Principal Pump Mechanic & Crew Lead, Rotating Machinery

Pay: $35.00–$45.00 per hour, plus a 5% shift differential

Are you the go-to expert when a BB4, BB5, or BB-series unit hits the floor?

If you enjoy guiding a crew through a complex teardown in the morning and shaping a customer-focused work scope by afternoon, you’ll thrive here. At Hydro, Inc.—a global pump reengineering leader based in Chicago’s West Loop—we’ve been elevating pump performance since 1969 through root-cause analysis, unbiased engineering, meticulous workmanship, and fast, reliable field service.

Picture this

A rush job arrives with tight customer deadlines. You quickly review the traveler and requisitions, align with the shop superintendent, and assign the right mechanics to hit the due date. During disassembly, you capture precise measurements, document findings against ANSI/HI or API standards, and recommend a solution-driven scope and proposal that adds value for the customer and supports revenue and profit goals. You mentor a junior mechanic through reassembly, verify QA/QC steps, brief management in a production/sales meeting, and release the job for shipment—closing the day with safety checks and securing the facility.

What you will lead

• Shop-floor coordination from superintendent direction to team execution.
• Adherence to traveler documents/requisitions for all custom pump work.
• Task assignment aligned to customer due dates and job priority.
• Hands-on shop and on-site work: pump disassembly, inspection, reporting, cleaning, and reassembly.
• Training, coaching, and mentoring mechanics in assembly/disassembly methods.
• Development of solution-based scopes/proposals that articulate customer value and optimize revenue/profit.
• Technical support for customers and internal stakeholders.
• Compliance with QA/QC processes and documentation.
• Participation in production/sales meetings to report work status.
• Blueprint reading and interpretation for repair and reassembly.
• Communication to the superintendent when jobs are complete and ready to ship.
• Daily safety observations and routine inspections.
• Shop cleanliness and safety stewardship.
• Acting leadership when the shop superintendent is away.

What makes you successful

• Minimum 5 years in the pump industry.
• Proven independence performing pump service/maintenance with precise measurements, complete documentation, and reference to applicable standards for quality craftsmanship.
• Repair experience with at least two pump types: Multi-Stage BB4 and BB5, BB1, BB2, BB3.
• Field service experience is a plus.
• Experience in steel or power industry settings.
• Working familiarity with ANSI/Hydraulic Institute and/or API codes and their application.
• Strong interpersonal communication with customers and teammates.
• Analytical troubleshooting to diagnose systemic problems.
• Comfort with Microsoft Word and Outlook; ability to use web-based service literature and programs.

Work environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Willingness to work overtime, weekends, and holidays to meet customer requirements.
• Ensuring the building is secured each evening.