Materials Engineer

Caterpillar•San Diego, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

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. We are seeking a highly motivated Materials Engineer to support the development, qualification, and application of advanced high-temperature metallic materials for industrial gas turbine and energy applications. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership in the areas of nickel-based superalloys, cobalt-based superalloys, high-temperature steels, and related manufacturing processes. This role involves alloy development, materials characterization, failure analysis, supplier qualification, and process development to improve component durability, reliability, and performance in demanding environments. The engineer will work closely with design, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and external research partners to solve complex materials challenges.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or related discipline.
10+ years of industrial experience in metallic materials engineering.
Strong knowledge of: Physical metallurgy, Mechanical metallurgy, Phase transformations, Heat treatment, Materials characterization, Microstructure-property relationships.
Experience with nickel-based and/or cobalt-based superalloys.
Experience interpreting metallographic and mechanical test data.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Materials Science, Metallurgy, or related field.
Experience with industrial gas turbines, aerospace engines, power generation, or other high-temperature applications.
Experience with alloys such as: IN718, Waspaloy, Alloy 939, Rene 41, Haynes 188, Haynes 230, Mar-M alloys.
Knowledge of forging, casting, powder metallurgy, welding, brazing, and additive manufacturing processes.
Experience with creep, low-cycle fatigue (LCF), high-cycle fatigue (HCF), thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF), and life prediction methodologies.
Familiarity with oxidation and hot-corrosion resistant coatings.
Experience supporting supplier qualification and manufacturing process development.
Knowledge of Six Sigma, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

Lead materials engineering activities related to high-temperature alloys used in turbine hot-section and structural components.
Develop and evaluate nickel-based and cobalt-based alloy systems for improved mechanical properties, oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance, and microstructural stability.
Conduct materials characterization using optical microscopy, SEM, EDS, EBSD, XRD, DSC, and related analytical techniques.
Analyze microstructure-property-process relationships and provide recommendations for alloy selection and lifecycle improvement.
Support alloy development activities including: Melting and remelting trials, Forging and thermomechanical processing, Heat treatment development, Mechanical property testing, Qualification and implementation.
Collaborate with suppliers and research organizations to evaluate new alloy chemistries and manufacturing routes.
Investigate material failures and service-related degradation mechanisms including creep, fatigue, oxidation, corrosion, wear, and environmental attack.
Support materials and process qualification activities for cast, forged, welded, additive-manufactured, and coated components.
Develop technical reports, engineering specifications, and qualification plans.
Apply computational tools such as Thermo-Calc, JMatPro, or related software to support alloy design and process optimization.
Provide technical mentorship and serve as a subject matter expert on high-temperature materials.