Materials Engineer

Solar Turbines•San Diego, CA

4d•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. Job Description Solar Turbines Incorporated, headquartered in San Diego, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Solar manufactures the world’s most widely used family of mid-sized industrial gas turbines, ranging from 1 to 35 megawatts. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, generator sets and mechanical drives. When you join Solar, 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. Along with our customers and the communities we work and live in, we are building a better world for tomorrow. Job Summary: This position, in the Materials & Process Engineering department, provides a variety of challenging opportunities working on alloys and coatings used in gas turbines including but not limited to conducting forensic investigation and root cause assessment for Solar’s product failure investigations, lead new material and process development programs, actively participate in product problem resolution projects, develop and qualify new suppliers, new product development programs and lead any manufacturing process development/changes that impact material properties and performance. The position will report to the group manager of Materials & Process Engineering. This position is in our San Diego headquarters.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Material Science, Materials Engineering, or equivalent.
6+ years of related industry experience.
Working knowledge of physical and mechanical metallurgy, characterization techniques, and thermomechanical processing
Knowledge in materials processes such as heat treatment, forging, casting and welding.
Able to interpret engineering drawings.
Knowledgeable in the use and application of engineering analysis techniques.
Effective written and oral communication skills

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in Materials Engineering or related field is preferred.
Ability to concurrently manage projects with varied complexity
Demonstrated leadership and change management proficiencies.
Prior experience in operational roles, Lean – Six Sigma, and Agile will be beneficial.
A good technical knowledge of the materials used in gas turbines.
Experience with steel and iron-based alloys including melt practices, processing, and testing
Experience with superalloy investment casting, including single crystal castings, and materials life prediction methodologies.
Familiar with standard gas turbine manufacturing, quality, design, and analysis methods.
Experience performing failure analysis of metallic components, preferably those used in turbomachinery equipment
Knowledge of coatings for additive manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

providing technical expertise in metallurgy and thermomechanical processing of turbomachinery alloys with emphasis on superalloys
turbine hot section materials development and selection
source qualification of internal and external component suppliers
evaluation of new and overhaul manufacturing technologies
ownership of related engineering specifications
failure analysis
document all their work in various formal reports and support developing processes and technologies required to achieve greater efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement