2027 Engineering Corporate Internship Program Materials

Caterpillar Brazil; Northern (KY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing Stipend

Relocation Assistance

Medical coverage

Paid Holidays

PTO & Volunteer Day

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is offering a Corporate Engineering Intern program for four-year university students. Interns will learn by working alongside engineering professionals, with assignments across multiple engineering disciplines and opportunities to present findings to management.

The 12-week, full-time internship includes hands-on technical work in areas like metallurgy, failure analysis, quality engineering, heat treat and product development, with relocation and housing support as applicable.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited degree in materials engineering or related field.
• Minimum completed coursework and coursework readiness for internship.
• Strong foundation in materials, manufacturing or metallurgical principles.

Responsibilities

• Support ferrous metallurgy and materials engineering projects in foundry and lab.
• Assist failure analysis, metallography and microscopy activities.
• Contribute to quality engineering and heat treat activities.
• Support product development and cross-functional teams during internships.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Strong communication

Teamwork

Education

ABET-accredited Materials Engineering degree

Mechanical Engineering degree with Materials minor

24 semester hours completed

Tools

Metallurgy lab equipment

Job description

Career Area: Students and Graduates 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.

About the Role

Caterpillar's Corporate Engineering Intern program seeks students currently enrolled in a four-year university to work alongside engineering professionals to learn and apply themselves to project work within their teams. Interns will have assignments that provide them with experience and significant learning opportunities. In addition to this work, Interns can network with management throughout the company to learn about Caterpillar areas outside their assigned team. Students can deepen their business skills in their assignments through team and business partner interactions, develop their skills, conduct presentations, and measure their success through the performance and evaluation process.

What You Will Do

The internship is a 40-hour-per-week assignment lasting 12 weeks. You can focus on building technical abilities in roles including (but not limited to):

• 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 levels 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.

What You Have – Skills and Experiences

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, ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that safely realize a desired objective or invention, Organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ability to quickly gain and effectively apply new skills & knowledge, Success in collaborating 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.

Internship Program Qualifications

• Must be enrolled full-time in a 4-year university/college pursuing an ABET accredited degree in a Materials Engineering discipline (e.g. Metallurgical Eng, Ceramic Eng, Materials Science, etc.) at the time of application and throughout the program.
• A Mechanical Engineering degree with a minor in Materials Engineering may be considered.
• Must have completed at least 24 semester hours from current institution before the start of the internship.
• If a transfer student, must have 12 semester hours completed at a 4-year university.
• Must have a minimum 3.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average (no rounding) at time of application from current institution* *Current 1st year/1st semester students at current institution may utilize high school, college/community college, or trade school transcripts to meet a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average at time of graduation.
• Must maintain 3.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average (no rounding) prior to start of internship.
• Must be able to relocate to Peoria, IL area or an indicated work location for the duration of the internship and complete daily work commute using reliable transportation.

Top Candidates May Also Have

• Previous technical internship, co-op, or research/relevant experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Additional Information

Applicants will be considered for positions throughout the United States. Most positions are based in Mossville, Illinois, with limited availability in other United States’ locations. Sponsorship is NOT available for this position. This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Why Choose Caterpillar?

We're a values-driven company where you'll feel your work matters—whether you're optimizing machine performance, writing embedded code, or designing the next innovation in clean energy. You'll gain access to top-tier mentorship, technical resources, and real ownership of your work from day one.

Summary Pay Range

Pay Range: $25.00 - $43.00

Intern Hourly Rate

An intern's hourly rate is based on the major/degree being pursued and the number of completed academic hours achieved before the start of the internship.

Intern Benefits

• Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Volunteer Day
• Housing Stipend
• Relocation Assistance
• Medical coverage
• Voluntary benefits

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

Posting Dates: August 17, 2026 - December 30, 2026

Offer Conditions

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

Company Culture

There's more to work at Caterpillar than just the work itself. We hire smart, friendly people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work. We make sure our employees feel continuously challenged while also supported. We provide professional growth opportunities, including leadership programs. We celebrate the diversity of our team, while also working together as one Caterpillar. Our culture, like everything at our company, is made possible by each employee’s contribution. Person by person, we create the environment we work in, and we are proud of the Caterpillar we've built.