Test & Validation Senior Assoicate Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.•Mossville, IL

2d•$89,210 - $133,810•Onsite

About The Position

As a Test/Validation Engineer, you will partner with Drivetrain design and controls teams to identify, evaluate, and validate new products, processes, and systems. This role is responsible for the validation and development of mechanical drivetrain systems supporting new product introduction (NPI) and continuous product improvement (CPI) initiatives. You will plan and execute laboratory and system-level tests, analyze data, and document findings to support engineering decisions. This role requires strong engineering judgment and system-level thinking to evaluate interactions across drivetrain components to ensure robust, high-quality drivetrain solutions that solve our customers’ toughest challenges while delivering on commercial and program commitments. You will manage test activities, leverage lab support resources, and contribute to identifying product risks and weaknesses. Your work will directly impact drivetrain performance, durability, reliability, quality, and product development timelines.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering curriculum or equivalent experience required.
Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Basic understanding of the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
Analytical Thinking: Working knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Technical Excellence: Basic understanding of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
Project Management: Basic understanding of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.
Product Testing: Working knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.
Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Working knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of mechanical systems, particularly drivetrain or powertrain components.
Demonstrated systems engineering mindset with ability to evaluate performance, durability, and reliability tradeoffs.
Proven ability to analyze complex data and make data-driven engineering recommendations.
Experience with durability, performance, and environmental testing.
Hands-on experience troubleshooting hardware and software issues.
Familiarity with data acquisition systems and test instrumentation.
Experience conducting failure analysis and structured root cause investigations.
Experience supporting NPI/CPI programs and working across the product lifecycle.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Continuous improvement mindset with focus on quality, efficiency, and robust product performance.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with design, controls, and cross-functional teams to define validation requirements and influence design decisions
Plan, prepare, and execute validation testing for drivetrain components and systems in laboratory and system-level environments
Prepare and instrument test units, including defining test setups and data acquisition requirements
Analyze and interpret test data, evaluating results against requirements and identifying performance gaps
Apply systems-level thinking to assess interactions across components and evaluate tradeoffs between performance, durability, reliability, and cost
Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware and software issues during testing
Perform inspections and failure analysis on test units and components
Support root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methods.
Support NPI and CPI programs, including build events, validation activities, and issue resolution
Collaborate with manufacturing and global teams to support product quality and a zero-defect mindset
Document test procedures, results, and conclusions in clear, concise technical reports
Drive continuous improvement through standard work, lessons learned, and best practices in test and validation processes
Manage test activities to ensure delivery on time and within cost targets