Materials Engineer

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.

Job Description Solar Turbines Incorporated, headquartered in San Diego, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Solar manufactures the world’s most widely used family of mid-sized industrial gas turbines, ranging from 1 to 35 megawatts. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, generator sets and mechanical drives.  When you join Solar, 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.  Along with our customers and the communities we work and live in, we are building a better world for tomorrow.

Job Summary We are seeking a highly motivated Materials Engineer to provide technical leadership and engineering support for metallic materials used across gas turbines and gas compressor products. The successful candidate will possess expertise in the selection, qualification, processing, performance evaluation, and failure analysis of ferrous alloys, including stainless steels, precipitation-hardened stainless steels, and carbon/low-alloy steels used in demanding industrial environments.

This role will support the full product lifecycle, from new product development and supplier qualification to field issue resolution and continuous product improvement. The engineer will work closely with design engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement, suppliers, and service teams to ensure material reliability, performance, and compliance.

Principal Accountabilities:

Provide materials engineering support for gas turbine and gas compressor components, including rotating and stationary hardware.

Evaluate, select, and qualify metallic materials such as:

SS410 and related martensitic stainless steels
17-4 PH and other precipitation-hardened stainless steels

Carbon steels and low-alloy steels

Other ferrous alloys used in turbo machinery applications

Develop material specifications, technical requirements, and qualification plans.

Support component design teams through material selection and mechanical property assessments.

Investigate material-related failures using metallographic, mechanical, chemical, and fractographic analysis techniques.

Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities for manufacturing, supplier, and field issues.

Assess material performance under:

Elevated temperatures

High-pressure environments

Corrosion and erosion conditions

Cyclic loading and fatigue

Wear and surface degradation mechanisms

Collaborate with suppliers and laboratories on material development, testing, and process qualification programs.

Review and approve material certifications, manufacturing processes, heat treatments, welding procedures, and inspection requirements.

Support repair development and life assessment activities for critical turbo machinery components.

Generate technical reports and present findings to engineering leadership, customers, and cross-functional teams.

Monitor industry trends, standards, and emerging material technologies relevant to turbo machinery…