Senior Design Engineer - Light Fabs
Caterpillar

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.

Job Summary:

This is a design position on the Wheeled Product Engineering (WPE) Light Fabrications team that supports Large Wheel Loaders (LWL). Both new product design and design improvements to current products are in scope for all the major light fabrications subsystems (e.g. access systems, hoods, fenders, platforms, fuel tanks, guards, and enclosures). The type of component-level design in scope includes complex fabricated steel structures/weldments, bolted assemblies and non-metallic components. The engineering disciplines applicable include machine design, strength of materials, structural fatigue, advanced bolted joint design and noise/vibration/harshness (NVH). As a member of the Light Fabrication Engineering team, you will need to have a growth mindset, promote continuous improvement, and help build a defect-free culture. We have a fabulous team that does some of the most exciting work at Caterpillar, and we can't wait for you to join the team!

What you will do may include, but not limited to:

• Create concepts and designs to solve complex engineering projects.
• Utilize CREO to create highly integrated designs within machine platforms.
• Lead the NPI design, CPI and maintenance deliverables for the Light Fabrication Team.
• Meet the Cost / Time / Quality goals on NPI and CPI projects and machine platforms.
• Conduct requirements management, DFMEA, DVP& R (design verification plan & report)
• Support/Lead design review meetings
• Support Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process and Concurrent Product and Process Development (CPPD) activity to ensure components are developed to meet time, cost, and quality requirements within budget.
• Collaborate with other engineering team members, purchasing, suppliers, and Caterpillar product group customers.

What you need to have:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in an Engineering curriculum or Engineering Technology
• Progressive engineering and product development experience
• Proficiency in Creo or other 3-D design tools

Top Candidates will also have:

• Previous experience designing welded steel structures.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in collaborative environment and to communicate effectively in cross functional teams.
• Executed all phases of a new product development program.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers to optimize designs for manufacturability.
• Experience directing the work of other design and detailing resources to achieve design goals.
• Personal experience performing component level FEA (Creo Simulate preferred).
• Personal experience in executing APQP from beginning to end.
• Hands-on experience (e.g. machinery, heavy equipment, manufacturing processes, welding, etc.)
• Caterpillar component and systems knowledge, preferably gained on RI wheeled products (ATK / HRV / LMT / LWL / OHT / WTS)

What Skills you will have:

Analytical Thinking:
• 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.
• Quantifies the costs, benefits, risks and chances for success before recommending a course of action.
• 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.

Effective Communications:
• Reviews others' writing or presentations and provides feedback and coaching.
• Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience.
• Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position.
• Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.
• Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.
• Maintains focus on the topic at hand.

Managing Multiple Priorities:
• 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.

Product Design and Development:
• 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.

Additional Information:

The primary location for this position is Decatur, IL

Domestic relocation assistance is available

This position may require 10% travel

Sponsorship is not available

Summary Pay Range:
$110,520.00 - $165,840.00
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:

Annual incentive bonus plan*

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, Etc.)

401k savings plan

Health savings account (HSA)

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Healthy Lifestyle Programs

Employee Assistance Programs

Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts

Tuition Reimbursement

Career Development

*Subject to annual eligibility and incentive plan guidelines .

Posting Dates:
January 15, 2025 - January 30, 2025
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

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