Principal NPI Mechanical Design Engineer

Caterpillar•San Diego, CA

5d•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. The Platforms, Technologies, and NPI group at Solar Turbines is at the forefront of developing innovative, next-generation products that drive customer success across a wide range of industries. Working within a highly collaborative and agile development environment, this team is responsible for advancing new technologies that expand Solar's product portfolio and strengthen our competitive position. We are seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to provide technical leadership while contributing directly to the design and development of advanced turbomachinery systems and technologies. This role requires deep mechanical design expertise, strong engineering judgment, and the ability to independently solve complex technical challenges while influencing technical direction across projects, teams, and stakeholders. Individuals who thrive on solving difficult engineering problems, developing innovative solutions, and mentoring others will find an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on Solar's future products and technologies. Position Overview As a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, you will serve as a key technical contributor within a small, high-performing development team responsible for new product introduction (NPI). You will be expected to apply advanced mechanical engineering principles to evaluate complex problems, develop practical and innovative solutions, and provide technical leadership throughout the product development lifecycle. The successful candidate will work with a high degree of independence and will frequently collaborate with Field Service, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business Development, and other engineering organizations to resolve challenging technical issues and drive product improvements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
Extensive experience in mechanical design and development of complex engineered products.
Extensive experience with turbomachinery, rotating equipment, gas turbine systems, or related industrial equipment.
Strong proficiency in 3D modeling (Ansys Space Claim, Creo), engineering drawings, BOM development (Windchill, Linked Data), and configuration management.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, product development, and design for manufacturability principles.
Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems and provide technical leadership across functional boundaries.
Experience mentoring engineers and contributing to the development of organizational technical capability.
Effective written and verbal communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
Experience developing and reviewing mechanical installation drawings
Working knowledge of engineering analysis methods, including finite element analysis (FEA), with the ability to interpret and apply results to support design decisions.

Responsibilities

Partner with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and development teams to translate customer, business, and product requirements into actionable engineering solutions.
Lead the development of creative concepts and detailed mechanical designs supporting new products, technology development efforts, and platform enhancements.
Develop, review, and maintain detailed 3D models, engineering drawings, Bills of Material (BOMs), and associated product documentation.
Apply advanced mechanical design principles to the development and integration of complex turbomachinery systems and components.
Work closely with Field Service Representatives, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and Business Development teams to identify root causes of technical challenges and implement effective solutions.
Lead evaluation of technical tradeoffs and design alternatives related to safety, performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, serviceability, and risk.
Support the development and review of mechanical installation drawings and system integration documentation.
Utilize engineering analysis tools, including FEA when appropriate, to support design decisions and resolve complex engineering challenges.
Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful execution of development programs.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers across multiple experience levels.
Serve as a technical resource within the organization, helping establish engineering best practices and sharing lessons learned across projects.
Exercise significant independent judgment in determining technical approaches and resolving highly complex engineering challenges.