Senior Associate Engineer

Career Area

Engineering

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.

Hear about the Caterpillar Experience for yourself

As a Drivetrain Gear Design Engineer you will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of your family of gears. This role supports New Product Introduction, Current Product Improvement, New Source Introduction as well as all levels of the cost and quality of your own design controls. You will work with customers, suppliers and internal manufacturing of the components to achieve the highest result of those quality and cost levels.

This role develops component design and manufacturing skills.

• Creating new designs and resolves issues regarding the manufacturing or building sequences. Ensuring design acceptance and manufacturing readiness.

• Participating in the adoption of new technologies and processes (automation, robotics, computer aided manufacturing software, etc.) to achieve greater efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement.

• Planning and improving engineering procedures and operations to make the product or process more reliable, efficient and cost‑effective.

• Collaborating with all functional areas, (marketing, purchasing, manufacturing) to provide a design solution that meets the requirements of the customer and dealer network.

• Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum.

• Information Capture
  :
  Knowledge of the methods, channels and processes to obtain needed information; ability to
  identify, capture and document relevant business information in an auditable, organized, understandable and easily
  retrievable manner.

• Standard Operating Procedures
  :
  Knowledge of established standard operating procedures (SOP); ability to design,
  implement and evaluate standard operating procedures affecting daily and strategic business operations in order to
  increase operational efficiency.

• Analytical Thinking
  :
  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.

• Effective Communications
  :
  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.

• Design for Manufacturability (DFM):
  Knowledge of design for manufacturability guidelines, methodologies, and use
  cases; ability to use this knowledge to optimize product designs and manufacturing operations.

• Engineering - Manufacturing: Knowledge of processes, techniques and methods of engineering in a manufacturing
  environment; ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems and processes that
  safely realize a desired objective or invention.

• Product Testing
  :
  Knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute
  testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.

• Troubleshooting Technical Problems
  :
  Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to
  anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.

• Powertrain Design Experience

• Gear Design Experience

• Gear Manufacturing Experience

• Metallurgy Experience

• This position will close at 11:59 p.m. on 2/24/2026.

• This position will be located onsite 5 days a week in East Peoria, IL (Building KK).

• Domestic relocation is Available

• Visa Sponsorship is NOT Available

• Travel…