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.
About IDES:
Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions (IDES) Division will focus on delivering advanced electrified power train, zero-emissions products/technologies, and the solutions and services associated with these technologies. Focus areas include batteries, fuel cells, motors, inverters, micro grid controllers, charging, energy storage systems, lifecycle solutions/services and integration of components for ePowertrain solutions across industries.
We are looking for top talent to build and scale the next generation of technologies, products and services to help our customers build a better—more sustainable—world. We need self-motivated, intelligent and team-oriented individuals to make our plans a reality. Individuals with high emotional intelligence, humility and openness to discovery will thrive in the teams we are building.
Job Summary:
Caterpillar is seeking an experienced engineering professional to lead the integration and delivery of advanced power electronics systems for large mining truck applications as a Design Engineering Specialist. In this role, you will serve as the technical integration lead for high-power inverter cabinet systems, coordinating mechanical, electrical, controls, thermal, manufacturing, and supplier activities to bring complex electrified products from concept through production.
You will collaborate with a global cross-functional team to develop integrated power conversion systems that support Caterpillar's next generation of electrified mining equipment and energy transition initiatives.
Additional Information:
This position is located in Mossville, IL.
Domestic travel up to 10% & minimal international travel is required.
Domestic relocation assistance is offered for this position.
Visa sponsorship is NOT offered for this position.
This position is 5 days on-site.
What you will do:
Lead the development and integration of large-scale power electronics cabinets used in heavy-duty mining applications.
Own overall system-level coordination between electrical, mechanical, thermal, software, manufacturing, sourcing, and validation functions.
Translate product requirements into system architectures, design requirements, and integration plans.
Drive design reviews, issue resolution, risk management, and engineering decision making throughout the product development cycle.
Define and manage interfaces between power electronics modules, cooling systems, low-voltage controls, high-voltage distribution, diagnostics, and machine systems.
Coordinate prototype builds, validation activities, laboratory testing, and machine-level evaluations.
Partner with suppliers and contract manufacturers to support component sourcing, manufacturability, quality, and production readiness.
Lead cross-functional teams through design freezes, release milestones, and production launch activities.
Ensure compliance with engineering quality processes, FMEA activities, validation requirements, and product development standards.
Communicate technical status, risks, and mitigation plans to engineering leadership and program stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
System Integration Leadership
Serve as the primary integration focal point for complex power electronics cabinet systems.
Align multiple engineering disciplines around common technical objectives and project milestones.
Manage system-level requirements, interfaces, and architecture decisions.
Product Development
Support development of inverter, converter, protection, diagnostics, cooling, and auxiliary systems.
Drive design maturity from concept development through production implementation.
Lead technical problem solving and issue resolution activities.
Validation and Quality
Develop validation strategies and test plans.
Support laboratory, vehicle, and field validation activities.
Drive closure of technical issues identified during development and testing.
Supplier and Manufacturing Collaboration
Work directly with manufacturing teams and strategic suppliers to ensure production feasibility.
Support contract manufacturer onboarding, production readiness reviews, and launch activities.
Identify opportunities to improve quality, cost, reliability, and scalability.
Program Execution
Manage deliverables against aggressive development schedules.
Support release planning, design reviews, risk assessments, and milestone execution.
Provide technical leadership across globally distributed engineering teams.
Successful candidates will be able to:
Lead delivery of complex electrification programs from concept through launch.
Drive collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, sourcing, and supplier teams.
Balance technical performance, cost, quality, manufacturability, and schedule requirements.
Build alignment among diverse stakeholders while maintaining ownership of system-level outcomes.
Deliver innovative solutions that advance Caterpillar's electrification strategy.
What you will have
Degree Requirement
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related technical field.
Experience leading complex engineering projects involving multiple technical disciplines.
Experience developing or integrating complex electro-mechanical systems.
Knowledge of design validation, risk management, and product development processes.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive technical decisions.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Extensive knowledge and experience in decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
• 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.
Project Management: Extensive knowledge and experience 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.
• Utilizes preferred tools, techniques and methods for estimating project cost and time.
• Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes and monitors significant projects.
• Identifies risks and vulnerabilities; creates contingency plans.
• Conducts regular and ad-hoc project reviews with project team, sponsors, and clients.
• Maintains open communication among project participants and interested parties.
• Communicates reporting requirements; creates monitoring and control mechanisms.
Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Extensive knowledge and experience in tools and techniques of specialized graphics programs; ability to produce, analyze, simulate and test product design drafts.
• Coaches others on orthographic, isometric and axonometric projections.
• Presents complex products and systems graphically.
• Performs manipulations on design objects, such as changing projections and managing drawing layers.
• Directs the matrix computations performed to transform objects in coordinate space.
• Consults on benefits and drawbacks of top-down design vs. bottom-up design.
• Compares and contrasts uses of bird's-eye views and worm's-eye views.
Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Extensive knowledge and experience of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.
• Evaluates business impact of failure and the criticality and timing of needed resolution.
• Resolves difficult or high-impact equipment and systems problems.
• Monitors machine performance and history; addresses excessive maintenance or repair needs.
• Coaches others how to resolve integration or communications probl