Design Engineer - Rock Tools

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Job Description:

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Design Engineer – Rock Tools

Role Definition

Designs, develops, validates, and improves Tricone bits & DTH hammer. Responsible for delivering durable, manufacturable, cost-effective solutions that improve drilling performance, wear life, reliability, and customer value. The role combines engineering fundamentals, wear technology, field performance, simulation, and manufacturing knowledge to develop and continuously improve Rock Tools products.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop Tricone bits & DTH hammer and associated Rock Tools components.
• Develop next-generation tricone bit solutions by establishing product KPIs and incorporating relevant advances in Rock Tools design, manufacturing, and technology.
• Lead/support global field trials and Engineer-to-Order (ETO) activities for DTH hammers and bits.
• Translate customer applications, drilling conditions, field performance, and failure information into robust design requirements and product improvements.
• Apply wear mechanisms, engineering fundamentals, GD&T, material selection, and manufacturing-process knowledge to optimize designs.
• Utilize FEA, wear simulation, engineering calculations, and test data to evaluate and optimize product performance.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, specifications, and technical/product documentation.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), Current Product Improvement (CPI), quality, cost reduction, and field issue resolution.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, validation, product support, and commercial teams to deliver manufacturable and cost-effective solutions.
• Work with suppliers to improve design, product performance, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness. Supplier collaboration is also identified as an important Rock Tools responsibility internally.
• Analyze field failures and performance trends to identify root causes and recommend corrective design actions.
• Drive innovation by challenging existing designs and identifying opportunities to improve drilling performance, durability, wear life, and cost.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of product design/development experience preferred.
• Experience in Rock Tools, drilling products, mining equipment, wear components, or similar heavy-duty products preferred.
• Demonstrated experience taking engineering designs from concept through validation and implementation.

Desired Technical Competencies

• Working knowledge of tribology, metallurgy, wear mechanisms, material selection, and heat treatment.
• Basic understanding of Rock Tools manufacturing processes, with willingness to develop deeper product and process knowledge.
• Experience with Creo, Teamcenter, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and engineering drawings.
• Exposure to FEA, wear simulation, engineering calculations, and design optimization.
• Understanding of drilling applications, rock-tool interaction, and basic failure analysis.
• Ability to interpret analysis and simulation results and apply them to product design improvements.
• Good analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

  Skill Descriptors

Analytical Thinking & AI Utilization

Ability to analyze complex engineering problems using data, simulations, field performance information, and structured problem-solving techniques. Applies analytical and AI-enabled tools to identify root causes, evaluate alternatives, quantify risks, and make informed design decisions that improve durability, reliability, and customer value. 

Technical Excellence & Innovation

Applies engineering expertise in undercarriage systems, wear technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes to solve technical challenges. Continuously develops technical knowledge, drives innovation, challenges conventional solutions, and contributes to product performance, reliability, and cost improvements. 

Computer-Aided Design & Engineering

Ability to utilize Creo, Teamcenter, FEA, durability analysis, and simulation tools to develop, analyze, validate, and optimize product designs. Applies digital engineering methods to improve design quality, reduce development risk, and accelerate product development.

Product Design & Development

Ability to design, develop, validate, and implement undercarriage products from concept through production. Supports NPI, CPI, quality improvement, and cost reduction initiatives while delivering solutions that improve performance, wear life, reliability, and customer value.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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