Design Engineering Specialist

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.

Hear about the Caterpillar experience for yourself

Role Definition

Caterpillar’s Drivetrain team designs drivetrain systems and components used across Caterpillar machines and OEM applications. The Structures, Castings, and Forgings team designs many of the parts used within those components. Those parts include axle housings, spindles, planet carriers, cases, clutch and brake components, amongst many others. The team is also a centralized resource for designing and validating components that are exposed to ground induced structural loads. This specific role includes:

• Sole design ownership for suspension components that include A-frames, trunnions & supports, and some links.
• Working with 2 other engineers to design spindles
• Along with the other local engineers, provide technical support to the assembly facility (Decatur)

Our team provides design leadership through the entire lifecycle of the part, from concept to production implementation to production maintenance and supporting our end customers.

What you will do

• Creating new designs that meet all technical and business requirements.
• Completing Design FMEAs and Technical Reviews to establish risk and corresponding validation plans.
• Completing and/or coordinating analysis activities to evaluate new designs.
• Working with suppliers and purchasing teams when sourcing parts to a supplier.
• Provide technical assessment and guidance to resolve production part quality issues.
• Assess if part nonconformances are acceptable for use.
• Provide engineering support to local assembly facility.
• Participate in APQP activities.

Degree requirement

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Agricultural, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering

Skills you must have

• 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.
• 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.
• Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the Application of appropriate communication behaviors.
• 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.
• Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Knowledge of tools and techniques of specialized graphics programs; ability to produce, analyze, simulate and test product design drafts.
• Product Development Life Cycle – MFG: Knowledge of the methodology and associated phases, activities and deliverables of product development life cycle in manufacturing organizations; ability to bring new or enhanced products to the marketplace.
• 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.
• Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.

Top Candidates will also have

• 10+ years of job-related work experience
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Creo modeling and stress analysis.
• Experience designing cast and/or forged components.
• Demonstrate use of DFMEAs, APQP, and PPAPs.

Additional Information

• This position will close 7/18/2025 at 11:59 pm.
• The location for this position is Decatur, IL and requires the employee to work a 5-day-a-week schedule onsite.
• Relocation assistance (domestic) is available for this position.
• Sponsorship is NOT available.
• This position may require less than 25% travel.

Final details

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

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Summary Pay Range:

$126,000.00 – $189,000.00

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

Relocation is available for this position.

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:

July 12, 2025 – July 20, 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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