Engineering Project Team Leader

Caterpillar•Lafayette, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

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. Posting Dates: July 13, 2026 - July 24, 2026 Your Work Shapes the World Whether it be groundbreaking products, best in class solutions or creating a lifelong career, you can do the work that matters at Caterpillar. With a 100 year legacy of quality and innovation and 150 locations in countries around the world, your impact spans the globe. When you join Caterpillar, you are joining a team of makers, innovators and doers. We are the people who roll up our sleeves and do the work to build a better world. We don’t just talk about progress and innovation. We make it happen. And we are proud of that, because it helps our customers build and power the world we live in – the roads, hospitals, homes and infrastructure. Without a dedicated workforce, Caterpillar could not effectively meet our customer’s needs. We wouldn’t be the Caterpillar we are today without the exceptionally talented, bright, and driven people who get the job done. This is your chance to help us make progress possible around the world – for our customers, for growing communities and for every member of our team. Role Definition Caterpillar Large Power Systems Division is seeking a Technical Lead – Power Systems to drive the development, integration, and validation of advanced power system technologies supporting New Technology Introduction (NTI), New Product Introduction (NPI), and Continuous Product Improvement (CPI) initiatives. This role will provide technical leadership for complex power system programs, ensuring robust, reliable, and high-performing solutions that meet customer and business objectives. As a recognized technical leader, the individual will guide cross-functional teams through the design, development, validation, and deployment of power system components and integrated systems. This requires strong technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaboration across engineering disciplines, suppliers, and global stakeholders to resolve challenging technical issues and accelerate product delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical or Agricultural Engineering preferred)
Extensive knowledge of major products and services and product and service groups; ability to apply knowledge of product and service appropriately to diverse situations.
Extensive knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
Extensive knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to use these to deepen own expertise and impact or challenge decisions within and outside own organization.
Expert knowledge 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.
Extensive knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
Extensive knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product management environment.
Extensive knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop a new product, technology, or service from concept through to production.

Nice To Haves

Advanced experience with component design, validation or cooling installation
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot component failures
Ability to showcase multitasking skills to optimize and deliver desired results under challenging requirements of quality, cost (development and product), and timelines

Responsibilities

Lead NPI, NTI, CPI, and OPACC initiatives for assigned power system platforms, driving product performance, reliability, quality, and cost improvements.
Provide technical leadership for the design, development, integration, and validation of power system components and subsystems, ensuring alignment with customer and business requirements.
Facilitate comprehensive Design FMEAs, risk assessments, and development of component and system DVP&Rs to ensure robust product designs.
Coordinate requirements management, concept development, supplier selection, and validation activities, including laboratory testing, field validation, and simulation efforts (FEA, CFD, and system modeling).
Maintain technical ownership and release accountability for critical power system components, supporting design reviews, issue resolution, and product launches.
Develop and manage component and system project plans as part of Caterpillar's product development process, ensuring milestones, risks, and deliverables are effectively managed.
Lead cross-functional teams in resolving complex technical issues through structured root cause analysis, corrective actions, and rapid-response problem-solving methodologies.
Collaborate closely with Engineering, Global Purchasing, Manufacturing, Validation, Simulation, Quality, and key suppliers to develop and implement innovative power system solutions.
Partner with strategic suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive design optimization, component validation, and continuous product improvement initiatives.
Present technical recommendations, program status, risks, and mitigation plans to key stakeholders, program leadership, and senior management.
Support strategic initiatives focused on advancing next-generation power system technologies, improving sustainability, operational efficiency, and customer value.
Mentor and coach engineers while promoting technical excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across global teams.