Application Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.•Mossville, IL

19h•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. Control Systems Engineer Your Work Shapes the World Whether it is groundbreaking products, best in class solutions or creating a lifelong career, you can do the work that matters at Caterpillar. With a 100 years of 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 customers’ needs. Join us. Role Description: This role encompasses the design, development, and validation of electro-mechanical systems and mechatronic devices with the aim of optimizing engine performance and emissions. As an individual contributor within the Large Engine Controls team in the Large Power Systems Division (LPSD), you will be responsible for designing, building, and testing control strategies specific to LPSD engines. Working under the direction of technical team leads, you will apply your knowledge of engine systems, dynamic feedback control theory, software architecture, and integration tools to deliver control features in Matlab/Simulink that meet customer specifications. Key responsibilities include collaborating with colleagues to refine system requirements, developing and implementing control algorithms, optimizing software designs for scalability and maintainability, validating solutions through simulation and on-engine testing, as well as comprehensively documenting and presenting results.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical/Electronics Engineering is required.
Applying dynamic feedback control theory to the design and analysis of spark-ignited engine control systems
Developing and designing software for embedded systems hardware, both at prototype and production stages
Enhancing software architecture to ensure modularity, usability, and scalability
Managing and integrating content updates within a comprehensive software ecosystem
Analytical Thinking: Working knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Communicating Complex Concepts: Working knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.
Problem Solving: Working knowledge of approaches, tools, and techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational, or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
Embedded Systems: Working knowledge of dynamic feedback control theory, discrete-time embedded systems, digital signal processing, logical control (finite state machines), physics-based controls design, Matlab/Simulink based simulation and software design, and Git based software integration.
Requirements Analysis: Basic understanding of tools, methods, and techniques of requirements 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.
Technical Troubleshooting: Basic understanding of technical troubleshooting approaches, tools, and techniques; ability to anticipate, recognize, and resolve technical issues on hardware, software, application or operation. Working experience with tools like Matlab/Simulink, Vector CANape, Git, etc., Apply knowledge of engines and control software to troubleshoot issues using fishbone diagrams.
Product Development in Manufacturing: Basic understanding of software build processes, tools and techniques; ability to design, build and manage software to support multiple complex engine products. Familiarity with NPI, NTI, and CPI process.
Product Testing: Basic understanding of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan, and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing, including simulation and on-engine environments.

Nice To Haves

A master's degree in engineering accompanied by professional experience in engine control systems design and engine software architecture
Proficiency in classical control theory, specifically as applied to Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems using Sequential Loop Closure (SLC) using both the time and frequency domain
Demonstrated experience developing engine control systems for gas, diesel, and dual fuel engines, including aftertreatment solutions
Advanced expertise in Matlab/Simulink with a focus on designing modular, scalable, understandable, usable, and efficient software architectures
Deep familiarity with tools such as Matlab/Simulink, Git, Vector CANape, GT-Power, Dynasty, and co-simulation methods as they pertain to engine controls design
Experience working with CAN and SAE J1939 communication protocols for ECM integration
Strong background in modeling dynamic systems through physics-based white box models, black box approaches, and system identification techniques
Exceptional analytical abilities and comprehensive understanding of complex engineering concepts and applications
Proven self-motivation with the capacity to effectively communicate technical concepts to team members, cross-functional groups, management, and external suppliers
Prior involvement in Caterpillar product development processes (NPI, NTI, and CPI)
Familiarity with Caterpillar software development methodologies (Direct to Flash)

Responsibilities

Collaborate with process partners to develop and refine engine control system requirements.
Utilize expertise in engines and dynamic feedback controls—including frequency and time domain design, Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) systems, digital signal processing, filter design, and logical control methodologies—to design and evaluate control features.
Leverage knowledge of software architecture and design principles to implement and validate control software.
Employ Matlab/Simulink and GT-Power-based engine models to perform verification and validation activities.
Analyze and present data using advanced analysis and visualization tools such as Vector CANape, Matlab, and Python.
Deliver timely, high-quality simulation-driven design analyses and provide clear, actionable recommendations to stakeholders.