Senior Operator R&D Tech

Caterpillar Inc.•Green Valley, AZ

1d•$34 - $52•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. Your Work Shapes the World Whether it be groundbreaking products, best-in-class solutions, or building a lifelong career, you can do the work that matters at Caterpillar. With a 100-year legacy of quality and innovation, your work directly supports the machines and infrastructure that power the world. Caterpillar’s Resource Industries Division is seeking a Senior Operator R&D Technician to support technical investigations, testing, and validation of current and future products, components, materials, and processes. In this role, you will apply advanced technical skills to support instrumentation, data acquisition and other measurement systems for machine testing and validation. Your expertise will directly influence product development, reliability, and performance across Caterpillar’s portfolio. Why This Role Is Exciting Hands-On Innovation: Work directly with large earth moving machines, components, and test systems in lab, field, and proving ground environments. Impactful Work: Your testing, data collection, and technical insights directly influence new product development and improvements to existing products. Continuous Learning: Build deep technical knowledge of Caterpillar products, engineering methods, and advanced testing processes. Collaboration & Growth: Work closely with engineers, technicians, and cross‑functional partners while developing your technical and analytical capabilities.

Requirements

Working Safely: Demonstrate ability to comply with safety policies and procedures, safely work around heavy machinery and industrial equipment, properly use required PPE, and actively support a safe and hazard-free work environment.
Instrumentation and Data Acquisition: Demonstrates hands-on experience working with transducers, strain-gages, and data acquisition systems in both lab and field settings, supporting engineers through test and validation.
Effective Communications: Able to clearly convey evaluation results, technical findings, and project updates to engineers, customers, team members, and other business units while contributing to collaborative work.
Standard Operating Procedures: Shows strong adherence to defined evaluation methods and procedures, accurately operating test equipment and documenting results using required tools and formats.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Capable of making sound decisions during testing and data collection, contributing ideas during needs analysis, and taking on moderately complex tasks independently as experience develops.
Problem Solving: Skilled in supporting engineers by identifying issues with products, components, or processes through data analysis, interpretation, and involvement in product and process maintenance.
Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Experienced in diagnosing irregularities during lab or field testing, gathering meaningful data through proper equipment use, and assisting engineers in identifying root causes and refining products or processes.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting engineering, testing, or validation activities
Ability to work in varied lab, field, and proving ground conditions
An accredited technical associate degree or equivalent experience
3+ Years of instrumentation and/or data acquisition experience
Experience using Somat or DeweSoft Systems
Experience working on or around heavy machinery

Responsibilities

Support Engineering Objectives Follow engineering-defined instructions to install different measurement equipment on earth moving machines, components and other systems to collect critical data.
Assist engineers in analysis, idea generation, and evaluation of new products and processes.
Contribute to design improvements by providing accurate test data and technical observations Testing & Validation Support instrumentation setup and ensure accurate data collection for validation activities.
Maintain high standard of records in accordance with ISO17025 to ensure test accreditation.
Lead other technicians in instrumentation setups to ensure high standards of quality and timelines are maintained.
Technical Problem-Solving Assist in diagnosing issues with components, systems, or test setups.
Provide feedback to engineers to support root cause analysis and corrective actions Team Collaboration & Support Work closely with engineers, mechanics, technicians and other personnel.
Provide guidance to junior technicians as skills and experience grow.
Maintain strong communication to ensure alignment on test objectives, procedures, and results