Design Engineering Specialist – Electromagnetic Design

Caterpillar Inc.•Noblesville, IN

2d•$128,470 - $192,710•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions (IDES) division develops electrified powertrain, zero-emissions products and technologies, and related solutions and services. The Advanced Motor Technology team seeks a Design Engineering Specialist – Electromagnetic Design to provide technical leadership for electromagnetic design, analysis, and optimization of Caterpillar’s electric motor and generator portfolio. The role develops next-generation electromagnetic solutions for electrified machine platforms across construction, mining, industrial, and power applications, from concept creation and architecture selection through detailed design, validation, manufacturing support, and product integration. The specialist establishes technical direction and machine architectures, drives performance targets and technology decisions, and mentors engineering talent. The role leads electromagnetic analysis and optimization across multiple machine topologies; evaluates torque, efficiency, losses, flux behavior, harmonics, demagnetization risk, NVH excitation, and fault performance; and validates designs through characterization, testing, and correlation with experimental data. It also leads new technology introduction initiatives, develops technology roadmaps, and enhances in-house tools, automation, and optimization methods using MATLAB, Python, and design-space exploration. The position partners with mechanical, thermal, controls, systems, manufacturing, validation, supply chain, and product teams to deliver integrated electric machines from concept through production launch. It provides expertise in magnetic materials and supports prototype development, validation, supplier engagement, sourcing decisions, and resolution of technical issues throughout the product lifecycle. The position is based in Mossville, Illinois, or Noblesville, Indiana, and requires on-site availability five days per week. Domestic relocation is available; visa sponsorship is not. Travel is expected up to 20% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Extensive experience and knowledge of analytical techniques and tools, including determining root causes of organizational problems and developing alternative solutions.
Extensive experience with effective communication concepts, tools, and techniques, including communicating complex technical concepts and recommendations to technical and leadership audiences.
Extensive experience with project-management strategies and tactics, including planning, organizing, monitoring, and controlling projects and resources.
Extensive experience with product development life-cycle methodology in manufacturing organizations and bringing products to market; experience leading engineering activities through concept development, validation, and production implementation.
Extensive experience with troubleshooting approaches, tools, and techniques, including anticipating, detecting, and resolving technical problems in manufacturing or product development.
Demonstrated expertise in electric machine theory, motor and generator design, electromagnetic analysis, and machine optimization.
Demonstrated experience collaborating with power electronics and controls teams on inverter constraints, flux-weakening strategies, MTPA/MTPV control maps, switching schemes, and performance-map development.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in electric machines, electromagnetics, or power conversion.
Deep expertise in permanent-magnet machine design, particularly Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) architectures.
Experience with JMAG, ANSYS Maxwell, Motor-CAD, Flux, MagNet, or equivalent simulation platforms.
Expertise in electromagnetic optimization; rotor and stator design; magnet selection and retention systems; flux barrier design; harmonic mitigation; demagnetization analysis; NVH prediction and mitigation; and thermal-electromagnetic coupled analysis.
Experience supporting heavy-duty off-highway, mining, industrial, traction, or high-power electric machine applications.
Experience transitioning technologies from NTI to NPI programs.
Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and build technical capability within an organization.

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical authority for electromagnetic design of electric motors and generators, establishing architectures, design strategies, and technical direction for current and future machine platforms.
Drive efficiency, power density, torque density, losses, reliability, and system-optimization targets, and guide technology and architecture decisions.
Mentor and develop engineering talent in electromagnetic analysis, machine design, and advanced simulation methods.
Lead electromagnetic design, analysis, and optimization using analytical, simulation-based, and test-correlated methods across IPM, SPM, synchronous reluctance, switched reluctance, and induction machine topologies.
Evaluate torque production, efficiency, losses, flux behavior, harmonics, demagnetization risk, NVH excitation, and fault performance to support design decisions.
Optimize machine designs for performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost, validating results through characterization, testing, and correlation with experimental data.
Lead New Technology Introduction initiatives, evaluate emerging motor and generator technologies, and develop roadmaps for future product requirements.
Advance machine efficiency, power density, thermal capability, material utilization, and electromagnetic design approaches.
Develop and enhance in-house design tools, automation, and optimization methods using MATLAB, Python, and design-space exploration techniques.
Partner with mechanical, thermal, controls, systems, manufacturing, and validation teams to deliver integrated electric machines from concept through production launch.
Provide expertise in magnetic materials, including magnet selection, electrical steel evaluation, supplier data validation, and cost-performance optimization.
Support prototype development, validation, supplier engagement, sourcing decisions, and technical issue resolution throughout the product lifecycle.