Site Planning, Verification, and Validation Engineering Manager

Caterpillar Inc.•Mossville, IL

1d•$159,120 - $238,680•Onsite

About The Position

The Engineering Manager for Site Planning, Verification, and Validation (SPVV) will lead a multi-disciplinary team responsible for ensuring that Site Energy Solutions technologies meet the highest standards of reliability, durability, and performance in real-world applications. This role combines deep technical expertise with strong people leadership to define and execute validation strategies across laboratory and field-follow test environments. The SPVV Manager will be accountable for developing robust validation plans, designing test methodologies, and ensuring that products are thoroughly verified prior to deployment and production. A critical aspect of this role is fostering a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement, while partnering cross-functionally to accelerate innovation and ensure successful product delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or related field)
Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks.
Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process.
Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact.
Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives.
Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus.
Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.
Proven experience in testing, validation, reliability engineering for complex systems; Strong expertise in validation methodologies, test design, and data analysis
Experience with root cause analysis and problem-solving frameworks
Deep commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence
Advises others on the assessment and provision of all technical solutions.
Engages appropriate subject matter resources to effectively resolve technical issues.
Mentors others to enhance their technical competence and its application to achieve more effective technical solutions.
Coaches others in promoting, defining, analyzing, and providing superior technical solutions to business problems.
Experience with site energy systems
Familiarity with lab and field-follow test site setup, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems
Knowledge of applicable safety and regulatory standards for energy systems and testing environments
Experience scaling validation processes for new product introduction
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders
Analyzes the interests or requirements of the audience; shares only relevant information in a direct and efficient manner.
Adapts standard communication approaches when conducting dialogue with different audiences or conveying messages.
Explains others' view points and asks questions to ensure mutual understanding.
Recognizes and assesses cues or unstated intentions behind verbal and nonverbal communication.
Provides persuasive messages using well-reasoned arguments to address audience concerns or reactions.
Understanding of the importance of remaining aware of shifting market priorities and ability to respond to internal and external customer needs in a manner that consistently adds value.
Implements improvements to methods for maintaining customer responsiveness.
Recommends new products and services based on changing customer needs and success criteria.
Responds proactively to market and competitive shifts so as to maintain advantage.
Delivers superior customer value consistently and within targets.
Negotiates successful outcomes on behalf of difficult or dissatisfied customers.
Coaches others to improve focus on the customer.
Demonstrated success leading and developing technical teams in a fast-paced environment
Anticipates and manages difficult interpersonal situations and conflicts; resolves them to mutual satisfaction.
Consults within the team; seeks inputs from subordinates and considers all views while making decisions.
Implements coaching and mentoring programs to ensure the holistic development of employees.
Monitors employee morale and satisfaction; recognizes employee contributions and achievements.
Regularly reviews employee performance and provides constructive feedback.
Works collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds; understands their needs and perspectives.
Knowledge of effective collaboration techniques and ability to build networks with people from different countries and cultures, think and work with them to bring positive impact and flourishing business results.
Evaluates different viewpoints and reconciles conflicting interests to achieve a collective understanding and a group mission.
Provides optimum solutions for complex problems by using collective intelligence of colleagues' networks.
Trains others on the new technologies or techniques used to facilitate group interactions and improve collaboration.
Uses internal and external network of leaderships or experts to help achieve organizational and client goals.
Facilitates group's thinking and brainstorming activities to collectively create and share ideas.
Oversees a team collaboration to produce positive business results.
Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to use these to deepen own expertise and impact or challenge decisions within and outside own organization.
Communicates complex ideas and concepts in a clear and concise manner so that others can understand.
Exhibits depth and breadth of knowledge, skill, and experience in the relevant field.
Provides relevant, timely and objective subject matter/process expertise and key insight regarding multiple client business areas and affiliated fields.
Provides others with information, opportunities, or resources to develop their skills in the area of expertise.
Discards examples of persuasive arguments lacking evidentiary support or impact.
Coaches others to enhance their proficiency regarding the tenets, practices, and examples of the 'trusted advisor' credential.

Responsibilities

Build, lead, and develop a high-performing engineering ream focused on site planning, verification, and validation
Set clear goals, expectations, and development plans aligned with organizational priorities
Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning
Recruit, mentor, and retain top engineering talent across validation, testing, and analysis disciplines
Promote a strong safety-first mindset and ensure team adherence to all safety protocols and best practices
Mentors others to enhance their technical competence and its application to achieve more effective technical solutions.
Coaches others in promoting, defining, analyzing, and providing superior technical solutions to business problems.
Define and execute comprehensive validation strategies to ensure system performance, reliability, and durability across diverse applictions and operating conditions
Ensure the creation of scalable, repeatable, and data-driven test methodologies supporting development and deployment
Oversee both laboratory and field-follow validation activities, including test site planning and readiness
Drive continuous improvement of validation processes, tools, and infrastructure
Communicates complex ideas and concepts in a clear and concise manner so that others can understand.
Exhibits depth and breadth of knowledge, skill, and experience in the relevant field.
Provides relevant, timely and objective subject matter/process expertise and key insight regarding multiple client business areas and affiliated fields.
Lead structured root cause analysis efforts for system failures, performance gaps, and field-follow issues
Utilize data-driven methods and engineering rigor (e.g., DFMEA, fault tree analysis) to identify and resolve issues
Partner with design, systems, and manufacturing teams to implement corrective and preventative actions
Ensure lessons learned are captured and integrated into future designs and validation plans
Adapts standard communication approaches when conducting dialogue with different audiences or conveying messages
Explains others' view points and asks questions to ensure mutual understanding.
Collaborate closely with engineering, product management, manufacturing, and operations teams to align validation efforts and program objectives
Act as a key technical interface between internal teams and external partners, suppliers, and customers
Communicate validation progress, risks, and outcomes to senior leadership with clarity and transparency
Influence design decisions by providing validation insights and field-follow feedback
Implements improvements to methods for maintaining customer responsiveness.
Recommends new products and services based on changing customer needs and success criteria.
Champion a culture of safety as a top organizational priority across all lab and field-follow testing environments
Ensure all validation activities comply with applicable safety standards, regulations, and internal policies
Oversee safe operation of laboratory facilities and test sites, including hazard identification, risk mitigation, and incident prevention
Develop, establish, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for testing activities
Evaluates different viewpoints and reconciles conflicting interests to achieve a collective understanding and a group mission.
Trains others on the new technologies or techniques used to facilitate group interactions and improve collaboration.