Engine Design Architect

Caterpillar; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Up to 12% Bonus

Contributory pension scheme - Caterp.

Contributory share scheme - Caterp. 50

Flexible benefits including health/dan

Job summary

Caterpillar is seeking an Engine Design Architect in Peterborough, UK. The role leads architecture, requirements and analysis work for IPSD engine platforms, coordinating across global teams to develop concepts, layouts and modular designs optimized for cost and delivery.

You will work on NPI/NMI lifecycle activities, manage design briefs, and ensure robust customer alignment while collaborating with cross-functional teams in a on-site setting.

Qualifications

• Degree required or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of mechanical or mechatronics engineering, internal combustion engine technology and complex control systems.
• Resolve complex technical problems and develop creative solutions with design teams.
• Lead, co-ordinate, and deliver architecture, requirements and analysis tasks.

Responsibilities

• Guide evolution of technical design, project planning, and performance analysis.
• Support product team in profiling and delivering new product options with modularity.
• Evaluate new products, technologies, competitors and processes to guide development.
• Be a strong voice of the customer and the product team within engineering to set the vision for engine design.
• Support customers in their engineering programs to integrate our power system solutions.
• Deliver on NPI/NMI process activities including Design Reviews and Production Readiness.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Effective communications

Problem solving

Systems thinking

Engineering knowledge

Education

Degree required or equivalent experience

Job description

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 Title: Engine Design Architect

Salary/Grade: £57,737 + dependent on experience

Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave
• Up to 12% Bonus
• Contributory pension scheme - Caterpillar will double the employee's contribution up to 10%
• Contributory share scheme - Caterpillar will match 50% of the employee's contribution.
• Optional flexible benefits including access to health and dental care plans, EV car lease, holiday purchase.

About IPSD

Caterpillar’s Industrial Power Systems Division (IPSD) designs, tests and manufactures 0.5 to 18L Cat® and Perkins engines that power over 5000 applications including Marine, Petroleum, Industrial Applications, Electric Generators, and Locomotives. Caterpillar’s company strategy includes sustainability as one of four focus areas and IPSD is engaged and actively preparing green energy solutions for the future.

Job Summary

A vacancy has opened for a Mechanical Systems Engine Design Architect supporting current products within the IPSD-M Systems Engineering team.

The successful applicant will hold a significant, high impact, and broad role where they’ll have the responsibility to lead, co-ordinate, and deliver architecture, requirements, & analysis tasks alongside the lead architect. These tasks will be in support of the product lifecycle management cycles (NPI, NMI, NSI and CQM) on existing compact engine models. Whilst working in a global, multi-disciplinary platform team, the successful applicant will combine a deep internal combustion engine, aftertreatment, customer machine and engine integration knowledge to develop engine concepts, layouts, and packages optimised for cost, function, and delivery timing. This will be achieved through clear requirement management and cascade to the design teams and by championing a systems, simulation, and data driven design philosophy.

Successful applicants will have strong communication skills, a thorough understanding of customers’ needs and a good understanding of the needs of the product in maintaining competitiveness and meeting cost targets. Responsibilities of this position require an ability to resolve complex technical problems and the ability to develop creative solutions in collaboration with the concept design and detailed design teams. Technical leadership, project management skills and the ability to foster a highly collaborative and inclusive team culture are essential.

The small and medium engine families include engine models spanning from 1.7 litres swept volume to 7.1 litre swept volume capacity that are calibrated for both highly and lesser regulated emissions territories. The engine family has a global manufacturing footprint (Peterborough – UK, Griffin - US & Wuxi – China) and has support and development teams in each of those locations with further development teams in Chennai in India too.

Additional Info

• In office full time - Office location Peterborough

What You Will Do

• Guide the evolution of the technical design, technical project planning, performance analysis, and development testing through participation in the requirements & risk cascade process and by writing design briefs.
• Support the product team in profiling, managing & delivering new product options and offerings whilst minimising option proliferation and optimising for modularity & compatibility.
• Evaluate new products, technologies, competitors and processes to guide product and process development.
• Be a strong voice of the customer and the product team within engineering to set the vision for engine design to achieve project success criteria.
• Support customers in their engineering programs to integrate our power system solutions into their products
• Deliver on NPI/NMI process activities inc. Design Reviews, Production Readiness Reviews, project planning and Technical Integration Workshops

What You Will Have

Degree Requirement

Degree required or equivalent experience

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.
Level Extensive Experience:

• 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:

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 behaviours.
Level Working Knowledge:

• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviours without offending the recipient.
• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
• Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
• Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
• Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Problem Solving:

Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.
Level Working Knowledge:

• Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
• Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder.
• Develops alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information.
• Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution.
• Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.

Systems Thinking:

Knowledge of the critical interdependencies among individual system elements that help and hinder performance; ability to plan and design solutions that synchronize resources to achieve business results.
Level Working Knowledge:

• Monitors systems after interventions to confirm success and to diagnose new or remaining problems.
• Analyses the dynamics of a system to determine key characteristics, properties, and functions.
• Attributes systemic problems correctly to interpersonal dynamics when appropriate.
• Escalates systemic problems that impede group performance.
• Surfaces problems within systems and searches for root causes.

Engineering and Industrial Power System Technology:

Knowledge of mechanical or mechatronics engineering, internal combustion engine technology and complex control systems.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Explains in detail the operation of an internal combustion engine, particularly compression ignition engines.
• Deep understanding of the engineering principles that govern the performance of a physical powertrain system.
• Identifies the characteristics of powertrain design that influence functional performance, cost and durability.
• Works with data to optimize a system for performance, robustness, or durability.

Planning:

Tactical, Strategic: Knowledge of effective planning techniques and ability to contribute to operational (short term), tactical (1-2 years) and strategic (3-5 years) planning in support of the overall business plan.
Level Working Knowledge:

• Contributes to short-term operational plans.
• Anticipates and adapts to plan changes.
• Monitors progress of work against plan as required to meet objectives.
• Reports variances and makes agreed-upon corrections.

What You Will Get:

You will become an integral part of a diverse and welcoming team, where knowledge sharing is the norm. You will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, travel to supplier facilities, network with global peers, and develop the key engineering and leadership skills to grow your career with us. Caterpillar supports personal and professional development, and encourages involvement in employee resource support groups and STEM community engagement.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

NB. The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined.

Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Posting Dates:

October 27, 2026 - November 9, 2026

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply