Engineer, Pump Design at S F C Admins Inc – Northbrook, Illinois

Serfilco Ltd, a worldwide leading manufacturer and supplier of pumps and filters to chemical processing industries currently has a vacancy for an Engineer, Pump Design in our Northbrook, IL facility. An overview of our products is available at www.serfilco.com.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Designs, develops, and optimizes centrifugal pump products, for a variety of applications – from agricultural irrigation and dewatering systems to marine and home water pumps, and pumps for industrial processes. The position is responsible for developing efficient pump hydraulics and mechanical components that meet requirements. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in fluid dynamics and mechanical design, is proficient with modern CAD/CFD tools, and can balance innovative engineering with practical considerations of cost and reliability.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

· Define pump performance requirements, including flow rate, total head (static + friction), and fluid properties and ensure clear design targets are established for each project.

· Design and improve centrifugal pump hydraulic design and refine the pump’s internal flow passages (impeller, diffuser, volute casing), to optimize efficiency and operating range.

· Perform detailed mechanical design of rotating and stationary components to ensure structural integrity, vibration control, and service life.

· Use Soildworks and other engineering tools to model pump performance across its operating range.

· Develop 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, tolerance stack-ups, and bills of material.

· Apply Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and other engineering tools to predict how the pump will perform at various flow conditions (head, efficiency, NPSH etc.).

· Optimize designs to improve efficiency, reduce losses, and mitigate issues such as cavitation, vibration, and noise.

· Build and test prototypes; analyze results and validate design assumptions.

· Analyze test results to guide modifications and address potential problems early (e.g. adjusting design to mitigate low-pressure regions that could cause cavitation).

· Iteratively improve pump designs for peak efficiency and performance applying optimization techniques (i.e. adjusting blade angles, impeller dimensions, or volute shape).

· Investigate test or field issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective design changes.

· Coordinates activities concerned with technical developments, scheduling, and resolving engineering design and test problems.

· Evaluate and select appropriate materials and components for various fluids and operating environments to meet durability, reliability, manufacturability, and life cycle requirements.

· Works with vendors to secure best pricing.

· Participate in a cross-functional team to transition designs into production and support ongoing improvements.

· Follow, monitor, and ensure compliance with all safety and environmental regulations and policies.

OTHER DUTIES

· Performs all other duties as required

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE AND/OR TRAINING

· Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

· At least 5 years of hands-on experience in centrifugal pump design or closely related rotating equipment.

· Strong working knowledge of fluid mechanics and hydraulic principles as applied to pump performance, efficiency, and cavitation control.

· Proven experience designing pump components such as impellers, volutes, shafts, seals, bearings, and housings.

· Familiarity with plastic injection molding is a plus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

· Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) and experience using analysis tools to predict and optimize performance.

· Ability to independently execute design tasks, troubleshoot performance or reliability issues, and drive design improvements.

· Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; comfortable working cross-functionally in an on-site engineering environment.

· Experience supporting prototype builds and validating designs through performance testing; ability to correlate test data to analytical models.