Sr. Engineer Electrical & Harness Design

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.

Caterpillar’s Electrification & Energy Solutions (E+ES) Division will focus on delivering advanced electrified power trains, zero-emissions products/technologies, and the solutions and services associated with these technologies. Focus areas include batteries, fuel cells, motors, inverters, micro grid controllers, charging, energy storage systems, lifecycle solutions/services, and integration of components for ePowertrain solutions across industries.  
 
We are looking for top talent to build and scale the next generation of technologies, products and services to help our customers build a better—more sustainable—world. We need self-motivated, intelligent and team-oriented individuals to make our plans a reality. Individuals with high emotional intelligence, humility and openness to discovery will thrive in the teams we are building.

Job Summary

The Senior Engineer – Electrical & Harness Design will serve as the technical owner for electrical harness systems and cabinet-level electrical integration for Caterpillar's Modular Power Conversion System (MPCS) product portfolio. This position is responsible for design control and continuous improvement of low-voltage and high-voltage harnessing systems, electrical schematics, wiring architecture, and electrical component integration.

The successful candidate will work closely with system architects, power electronics, controls, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, validation, sourcing, and suppliers to deliver robust, manufacturable, and serviceable electrical designs that meet product performance, quality, reliability, and compliance objectives. The role also supports next-generation MPCS platform development and new product introduction activities.

Additional Info:

• Anticipated domestic travel and/or international travel less than 25%
• Sponsorship is not offered for this position
• Domestic relocation is offered
• This position is located in Mossville, IL
• We’re back! All roles at Caterpillar Inc. report on-site 5 days per week

What you will do:

Key Responsibilities

Electrical Harness Design Control (Primary Responsibility)

• Own design control of MPCS electrical harness architecture and interconnect systems.
• Develop and maintain harness drawings, wiring diagrams, electrical schematics, and interface documentation.
• Define cable sizing, routing, shielding, grounding, and termination requirements.
• Select connectors, terminals, wire types, and protection devices appropriate for application environments.
• Establish electrical interface definitions between cabinet subsystems and external equipment.
• Manage engineering releases, design changes, ECNs, and ECRs related to harness and electrical system designs.
• Support global manufacturing and service organizations with harness-related issue resolution.

MPCS Cabinet Electrical Design

• Support overall MPCS cabinet electrical architecture and integration.
• Develop and review cabinet-level power distribution, protection, control, communication, and auxiliary electrical designs.
• Ensure proper implementation of grounding, bonding, shielding, and EMC/EMI mitigation practices.
• Collaborate with power electronics, controls, and mechanical teams to optimize electrical layout and component integration.
• Support electrical safety reviews and compliance requirements for global markets.

Component Integration & System Engineering

• Support selection and integration of electrical components including:
  • Circuit protection devices
  • Contactors and relays
  • Communication devices
  • Ethernet switches and gateways
  • Sensors and auxiliary electronics
• Develop electrical interface specifications and system-level requirements.
• Support DFMEA, PFMEA, risk assessments, and design reviews.
• Ensure consistency across product configurations and future platform derivatives.

Prototype Development & Validation

• Support prototype builds, laboratory integration, and commissioning activities.
• Perform troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of wiring, connectivity, communication, and electrical integration issues.
• Work hands-on with electrical test equipment to validate design intent.
• Develop and execute validation plans for harness and electrical subsystem verification.
• Support field issue investigation and corrective action implementation.

Supplier & Manufacturing Collaboration

• Work closely with suppliers on harness development, manufacturing readiness, quality improvement, and cost optimization.
• Review supplier designs, drawings, and production documentation.
• Support first article reviews, PPAP activities, and production launch readiness.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) improvements.
• Support contract manufacturers and production facilities with electrical design-related issues.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and global engineering teams.
• Lead design reviews and technical problem-solving activities.
• Drive continuous improvement of electrical design standards, harnessing practices, and engineering processes.
• Contribute to MPCS Gen2 and future power conversion product roadmaps.

