Senior Design Engineer

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:

Integrated Components Division (ICD) designs and manufactures embedded components that enhance machine performance, safety, and quality. Through deep system-level integration, ICD delivers customer value and competitive advantage. The division partners closely with product groups and business units to manage current designs (e.g., seals, hoses, filters, hardware) and drive innovation aligned with sustainability, resiliency, and global availability goals.

ICD supports long-term service growth by designing components with aftermarket needs in mind, ensuring reliable performance worldwide. The engineering department includes three specialized groups:

• Material Testing Group (MTG): Develops and manages rubber formulations.
• Rubber Component Group (RCG): Designs, tests, and validates rubber components.
• Track Seal Group: Focuses on track seal designs to meet customer expectations.

Each group operates dedicated labs to validate materials and components, supporting initiatives like Assurance of Supply, Quality Improvement, Warranty Reduction, CPI, and NPI. Through cross-functional collaboration and rigorous testing, ICD ensures all components meet internal standards and customer expectations—contributing to product lifecycle success and future innovation.

What You Will Do:

Job duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Design, maintain, and manage the component design and development of rubber components for Caterpillar engines and machines, ensuring the integration of new products, processes, or technologies to meet customer needs.
• Lead multiple projects related to component development and performance evaluations, including project management documentation.
• Participate in trial and production rubber molding processes, contributing to issue resolution and understanding variables affecting results.
• Manage component testing, validation, and audits, and communicate results in a concise and accurate manner with data.
• Design new test fixtures and manage the maintenance of local test benches, including spare parts.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve issues with components, test procedures, or test equipment.
• Collaborate and support process partners, such as internal customers and manufacturing facilities, to enhance product and process performance.
• Support NPI, CPI, BIQ and Assurance of Supply projects using performance testing for failure predictions, concept evaluation, and benchmarking.
• Ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.

Education requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mechanical, materials science, or a related field.

What skills you will have:

Product Design and Development

• Lead complex, full-lifecycle product development initiatives across multiple platforms, from concept through production.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with global teams to ensure robust design validation and seamless product launches.
• Apply expert-level DFM/DFA practices to deliver innovative, cost-effective, and high-performance solutions.

Technical Excellence

• Leverage deep technical knowledge in materials, mechanics, and manufacturing processes to solve high-impact design challenges.
• Ensure rigorous compliance with global standards, internal specifications, and quality systems throughout the design process.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, guiding design reviews and fostering a culture of engineering excellence.

Computer-Aided Design & Engineering

• Expertly use advanced CAD tools (e.g., Creo, SolidWorks) to create complex 3D models, assemblies, and production drawings.
• Conduct high-level simulations (e.g., FEA, CFD) to validate performance, durability, and safety under real-world conditions.
• Manage design data and workflows in PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter), ensuring accuracy, traceability, and version control.

Analytical Thinking

• Perform advanced data analysis and root cause investigations to drive design improvements and resolve systemic issues.
• Apply statistical methods and engineering judgment to support strategic, data-driven decision-making.
• Evaluate complex trade-offs in design, balancing performance, cost, manufacturability, and customer requirements.

Top Candidates will also have:

• Hands-on engineer with strong mechanical aptitude and lab experience.
• Proficient in data acquisition systems, MTS/Instron test machines and controllers.
• Skilled in Six Sigma, PPAP, FEA, Creo, Teamcenter, GD&T, and drawing release processes.
• Experienced with Microsoft Project and other planning tools.

Additional Information:

This position requires the candidate to work onsite five days a week at the Mossville, IL office.

Domestic relocation assistance is NOT available for this position. Any relocation costs incurred would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.

This position may require up to 10% travel.

What you will get:

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world. Here you earn more than just wage, because we value your performance, we offer a total rewards package that provides:

• Competitive Base Salary
• 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)
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Life Insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy Lifestyle Programs
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (Ex. Accident, Identity Theft Protection)

*Subject to annual eligibility and incentive plan guidelines.

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.

For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media

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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:

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

Posting Dates:

August 22, 2025 - September 6, 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. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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