines deep analytical capability with hands-on product engineering and cross-functional execution

Key Roles and Responsibilities

CFD, Hydraulics and Simulation Support

• Perform CFD and hydraulic analyses for Pentair products and systems, including flow distribution, pressure drop, thermal-flow interaction where applicable, cavitation risk, pump/system performance and design optimization.
• Develop appropriate analysis plans, modelling assumptions, boundary conditions, mesh strategies and solver approaches; assess result quality and clearly communicate limitations and engineering implications.
• Provide project teams with timely, decision-oriented technical recommendations rather than analysis output alone.
• Support root-cause investigations and product issue resolution using simulation, first-principles engineering and test evidence.
• Promote consistent CFD and hydraulics methods, templates, review practices and knowledge sharing across the organization.

Mechanical Engineering, NPD and Product Realization

• Contribute across the NPD lifecycle, from problem definition and concept generation through detailed design, verification, validation and design transfer support.
• Develop and evaluate mechanical concepts, layouts and design trade-offs using sound engineering judgement, calculations, CAD and simulation.
• Work with laboratories and technicians to define test objectives, test setups, instrumentation, acceptance criteria and data interpretation.
• Apply design-for-manufacture, design-for-assembly, tolerance, material and cost considerations when maturing concepts into product-ready solutions.
• Support value engineering, cost reduction, reliability improvement, field failure analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Technical Skills

• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, turbomachinery, and mechanical design.
• Hands-on expertise with Ansys CFX and/or Ansys Fluent for pump or turbomachinery applications.
• Practical experience in geometry preparation, meshing, solver setup, convergence assessment, and CFD post-processing.
• Experience with centrifugal pump hydraulic design and performance characteristics, including head, flow, efficiency, power, NPSH and cavitation.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, Creo/ProE or equivalent, including solid modelling, surface modelling and assemblies.
• Working knowledge of pump design tools such as CFturbo, BladeGen or equivalent is preferred.
• Working knowledge of Python, MATLAB, or equivalent language for engineering calculations, data processing, or workflow automation.

Behavioral Expectations

• Strong analytical thinking with a hands-on, product-focused mindset.
• Comfort operating across both specialist analysis work and broader mechanical engineering assignments.
• Ownership, adaptability and the ability to progress work despite incomplete information.
• Effective teamwork, mentoring, stakeholder management and technical communication.
• Commitment to engineering quality, safety, integrity and continuous learning.

Education and Experience

• B.E./B.Tech. or M.E./M.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering, preferably with specialization in CFD, turbomachinery, thermal engineering or a related field.
• 5-7 years of relevant professional experience in CFD analysis and mechanical or hydraulic design.
• Demonstrated experience with pumps, turbines, or other rotating machinery is strongly preferred.

Added Advantage

• Experience correlating CFD results with laboratory test data and supporting prototype validation.
• Exposure optimization, process automation, AI/ML applications in engineering, or patent-related product development.
• Experience in VAVE, cost reduction, sustaining engineering, and new product development for industrial products.

* Position title will be given based on the experience & work capability of the candidate

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pentair is an Equal Opportunity Employer. With our expanding global presence, cross-cultural insight and competence are essential for our ongoing success. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives and creative ideas that enable us to continue to improve every day.

Experience Level

Mid Level