Senior Design Engineering Specialist

Caterpillar•Decatur, IL

1d•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 Load & Haul Heavy Structures organization is seeking a Senior Design Engineering Specialist to serve as a global technical expert supporting the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of structural systems across the Load & Haul product portfolio. This position provides technical leadership and guidance to Heavy Structures engineering teams worldwide, supporting products such as Large Wheel Loaders, Articulated Trucks, Wheel Tractor Scrapers, Wheel Dozers, Landfill Compactors, and Underground Hard Rock Vehicles. The role combines deep expertise in structural fabrication design, simulation, validation, manufacturing, and product development processes with a strong passion for coaching and developing engineering talent. The successful candidate will influence technical direction across multiple programs, mentor engineers at all levels, support complex design and validation activities, and help ensure products achieve world-class performance in safety, quality, durability, manufacturability, and cost.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Analytical Thinking: Applies advanced analytical methods, structural engineering principles, finite element analysis (FEA), and durability assessment techniques to identify root causes, evaluate alternatives, quantify risks, and develop effective solutions for complex product and structural performance challenges.
Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Leads the diagnosis and resolution of complex structural, manufacturing, and system-level issues by applying expert troubleshooting methodologies, durability analysis, fracture mechanics principles, root cause investigation, and cross-functional collaboration to implement sustainable corrective actions.
Effective Communications: Communicates complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively to engineering, manufacturing, supplier, and leadership audiences while effectively influencing decisions, mentoring others, and fostering alignment across global cross-functional teams.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Exercises expert judgment by evaluating technical data, simulation results, validation findings, manufacturing considerations, and business objectives to make informed decisions that balance performance, durability, quality, cost, and customer requirements.
Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Utilizes advanced CAD, CAE, and structural simulation tools such as CREO, ANSYS, Abaqus, Nastran, HyperWorks, or equivalent platforms to develop, analyze, validate, and optimize heavy structure designs, fabricated steel structures, and cast components.
Product Development Life Cycle (Manufacturing): Provides strategic leadership throughout the product development lifecycle by establishing design standards, validation strategies, and engineering best practices while driving innovation, manufacturability, and quality from concept through production.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing and validating heavy structures for off-highway equipment, including fabricated steel structures, castings, and structural durability-critical components.
Experience supporting Load & Haul products and applications, with an understanding of customer requirements, machine usage, and performance expectations.
Experience with Caterpillar NPI, CPI, APQP, CPPD, and product development processes.
Knowledge of welding processes, fabrication methods, manufacturing constraints, supplier capabilities, and design for manufacturability (DFM) principles.
Experience establishing structural design standards, engineering best practices, and validation strategies that improve product quality, durability, and performance.
Proven success collaborating with global engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to drive technical alignment, manufacturability, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Demonstrated technical leadership through mentoring, coaching, and influencing critical engineering decisions across complex product development programs.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership and guidance on complex structural fabrication design challenges, supporting new product introductions (NPI), continuous product improvement (CPI), and field issue resolution activities.
Coach, mentor, and develop engineers through technical reviews, design guidance, and problem-solving support.
Develop and review structural designs utilizing Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and durability best practices.
Provide expertise in weldment design, castings, fabricated structures, and structural load paths.
Guide finite element analysis (FEA), structural simulation, durability assessments, and physical validation activities.
Interpret analysis and test results and provide recommendations that improve durability, quality, cost, and manufacturability.
Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, purchasing, suppliers, and platform teams to optimize structural designs and production processes.
Support APQP, CPPD, FMEA, DVP&R, and other product development activities throughout the product lifecycle.
Drive technical excellence, standardization, lessons learned, and best practices across the Load & Haul Heavy Structures community.