2027 Summer Corporate Intern - Business Operations

Caterpillar Inc.; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accrued PTO

Paid Holidays

Paid Volunteer Day

Housing Stipend

Relocation Assistance

Medical coverage

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is offering a Business Operations internship for students and graduates. The program provides real-world experience across marketing, analytics, and sales with rotational assignments and direct exposure to dealer networks and product strategy.

Interns will develop core competencies in communications, project management, and customer-focused problem solving while contributing to Caterpillar’s digital and customer-facing initiatives.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled full time at a 4-year University/College in Business, Sales, Engineering, or related degree at the time of application and throughout the program.
• Must have completed 12 credit hours prior to the start of the program.
• Minimum 2.8/4.0 cumulative GPA, no rounding.
• Must be able to relocate to internship location for the duration of the internship and commute reliably.

Responsibilities

• Build foundational knowledge of Caterpillar, its products, services and customers.
• Grow personally and professionally through soft skills development and hands-on technical training.
• Collaborate with experts in product development, dealer management, marketing, and sales.
• Work in various rotational assignments throughout Caterpillar, learning strategy, services and products.
• Ultimately, manage assigned territory and serve as a connection between dealers and Caterpillar.

Skills

Project Management

Relationship Management

Negotiation and Persuasion

Customer Focus

Presentation skills

Education

Pursuing Bachelor's degree (4-year University) in Business, Sales, Engineering or related

Job description

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.

Career Area

Students and Graduates

Job Description

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 Summary

Caterpillar offers a unique opportunity within our Business Operations organization to allow students to gain a wealth of real-world practical experience and establish core competencies. Business Operations professionals across the enterprise help our dealers and customers succeed in their business through the promotion and selling of products and services, including market research and advertising to the industries we serve. Business Operations Interns help define and deliver premium and consistent online experiences that generate leads, sales, and customer loyalty by accelerating transformational innovation and aggressively developing and growing Caterpillar’s customer-facing digital business and services, revenue, and profit. Business, Marketing, Analytics, Communications degrees or similar preferred.

Specialties within Business Operations include but are not limited to:

• Channel Development
• Account Management
• Equipment & Services Sales Management
• Sales Learning
• Site Application Performance & Technology
• Business Development/ Strategy
• Sales, Operations & Support
• Commercialization

Additional Info

• This is a full- time (40 hours per week) 12-week internship May 17, 2027 – August 6, 2027 (subject to change based on selected candidates schedule).
• Locations for this internship could be Peoria, IL; Cary, NC; Houston, TX; Seguin, TX; Irving, TX; Tucson, AZ or other locations throughout the US

What You Will Do

• Build foundational knowledge of Caterpillar, its products, services and customers.
• Grow personally and professionally through soft skills development and hands‑on technical training.
• Collaborate with experts in product development, dealer management, marketing, and sales, etc.
• Work in various rotational assignments throughout Caterpillar, learning strategy, services and products
• Ultimately, manage assigned territory and serve as a connection between dealers and Caterpillar.

What You Have

Customer Focus: Knowledge of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and ability to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions.

Level Basic Understanding

• Focuses activities on developing and maintaining positive customer relationships.
• Discusses general differences between internally and externally focused organizations.
• Cites the cost and benefits of good versus poor customer service.
• Explains why customer satisfaction is important to successful product/service delivery.

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 behaviors.

Level Basic Understanding

• Describes non-verbal behaviors that influence the interpretation of the message.
• Cites examples of effective and ineffective communications.
• Explains the importance of effective business communication.
• Speaks/writes using correct language, mechanics, and gestures.

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 Basic Understanding

• Explains the value of a disciplined approach to problem solving.
• Describes problem reporting and escalation practices.
• Utilizes accepted procedures for problem analysis and resolution.
• Identifies key aspects of problem‑solving techniques used in own area.

Relationship Management

Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.

Level Basic Understanding

• Provides examples of the characteristics of effective business relationships.
• Identifies key business relationships in own organization.
• Describes the nature of a productive business relationship.
• Explains the benefits of building business partnerships.

Program Qualifications

• Must be enrolled full time at a 4-year University/College in Business, Sales, Engineering, or related degree at the time of application and throughout the program
• Must have completed 12 credit hours prior to the start of the program
• Minimum 2.8/4.0 cumulative GPA, no rounding
• Must be able to relocate to internship location for the duration of the internship and complete daily commute using reliable transportation

Top Candidates Will Also Have

• Previous experience/demonstrated abilities in:
• Project Management
• Relationship Management and Optimization
• Negotiation and Persuasion
• Customer Focus
• Strong initiative, communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Highly organized
• Previous experience/level of proficiency within the following areas:
• Construction Equipment
• Mining Equipment
• Diesel Equipment
• Natural Gas Engines
• On-Highway Trucks

Summary Pay Range

$22.50 - $40.25

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

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

August 28, 2026 - November 13, 2026

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

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.