Principal Technician

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. Requires full proficiency in most every aspect of a specific job role classification Works largely independently in support of project objectives of those requesting assistance Develop approaches beyond established procedures Typically works in a leadership role of a technical support function, or a major development project Requires expert mechanical, instrumentation, calibration and/or materials and processes evaluation technical support skills (i.e. fabrication, setup, installation, instrumentation, calibration, testing, trouble shooting) Contacts are primarily with group management, peers and team members (including cross-functional), and those being supported within engineering. Often consulted by group management for advice / technical input. Consistently demonstrates refined communications and interpersonal skills. Provides constructive feedback. Has demonstrated leadership skills in prior roles, and will typically be directing the work of others. Working independently, or as a key member of a development or support team, routinely applies advanced technical training, procedures and equipment to support the technology and product development and test of Solar's turbomachinery products. Problem Assignments: Full proficiency in planning, scheduling, organizing and executing complex technical support assignments involving development of solutions to difficult technical problems. Work often involves new product / process development, requiring new techniques and equipment, which may involve first-article hardware, equipment or processes. Performs complex fabrication, setup, installation, calibration and/or evaluation functions in support of engineering projects. May apply basic engineering analytical procedures to validate data and work task results. Expected to deliver consistent, high quality results, make sound judgements, define and implement corrective actions. Can easily transition to other related work areas / functions. Impact: Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve results will adversely impact key development projects or support functions, involving significant delays and cost over-runs. Depending on the nature of the specific job assignment, there could be serious damage to test articles and support equipment, and negative impact on work environment safety.

Requirements

2–3 years of hands-on experience working with electrical or mechanical industrial equipment
Basic understanding of PLC systems
Experience with soldering
Excellent soldering skill for both surface mount and through hole type components
Experience with various measurement devices: oscilloscope, current probe, accelerometer, multimeter, LCR meter, bench tope power supplies, power meter, etc.
Able to set up test rigs for measuring board level and subsystem level performance including bandwidth, harmonic content, impulse response, and frequency response.
Able to read complex system level and board level electric circuit diagram
Knowledge of electrical safety and able to perform log out tag out of high energy electrical equipment up to 480Vac and 500kw.
Ability to operate lab overhead crane, jib crane and handheld power tools to support assembly and disassembly of mechanical systems up to a few thousand pounds weight.

Nice To Haves

Expert mechanical, instrumentation, calibration and/or materials and processes evaluation technical support skills (i.e. fabrication, setup, installation, instrumentation, calibration, testing, trouble shooting)
Demonstrated leadership skills in prior roles
Ability to run the Aero Test Facility single stage test rig, perform pre-lube checks
Check instrumentation, ability to hook up instruments to PLCs
Ability to calibrate instruments
Coordinate w Metrology/Test Systems for periodic instrument calibrations and test cell control system updates
Coordinate with vendors (seals, o-rings, valves, etc.) to ensure consummables are replenished, and parts are overhauled as needed
Coordinate with Facilities for the ATF rig upgrade
Coordinate with Shipping/Receiving when parts need to come in to ATF (and inventory management)
Able to build multistage signal conditioning circuits on perf boards and modify control circuits on purchased PCBs.
Able to build, maintain, improve and troubleshoot multiple high speed industrial PC based control systems consisting of real-time controllers, analog input and output cards, digital input and output cards, network cards, low/high DC power suppliers, high power switching amplifiers, and various displacements, current, temperature sensing devices.
Coordinate test efforts for PTC-10 and air tests for production compressors
Coordinate efforts for development tests for Aero as applicable
Setup, install and perform pre-checks for mag exciter components during development testing

Responsibilities

Coordinate efforts between the Aero Test Facility (ATF), Mechanical & Electrical Analysis (MEA) group and Test Engineering as applicable.
Run the Aero Test Facility single stage test rig, perform pre-lube checks.
Check instrumentation, hook up instruments to PLCs.
Calibrate instruments.
Coordinate with Metrology/Test Systems for periodic instrument calibrations and test cell control system updates.
Coordinate with vendors (seals, o-rings, valves, etc.) to ensure consumables are replenished, and parts are overhauled as needed.
Coordinate with Facilities for the ATF rig upgrade.
Coordinate with Shipping/Receiving when parts need to come in to ATF (and inventory management).
Perform excellent soldering for both surface mount and through hole type components.
Build multistage signal conditioning circuits on perf boards and modify control circuits on purchased PCBs.
Utilize various measurement devices: oscilloscope, current probe, accelerometer, multimeter, LCR meter, bench tope power supplies, power meter, etc.
Set up test rigs for measuring board level and subsystem level performance including bandwidth, harmonic content, impulse response, and frequency response.
Read complex system level and board level electric circuit diagrams.
Build, maintain, improve and troubleshoot multiple high speed industrial PC based control systems consisting of real-time controllers, analog input and output cards, digital input and output cards, network cards, low/high DC power suppliers, high power switching amplifiers, and various displacements, current, temperature sensing devices.
Operate lab overhead crane, jib crane and handheld power tools to support assembly and disassembly of mechanical systems up to a few thousand pounds weight.
Maintain electrical measurement instrumentation and mechanical measurement tools, including software updates, hardware repairs and upgrades, tracking calibration cycles, and proper storage.
Handle lab parts packaging, shipping and receiving.
Coordinate test efforts for PTC-10 and air tests for production compressors.
Coordinate efforts for development tests for Aero as applicable.
Setup, install and perform pre-checks for mag exciter components during development testing.