Engineering Rotational Development Materials

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.

This pipeline posting is currently limited to candidates who have completed a Caterpillar Students & Graduates assignment (e.g., internship, co‑op, student trainee) within the previous 24 months.

Are you ready to apply your engineering education to real‑world challenges? Caterpillar's Engineering Rotational Development Program (ERDP) – Materials Track is designed for entry‑level Materials Engineering professionals. Through rotational assignments, you will continue developing your skills and knowledge – helping you achieve your career goals while contributing to Caterpillar's mission of delivering exceptional products, services, and technologies to our customers.

As part of the ERDP – Materials track, you will join the Advanced Materials Technology organization and rotate through three 12‑month assignments located primarily in the midwestern United States. You will work on meaningful projects and connect with mentors supporting the global enterprise with a focus on building technical abilities. Here are just a few paths you might explore:

• Ferrous Metallurgy : deepen your understanding of wrought steels and ferrous castings through hands‑on assignments in the foundry, traveling to our extensive supply base, or using advanced equipment in a lab setting
• Failure Analysis : tackle urgent issues impacting our customers by developing your metallography, fractography, and microscopy skills under the guidance and mentoring of veteran experts
• Quality Engineering : work in a Caterpillar factory environment where you will learn to apply materials engineering inspection methods and problem‑solving techniques to deliver our products to customers at the quality level they expect
• Heat Treat Engineering : gain hands‑on experience with heat treat production operations, including recipe development, quality control, efficiency improvements, and capital projects
• Product Development : provide materials engineering support to design engineers developing our next generation of products while you develop a broader knowledge of Caterpillar's applications and markets

• Analytical skills, initiating ideas, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, problem‑solving, and critical thinking capabilities
• Knowledge of engineering principles, theory, and engineering experience gained through projects, internships, and/or relevant work experience
• Fundamental understanding of engineering for a manufacturing environment and the ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that safely realize a desired objective or invention
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and quickly acquire and apply new skills and knowledge
• Collaborate with others of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, and abilities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Participate in and build on our inclusive, constructive, and productive work environment
• Ensure all team members' contributions are recognized and valued

• Must have an ABET‑accredited Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Engineering discipline (e.g., Metallurgical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, etc.); a Mechanical Engineering degree with a minor in Materials Engineering may be considered (selected candidates must obtain their degree before they start)
• Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 or higher (no rounding)
• Candidates with prior professional work experience must have 12 months or less of such experience, excluding…