Consulting Engineer - Turbine Blade Mechanical Design

Caterpillar; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation available

Job summary

Caterpillar/Solar Turbines in San Diego seeks a Consulting Engineer for turbine blade mechanical design. You will lead cross-functional teams across design, aero, heat transfer and materials, shaping blade concepts and ensuring producibility and cost targets are met.

You will perform structural analyses, coordinate with investment casting suppliers, and guide testing through validation phases, while advancing new materials and coatings for harsh operating environments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of directly applicable mechanical design experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or closely related engineering field.
• Experience with design and analysis of internally cooled airfoil components for gas turbine engines.
• Experience with investment cast, single-crystal, nickel-based superalloys, thermal barrier coatings, and harsh environment treatments.
• Knowledge of blade life prediction methods and component durability limitations and failure mechanisms.
• Expert level application of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience with CAD modeling.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and mentoring airfoil component designers.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional team members through the design process.
• Develop blade design iterations in collaboration with turbine aero, heat transfer and product definition.
• Perform preliminary structural and modal analysis.
• Gather producibility and cost feedback from investment casting suppliers from concept through validation phases.
• Identify and develop new materials, coatings, and technologies with M&P engineering.
• Chair peer and formal design reviews to enable tooling and hardware release.
• Provide supplier support and disposition hardware during manufacturing.
• Monitor hardware during product validation and early production testing.

Skills

Mechanical design experience

GD&T expertise

Team leadership

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CREO

NX

CAD modeling

Job description

## