Associate Mechanical Engineer

Caterpillar Inc.; Mossville (IL); On-site; USD 81,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid time off

Health Savings Account

FSAs

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Mossville, Illinois, is seeking an Associate Mechanical Engineer to validate products and processes in our IDES division.

You will pre-test, run lab tests, analyze data, and communicate results to teams and suppliers while contributing to new drivetrain and brake system development. This onsite role demands strong analytical, manufacturing, and troubleshooting skills, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and experience in test environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required.
• Experience in lab testing and data collection.
• Strong communication and technical presentation skills.
• Experience with PLC controls and MATLAB.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Pre-test preparation, inspection, and instrumentation of components to collect data.
• Lab test development and execution for new products, processes or systems.
• Analyze test data and maintain databases.
• Document and communicate test results to customers, suppliers, and teams.
• Contribute to design, development, and validation of drivetrain, brakes, and controls.
• Support NTI, NPI, CPI teams and CPPD activities.
• Maintain test equipment and procedures; develop SOPs.

Skills

Information Capture

SOP

Analytical Thinking

Effective Communications

DFM

Engineering - Manufacturing

Product Testing

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

PLC controls

DATK

MATLAB

CAN interface tools

Spreadsheets & analytics

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

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.

Hear About The Caterpillar Experience For Yourself

Role Definition

Caterpillar's Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions Division (IDES) is seeking an Associate Mechanical Engineer who validates products and processes for our Power Control Components - Driveline, Friction, Clutch, and Brake Systems organization. We are looking for a dynamic, organized self-starter to join our component and systems development laboratory in Mossville, Illinois to support validating and accelerate introduction of new designs, technologies, processes, and virtual product development methods.

What You Will Do

• Pre-test preparation, inspection, and instrumentation of components to collect desired data
• Lab test development and execution to evaluate new products, processes, or systems
• Analysis of test data and database maintenance
• Document and communicate test results and recommendations to customers, suppliers, team members, and other business units
• Contribute to the design, development, and validation of new Drivetrain transmissions, brakes, and controls systems
• Support New Technology Introduction (NTI), New Product Introduction (NPI), Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) teams
• Perform test equipment and procedure maintenance activities
• Contribute to matters regarding Concurrent Product and Process Development (CPPD) and Rapid Root Cause and Corrective Actions
• Contribute to enhancing product quality and manufacturing efficiency by collaborating with internal and external suppliers and other business units
• Develop standard operating procedures and safe job procedures to support laboratory test development and execution

Degree Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering curriculum, preferably Mechanical Engineering.

Skills You Must Have

• Information Capture: Knowledge of the methods, channels and processes to obtain needed information; ability to identify, capture and document relevant business information in an auditable, organized, understandable and easily retrievable manner.
• Standard Operating Procedures: Knowledge of established standard operating procedures (SOP); ability to design, implement and evaluate standard operating procedures affecting daily and strategic business operations in order to increase operational efficiency.
• 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.
• 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.
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Knowledge of design for manufacturability guidelines, methodologies, and use cases; ability to use this knowledge to optimize product designs and manufacturing operations.
• Engineering - Manufacturing: Knowledge of processes, techniques and methods of engineering in a manufacturing environment; ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems and processes that safely realize a desired objective or invention.
• Product Testing: Knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.
• Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.

Top candidates will have

• Prior test and product development experience
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, complemented by the ability to develop and deliver technical presentations
• Ability to collect and efficiently organize detailed information
• Strong computer and data analysis skills
• Test, data collection, and analysis capabilities using PLC controls, DATK, Matlab, CAN interface tools, spreadsheet & analytics tools.
• Transmission or brake design or development experience
• Understanding of Caterpillar engineering drawings
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Debugging and maintaining test and instrumentation equipment
• Inspection and measurement system capability
• Advanced Failure Analysis understanding
• Design for Experiment understanding
• Project planning and costing
• High personal and professional ethics- Must be a self-starter that requires minimal supervision, anticipates issues, and takes appropriate action.
• The ability to work or lead multiple projects simultaneously and to make sound priority decisions

Additional Information

• This position will close at 11:59 p.m. on 10/19/2026.
• This position will be located onsite 5 days a week in Mossville, IL (Technical Center - Building E) to support laboratory testing and project reviews
• Relocation assistance is NOT available for this position
• Sponsorship is NOT available
• This position may require less than 10% travel

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Summary Pay Range

$81,370.00 - $122,060.00

Benefits

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
• 401(k) savings plans*
• Health Savings Account (HSA)*
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
• Health Lifestyle Programs*
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
• Career Development*
• Incentive bonus*
• Disability benefits
• Life Insurance
• Parental leave
• Adoption benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement
• These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates

October 12, 2026 - October 19, 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.