Mechanical Design Engineer

Career Area:

Job Description:

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.

About the Electric Power Division

Caterpillar's Electric Power Division (EPD) offers integrated solutions, parts, and services to meet the needs of our various commercial and industrial electric power customers. EPD supports a wide range of customer applications across the globe, including providing back-up power to hospitals, providing emergency power when natural disasters strike, and supporting critical infrastructure for data centers, municipalities, and more.

With a rich history of more than 95 years in the electric power business, our team has world-class expertise and a proven ability to adapt to changing demands. We’re committed to providing sustainable and reliable solutions to our customers. Join our team to help build a better, more sustainable world for future generations!

Role Definition

Electric Power Division currently has an opening for a Mechanical Design Engineer in the Global Gas Solutions Packaging team.  This position will support the design of the mechanical Balance of Plant and enclosure components for natural gas genset solutions.  A strong focus will be on CHP and Standby enclosures.  All designs need to be modular and designed for manufacturing, so that they can be sourced either in-house or at the third-party packagers.  Special design flexibility needs to be in place to quickly optimize the design to meet customer or site requirements once an order is placed to support custom orders. Enclosure solution designs will integrate mechanical components and distribution into the packages, serving different customer applications.

The incumbent will facilitate the concept and the detailed engineering design for various aspects of the standard enclosed genset solutions, overseeing the releasing to Cat engineering systems, helping resource components and assemblies, leading or participating in the design reviews, participating in the VDRA’s to ensure manufacturability of the engineering designs in support of new product development (NPI) as well as engineering maintenance (custom orders) in a manner to ensure the products provide superior performance, best cost, durability, quality, and serviceability. The incumbent will facilitate or support the validation testing. 

This position requires effective collaboration with internal partners, external suppliers, operations, supply chain, commercial team, and third-party packagers to deliver robust designs globally and to drive cost reduction and quality improvements.

Additional Info:

• This position is based in Lafayette, IN and will be in-office 5 days per week
• Travel up to 20%
• Relocation assistance is available for this position
• Sponsorship is not available for this position

What You Will Do:

• Accountable for concept and design of mechanical components and subsystems for the standard packaged enclosed solutions, processing engineering drawings and data in line with company procedures and Cat engineering systems, monitoring prints releasing to Cat systems on time
• Support design reviews, virtual design reviews, sourcing parts from suppliers, and validation testing
• Create drawings for customized standard solutions
• Perform quality checks on enclosure packaging solutions and drive issue resolution with a sense of urgency
• Release pricing arrangements for the pricelist options
• Release parts in alignment with CVA’s to support total life cycle cost calculations before a sale is executed
• Provide technical support to the technical sales support team and to the global production facilities through internal operations partners or third-party packagers
• Identify and implement cost reduction opportunities
• Communicate technical information effectively with team members and others in the work group, suppliers, dealers/customers and other departments in a concise and accurate manner
• Provide presentations for Dealer Advisory Team (DAT) meetings and support training needs for internal and external groups

• Complete projects on time and on cost

Degree required

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aeronautical engineering

What You Have:

• Proficient with Cat Engineering systems including Creo, Teamcenter, and product quality systems and reporting
• Demonstrated proficiency in releasing prints in eSAP and EDS
• Previous supplier collaboration experience
• Previous experience of working in a design/development/problem solving environment
• Effective communications skills with the ability to communicate technical information effectively with team members and dealers/customers
• Demonstrated proficiency with processing invoices for engineering work and parts through NEXTGen and Prove Design. 
• Experience with supporting Cat dealers
• A self-starter demonstrating a strong work ethic and good initiative
• Proficient using Visio and documenting Process flow maps. 

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.

• Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance.
• Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions.
• Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns.
• Identifies the major forces, events and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand.
• Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of the data and arrive at conclusions.

Effective Communications: Working knowledge and understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
• Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
• Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
• Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.
 

Product Design and Development: Working knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop a new product, technology, or service from concept through to production.

• Builds three-dimensional models with basic materials.
• Communicates with professionals to understand various requirements of product design.
• Tests and evaluates alternative means of production being considered for use.
• Uses automated tools to design or modify the design of a product.
• Assists in building a complex prototype of product.

Top Candidates will also have:

• Customer facing experience through engineering, sales, and support functions.  Being able to work within AISTO XT and CSQ.  
• Good communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills
• NPI program Experience
• Experience leading NPI, CPI and cost reduction projects with proven results.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and break down roadblocks to meet program objectives

This position will be posted until 11:59PM CDT on June 10, 2026

Summary Pay Range:

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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