Senior Design Engineer Mechanical / Electrical

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.

Senior Design Engineer – Mechanical / Electrical

Load & Haul Products | Caterpillar Resource Industries

Location: Decatur, IL - Mossville, IL (AC) (In office 5 days a week)

Travel: Up to 10%

Relocation Assistance: Available

Visa Sponsorship: Not Offered

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. You will have the opportunity to join the Load and Haul Electrical Installation team, responsible for mechanically integrating electrical solutions across Large Wheel Loaders, Compactors, Wheel Tractor Scrapers, Underground Vehicles, and Articulated Trucks.

About the Role

As a Senior Design Engineer, you will lead electrical installation projects with a strong mechanical focus, ensuring electrical systems are effectively packaged, protected, and integrated within complex application environments. You’ll work across the full product lifecycle—from early concept through production—collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical system, manufacturing, and supplier teams.

This role is ideal for Mechanical Engineers with experience in vehicle systems, structures, packaging, routing, and integration, as well as Electrical Engineers who enjoy working at the intersection of both disciplines.

Why This Role Stands Out

• End-to-end ownership: Influence design decisions from concept through validation and production, including mechanical packaging and electrical integration tradeoffs.

• True cross-functional collaboration: Work alongside mechanical design, electrical systems, manufacturing, suppliers, and purchasing to optimize performance, quality, durability, and cost.

• Complex product systems: Apply your engineering expertise to large, highly integrated off-highway machines operating in demanding environments.

• Growth & impact: Strengthen leadership skills while delivering high-value solutions to customers across diverse applications and platforms.

What You Will Do

• Lead the mechanical design and integration of electrical systems within complex vehicle platforms, ensuring robust routing, protection, and packaging.

• Design and develop components, brackets, harness routing paths, enclosures, and installation schemes that balance electrical performance with mechanical durability.

• Own cost, quality, validation, and schedule for assigned projects.

• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure manufacturability, serviceability, and lifecycle efficiency.

• Partner with manufacturing teams to address assembly feasibility, tolerance stack-up, and installation repeatability.

• Assist supply specialists and buyers with supplier development and performance improvement.

• Drive collaboration across product development, value chain, manufacturing, commercial, and product support organizations.

• Research and develop new technologies related to vehicle integration, packaging, thermal considerations, and durability.

• Develop and document functional and installation design requirements, including mechanical constraints and environmental considerations.

• Lead and participate in design reviews, ensuring conformance to electrical and mechanical design standards and best practices.

• Organize, coordinate, and execute prototype builds, testing, and analysis, including fit, form, function, and durability assessments.

Top Candidates Will Have

• Experience with Large Wheel Loaders, Wheel Tractor Scrapers, heavy equipment, or mining applications.

• Background in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or integrated systems design.

• Hands-on experience with vehicle systems integration, including routing, packaging, structural interfaces, and installation design.

• Experience working within an SDP / gated development process and influencing outcomes through technical expertise.

• Proven ability to lead multiple engineering projects from concept through production in a cross-functional environment.

Degree Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related accredited engineering discipline.

What Skills You Will Bring

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to identify root causes and develop effective technical solutions across electrical and mechanical domains.

• Effective Communication: Capability to clearly convey technical concepts across disciplines and organizational levels.

• Managing Multiple Priorities: Proven ability to manage concurrent projects and make effective tradeoff decisions.

• Technical Excellence: Strong understanding of mechanical and/or electrical systems and how they interact within complex products.

• Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Extensive experience with Creo, Vis View, and Teamcenter.

• Product Design for Manufacturing: Knowledge of manufacturing processes, installation methods, and design-for-assembly principles.

• Product Design & Development: Ability to design, develop, and deliver integrated systems from concept through production.

Why Mechanical Engineers Should Apply

This role is not limited to pure electrical designs. Success depends heavily on mechanical aptitude—how electrical content survives, fits, routes, mounts, and performs within large, high-duty-cycle machines. Mechanical Engineers with experience in vehicle integration, structures, packaging, and durability will thrive here.

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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