Senior Design Engineer – Mechanical / Electrical

Caterpillar Inc.•Mossville, IL

2d•$112,710 - $169,060•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. Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. You will have the opportunity to join the Load and Haul Electrical Installation team, responsible for mechanically integrating electrical solutions across Large Wheel Loaders, Compactors, Wheel Tractor Scrapers, Underground Vehicles, and Articulated Trucks. About the Role As a Senior Design Engineer, you will lead electrical installation projects with a strong mechanical focus, ensuring electrical systems are effectively packaged, protected, and integrated within complex application environments. You’ll work across the full product lifecycle—from early concept through production—collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical system, manufacturing, and supplier teams. This role is ideal for Mechanical Engineers with experience in vehicle systems, structures, packaging, routing, and integration, as well as Electrical Engineers who enjoy working at the intersection of both disciplines. Why This Role Stands Out End-to-end ownership: Influence design decisions from concept through validation and production, including mechanical packaging and electrical integration tradeoffs. True cross-functional collaboration: Work alongside mechanical design, electrical systems, manufacturing, suppliers, and purchasing to optimize performance, quality, durability, and cost. Complex product systems: Apply your engineering expertise to large, highly integrated off-highway machines operating in demanding environments. Growth & impact: Strengthen leadership skills while delivering high-value solutions to customers across diverse applications and platforms. Why Mechanical Engineers Should Apply This role is not limited to pure electrical designs. Success depends heavily on mechanical aptitude—how electrical content survives, fits, routes, mounts, and performs within large, high-duty-cycle machines. Mechanical Engineers with experience in vehicle integration, structures, packaging, and durability will thrive here. There’s more to work at Caterpillar than just the work itself. We hire smart, friendly people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work. We make sure our employees feel continuously challenged while also supported. We provide professional growth opportunities, including leadership programs. We celebrate the diversity of our team, while also working together as one Caterpillar. Our culture, like everything at our company, is made possible by each employee’s contribution. Person by person, we create the environment we work in, and we are proud of the Caterpillar we’ve built.

Requirements

Experience with Large Wheel Loaders, Wheel Tractor Scrapers, heavy equipment, or mining applications.
Background in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or integrated systems design.
Hands-on experience with vehicle systems integration, including routing, packaging, structural interfaces, and installation design.
Experience working within an SDP / gated development process and influencing outcomes through technical expertise.
Proven ability to lead multiple engineering projects from concept through production in a cross-functional environment.
Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related accredited engineering discipline.
Analytical Thinking: Ability to identify root causes and develop effective technical solutions across electrical and mechanical domains.
Effective Communication: Capability to clearly convey technical concepts across disciplines and organizational levels.
Managing Multiple Priorities: Proven ability to manage concurrent projects and make effective tradeoff decisions.
Technical Excellence: Strong understanding of mechanical and/or electrical systems and how they interact within complex products.
Extensive experience with Creo, Vis View, and Teamcenter.
Knowledge of manufacturing processes, installation methods, and design-for-assembly principles.
Ability to design, develop, and deliver integrated systems from concept through production.

Responsibilities

Lead the mechanical design and integration of electrical systems within complex vehicle platforms, ensuring robust routing, protection, and packaging.
Design and develop components, brackets, harness routing paths, enclosures, and installation schemes that balance electrical performance with mechanical durability.
Own cost, quality, validation, and schedule for assigned projects.
Collaborate with suppliers to ensure manufacturability, serviceability, and lifecycle efficiency.
Partner with manufacturing teams to address assembly feasibility, tolerance stack-up, and installation repeatability.
Assist supply specialists and buyers with supplier development and performance improvement.
Drive collaboration across product development, value chain, manufacturing, commercial, and product support organizations.
Research and develop new technologies related to vehicle integration, packaging, thermal considerations, and durability.
Develop and document functional and installation design requirements, including mechanical constraints and environmental considerations.
Lead and participate in design reviews, ensuring conformance to electrical and mechanical design standards and best practices.
Organize, coordinate, and execute prototype builds, testing, and analysis, including fit, form, function, and durability assessments.