Fluid engineers are responsible for the design and maintenance of fluid-based mechanical systems. When working with mechanical, hydraulic, and pumping systems, they rely heavily on fluid mechanics, engineering, and natural science principles. As an engineer or architect, a fluid engineer can work in the design field. He could also work in the drilling industry, installing and repairing equipment that extracts water, oil, and natural gas from the ground. These professionals may also maintain and repair mining, construction, and other types of equipment.
Fluid engineers might work for an engineering firm, a power plant, or a manufacturing plant in the design field. Fluid engineers work on the hydraulic systems that are used in major industrial equipment, buildings, and power generation. A fluid engineering professional working for an equipment manufacturer, for example, might be in charge of designing new equipment or developing more efficient hydraulic and fluid-based operating systems. He might design cranes, excavators, and large-scale pumps, relying on his fluid mechanics knowledge to figure out how much fluid is required and which type will provide the best results. Engineers who specialize in fluid design also work on power generation systems in hydroelectric plants and other similar facilities.
Fluid or mud engineers set up the drilling systems used to extract oil and natural gas from the earth in the drilling industry. Drilling fluid is an important part of this operation because it clears the way for the powerful drill bits while also removing cuttings and waste materials from the ground. Fluid engineers not only set up and install equipment in this setting, but they also teach other team members how to operate and maintain these systems. They keep track of how fluid affects pressure and performance deep underground, and they clean and maintain equipment to ensure that it produces the best results possible.
On mining and construction sites, fluid engineers may be in charge of the repair and maintenance of large equipment. These professionals may be in charge of maintaining washing stations or excavators at a gold mine, as well as cranes, bulldozers, and other construction and land clearing equipment. Fluid engineers work in this position to perform routine maintenance such as checking fluid levels and topping off the fluid as needed. When equipment malfunctions, they also perform major repairs and diagnostics, which can range from something as simple as replacing a damaged hose or gasket to something as complex as rebuilding an entire hydraulic operating system.