What you have:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5–8 years of electrical engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience in electrical harness design, schematic development, and system integration.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Harness design and routing practices
  • Connector systems and interconnect design
  • Electrical power and control systems
  • Grounding, bonding, and shielding principles
• Experience supporting prototype development and production introduction.
• Strong problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Skill Descriptors

Analytical Thinking: Extensive 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.

• Seeks discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; explains variances.

• Organizes and prioritizes the sequence of steps to be taken to remedy the situation.

• Identifies many possible causes for a problem based on prior experience and current research.

• Quantifies the costs, benefits, risks and chances for success before recommending a course of action.

• Approaches a complex problem by breaking it down into its component parts.

• Chooses among a diverse set of analytical tools according to the nature of the situation.

Effective Communications: Extensive 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.

• Reviews others' writing or presentations and provides feedback and coaching.

• Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience.

• Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position.

• Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.

• Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.

• Maintains focus on the topic at hand.

Managing Multiple Priorities: Extensive knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple

concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time

allocation.

• Clarifies and handles multiple concurrent and diverse activities.

• Shifts focus among several efforts as required by changing priorities.

• Addresses potential conflicts that impact current delivery commitments.

• Works with or leads others to re-prioritize work and reschedule commitments as necessary.

• Responds to shifting priorities while maintaining progress of regularly scheduled work.

• Demonstrates an expectation that there will be ongoing shifts in demands and priorities.

Caterpillar: Confidential Green

Technical Excellence: Extensive knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and

provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

• Advises others on the assessment and provision of all technical solutions.

• Engages appropriate subject matter resources to effectively resolve technical issues.

• Mentors others to enhance their technical competence and its application to achieve more effective

technical solutions.

• Coaches others in promoting, defining, analyzing, and providing superior technical solutions to business

problems.

• Provides effective solutions to moderate technical challenges through strong technical competence,

effectively examining implications of events and issues.

• Assumes accountability for personal technical performance and holds others responsible for theirs.

Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Extensive knowledge of tools and techniques of specialized graphics programs; ability

to produce, analyze, simulate and test product design drafts.

• Coaches others on orthographic, isometric and axonometric projections.

• Presents complex products and systems graphically.

• Performs manipulations on design objects, such as changing projections and managing drawing layers.

• Directs the matrix computations performed to transform objects in coordinate space.

• Consults on benefits and drawbacks of top-down design vs. bottom-up design.

• Compares and contrasts uses of bird's-eye views and worm's-eye views.

Product Design - MFG: Extensive knowledge of processes, approaches, tools and techniques of product design; ability to

convert customer and market requirements into product design.

• Develops improvement plans for senior management and evaluates the outcome of the design against the

functionality.

• Advises others on the development of multiple products and their functionality.

• Trains others on advanced tools and approaches of product design.

• Monitors the processes and procedures of a complex product design to ensure functional requirements are

met.

• Evaluates feedback from customers and consults on functional weaknesses.

• Controls design and development costs of a proposed product through effective resource coordination.

Product Design and Development: Extensive knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop a new

product, technology, or service from concept through to production.

• Develops organizational standards and processes in order to maximize complex product services' efficiency

and effectiveness.

• Creates and introduces new techniques that expedite or simplify the development process.

• Supervises the management of multiple and diverse types of products or services.

• Develops proof-of-concept exercises to prove or disprove validity of proposed products.

• Advises on the appropriate solutions to complex product design and development problems.

• Designs working prototypes of a variety of proposed products or services.

Top Candidates Will Have

• Experience with power conversion systems, UPS systems, BESS inverters, switchgear, or industrial equipment.
• Experience with EPLAN, AutoCAD Electrical, Creo, or equivalent design tools.
• Knowledge of UL, IEC, IEEE, and industrial electrical standards.
• Experience with EMC/EMI design practices.
• Knowledge of CAN, Ethernet, Modbus, and industrial communication networks.
• Experience supporting contract manufacturers and global engineering teams.
• Experience with FMEA, APQP, DFM, and new product introduction processes.

Desired Competencies

• Technical leadership
• Electrical systems integration
• Design control and configuration management
• Product development and validation
• Supplier management
• Root cause analysis
• Effective communication and collaboration
• Continuous improvement mindset

This position will be posted until 11:59PM CDT on July 3,2026.

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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