Test & Validation Engineer - Building Construction Products

Location: Clayton

Career Area:

Engineering

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.

Role Summary Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Machine Test & Development (T&D) Engineer to join the Building Construction Products (BCP) Product Development–West Test Team in Clayton, North Carolina. This is a hands-on engineering role, with approximately 50–60% of your time spent in shops and test fields. You will work with advanced technologies across multiple product lines, machine systems, components, and software, helping bring machines from initial concept through delivery to customers.

As a member of the BCP PD–West Test Team, you will partner with technicians, operators, design engineers, and validation engineers to execute New Product Introduction (NPI) and Continuous Product Improvement (CPI) programs across our Clayton Machine Development Center (CMDC) and Sanford Machine Development Center (SMDC) test sites. You will support the testing and development of current and future BCP products, including loaders, excavators, telehandlers, tractors, and work  this role, you will deliver high-quality, hands-on testing that develops machine designs and concepts and validates performance, safety, quality, reliability, and customer requirements.

You will own the full test cycle—from planning and preparation through safe execution, data analysis, and clear, actionable recommendations. Success in this role requires proactive client communication, flexibility as priorities shift, timely and well-organized documentation, and consistent data practices.

What You Will Do Partner with design and validation engineers during pre-test planning to define objectives, methods, deliverables, roles, and acceptance criteria.

Build practical test plans that address schedule, machine readiness, instrumentation and data collection, applications, operations, risks, and support needs.

Apply standard test procedures, improve existing methods, and document new methods as needed.

Coordinate with support teams to prepare test machines, instrumentation, test fields, facilities, and support equipment.

Safely conduct tests, evaluations, and development activities on prototype and production machines in shop and field environments, including machine operation, instrumentation installation and verification, and use of basic hand tools.

Verify data quality during testing, troubleshoot issues quickly, and document any changes to test scope, channels, run lists, or methods.

Analyze time-series and frequency data using industry-standard and proprietary software to develop clear conclusions and actionable product recommendations.

Keep internal clients informed throughout planning, execution, analysis, and report-out, escalating risks, failures, delays, or unmet objectives early.

Deliver clear, accurate, and timely test reports, completing documentation before moving on to new assignments whenever practical.

Maintain consistent data naming, file organization, archiving, and traceability so results can be easily reused and analyzed.

Share lessons learned and collaborate across CMDC and SMDC to standardize best practices.

Lead or support continuous improvement efforts that strengthen safety, quality, client value, efficiency, capability, and consistency across the BCP PD–West Test Team.

What You Will Have

Education:

Bachelo…