Design Engineer

Caterpillar•Peoria, IL

13d•$97,530 - $146,290•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. Job Summary: The Small & Medium Tractor Undercarriage Engineering team is seeking a Design Engineer to support undercarriage components for Small and Medium Tractor product lines. The team has design control responsibility for undercarriage components, including rollers, idlers, track groups, link assemblies, and segments. This role is primarily focused on product design of rollers, idlers and segments – considering the performance, manufacturability, quality, and cost of the undercarriage system. The Design Engineer will collaborate closely with manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain, validation and simulation partners to deliver robust designs while meeting program timeline and cost objectives.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in an accredited engineering or engineering technology curriculum.
Product Design and Development : Applies Creo Parametric to design and validate components for durability and compliance with Caterpillar standards. Leads proof-of-concept development integrating feedback from DFMEA and Design Reviews . Solves design challenges by reviewing Tolerance Stack-up Analysis . Ensures product quality through integration of Six Sigma methodologies and Design Verification Plans (DVP&R) .
Product Design - MFG: Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including procurement, production, and quality assurance, to align design objectives with manufacturing capabilities using APQP methodology
Technical Excellence: Collaborates with cross-functional SMEs for design validation and issue resolution, ensuring alignment with Caterpillar’s engineering standards. Assume accountability for personal technical performance.
Effective Communication: Creates technical documents and presentations for varied audiences. Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a decision. A self‑starter mindset with strong accountability, quality focus, customer orientation, and teamwork skills. Communicate well downward, upward, and outward. Employ appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.

Nice To Haves

Experience using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools such as Creo Simulate .
Masters degree in engineering, business or related field.
Experience in lab or field validation.
Undercarriage product knowledge, or dozer machine knowledge.
Knowledge of casting, forging, and heat treatment processes.
Experience supporting NPI and CPI programs.
Proven ability to collaborate with suppliers to optimize designs for manufacturability and quality.
Experience with Caterpillar Engineering Systems (Creo, Teamcenter, HVC, EDS, etc.).

Responsibilities

Develop design concepts and drawings of complex structural systems that meet functional and technical requirements, cost and weight goals, quality initiatives, and manufacturing process requirements.
Support validation activities such as lab tests and field trials.
Lead component NPI, CPI and APQP activities.
Collaborate with external suppliers and internal manufacturing facilities, engineering partners, and the machine Product Group.