Sr Principal Engineer - Mechanical Design

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.

About the role

The incumbent will be part of the Gas Turbine Product Engineering Group (GTPE) and will be responsible for providing technical input to a multi-disciplined engineering team engaged in R&E programs focused on the Taurus 70 and Titan 250 Gas Turbines. The programs involve all aspects from market understanding through concept development, detail design, release of options and variances, first article build, and field trials. This position will interface closely with other groups within GTPE, Technology & NPI, Turbomachinery Operations, Global Supply Chain, Marketing, Solutions Platforms Engineered, Project Application Engineering, Test Engineering, Overhaul build and test, and Customer Services. Direct interface with external customers will be occasionally required.

Responsibilities

• Leads new designs and teams resolving manufacturing or operational issues for complex components and systems.
• Responsibility for design acceptance, manufacturing producibility, and validation.
• Develop project scope to address business challenges and opportunities.
• Guide the evolution of new technologies and process improvements to achieve greater efficiency, cost reduction, and quality improvement.
• Define and implement engineering procedures to make the product or process more reliable, efficient, and cost-effective.
• Understand functional requirements and translate them into detail design documents.
• Lead collaboration with all functional areas to provide a design solution that meets the requirements of enterprise partners and customers.

Requirements

• Degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum.

Skills

• Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions. Seeks discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; explains variances. Organizes and prioritizes the sequence of steps to remedy the situation. Identifies many possible causes for a problem based on prior experience and current research. Approaches complex problems by breaking them down into component parts. Chooses among diverse analytical tools according to the nature of the situation. Quantifies 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 analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment. Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks. Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve the decision-making process. Assesses and validates decision options 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.
• Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities. 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.
• Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges. Provides effective technical solutions to routine functional challenges via sound technical competence. Continuously builds knowledge and stays up-to-date on technical and procedural job components. Applies technical operating and project standards to achieve excellence in delivered products, technologies, and services.
• Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects. Provides input for Gantt or PERT charts to track project progress. Plans and estimates simple projects under guidance. Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements. 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. Develops detailed engineering designs and specifications. Evaluates and selects materials, equipment, and suppliers. Conducts feasibility studies and cost analyses. Designs and develops prototypes and tests to validate design concepts. Analyzes and interprets test data to identify design flaws and recommend improvements.
• Product Testing: Knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques, and tools; ability to design, plan, and execute testing strategies to ensure product quality. Coordinates execution of test plans, including resources, strategy, schedules, processes, and tools. Collaborates with design teams to ensure testing considerations are incorporated into system design. Recommends tools and techniques for automating, simplifying, and enhancing product testing.
• Product Design and Development: Knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop new products, technologies, or services from concept through to production. Develops organizational standards and processes to maximize product efficiency and effectiveness. Creates and introduces new techniques to expedite or simplify the development process. Supervises the management of multiple and diverse types of products or services. Develops proof-of-concept exercises to validate proposed products. Advises on solutions to complex product design and development problems.

Pay

Pay Range: $128,470.00 - $192,710.00. Compensation and benefits may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance, and experience.

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.

Schedule

This position requires working onsite five days a week. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.