Principal Engineer - Mechanical Design

Career Area:

Engineering

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Solar Turbines is looking for a mechanical design engineer to join our energized and cross-functional Mechanical Design team responsible for gas turbines that power energy solutions to our customers. The candidate will work closely with various engineering disciplines to design, develop, and implement new component designs and/or improve existing gas turbine hardware for the continuous improvement of product durability and capabilities for our customers. This role will produce leading edge solutions for a diverse range of projects executed in a productive environment that values strong work culture, best-in-class and diversity.

The successful candidate is expected to be a technical generalist able to develop solutions to complex problems using mechanical analysis of rotating and static turbine hardware in addition to being ingenious, creative and applying new concepts. A strong background in gas turbine design fundamentals and secondary cooling flow systems is highly beneficial for this role. The successful candidate will have the skills necessary to successfully define, lead and execute projects starting from root cause analysis, solution concept through validation, and finally product implementation. Additionally, the successful candidate will play an integral role in ensuring that solutions fulfill performance, manufacturing, durability, maintainability, and cost targets.

The successful candidate will perform detailed mechanical design work, and manage workscope and execution to align with time sensitive deliverables performed under DevOps planning. When required, the successful candidate will execute component rig or engine tests by managing required hardware, instrumentation, scheduling, resultant data analysis and post-test hardware inspections. Strong written, oral and presentation communication skills are required. Additionally, the successful candidate will support business operations when necessary with support to customer services, manufacturing, and supply chain.

What You Need To Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related degree with a Mid Level to Advance applicable Mechanical Design work experience
• Experience with concept and detail design principles
• Gas turbine design and analysis experience
• Experience using Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS) software to perform detailed modal and structural analysis
• Experience with reviewing and checking engineering drawings

Top Candidates Will Have:

• Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Mid Level to Advance mechanical design work experience
• Proficiencies for the following skills and tools:
• Geometric dimensional and tolerance specifications (ASME Y14.5-2009)
• Creo (or related CAD system)
• Design experience with compressor and/or combustion section
• Practical manufacturing and producibility knowledge including welding and brazing
• ANSYS Experience in the design and/or analysis of gas turbine components, gas turbine operation and application, materials and processes, manufacturing methods and test procedures
• Experience with detailed cross-section stack-ups
• Experience with life prediction methods
• Experience with turbine blade heat transfer essentials
• Windchill, Microsoft Office and technical writing

Skill Descriptors:

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Seeks discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; explains variances.
• Organizes and prioritizes the sequence of steps to be taken to remedy the situation.
• Identifies many possible causes for a problem based on prior experience and current research.
• Approaches a complex problem by breaking it down into its component parts.
• Chooses among a diverse set of analytical tools according to the nature of the situation.
• Quantifies the costs, benefits, risks, and chances for success before recommending a course of action.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks.
• Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process.
• Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact.
• Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives.
• Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus.
• Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.

Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Clarifies and handles multiple concurrent and diverse activities.
• Shifts focus among several efforts as required by changing priorities.
• Addresses potential conflicts that impact current delivery commitments.
• Works with or leads others to re-prioritize work and reschedule commitments as necessary.
• Responds to shifting priorities while maintaining progress of regularly scheduled work.
• Demonstrates an expectation that there will be ongoing shifts in demands and priorities.

Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Provides effective technical solutions to routine functional challenges via sound technical competence, effectively examining implications of events and issues.
• Effectively performs the technical job aspects, continuously building knowledge and keeping up-to-date on technical and procedural job components.
• Applies technical operating and project standards based on achieving excellence in delivered products, technologies and services.
• Applies current procedures and technologies to help resolve technical issues in one's general area of technical competence.
• Helps others solve technical or procedural problems or issues.

Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Provides input for Gantt or PERT charts or their equivalent to track project progress and status.
• Under guidance, plans and estimates simple projects.
• Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Obtains information from stakeholders during the planning stage of a project.
• Produces standard project status reports.

Design Engineering: Knowledge of designing and engineering products and systems; ability to use principles of mathematics, science, and engineering to develop, analyze, and improve product or system specifications, functionality, and performance.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Develops detailed engineering designs and specifications.
• Evaluates and selects materials, equipment, and suppliers.
• Conducts feasibility studies and cost analyses to determine project feasibility.
• Designs and develops prototypes and tests to validate design concepts.
• Analyzes and interprets test data to identify design flaws and recommend improvements.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure design meets project requirements and timelines.

Product Testing: Knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Coordinates execution of test plans, including resources, strategy, schedules, processes and tools.
• Collaborates with design team to ensure testing considerations are incorporated into system design.
• Recommends tools and techniques for automating, simplifying and enhancing product testing.
• Compares and contrasts alternative testing methodologies and tools.
• Matches testing methodology and tools to product being tested; develops test scenarios and scripts.
• Estimates time, effort and resources required for thorough testing.

Product Design and Development: Knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop a new product, technology, or service from concept through to production.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Develops organizational standards and processes in order to maximize complex product services' efficiency and effectiveness.
• Creates and introduces new techniques that expedite or simplify the development process.
• Supervises the management of multiple and diverse types of products or services.
• Develops proof-of-concept exercises to prove or disprove validity of proposed products.
• Advises on the appropriate solutions to complex product design and development problems.
• Designs working prototypes of a variety of proposed products or services.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

Summary Pay Range:

$120,299.00 - $180,449.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

• These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Posting Dates:

May 21, 2025 - June 11, 2025

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

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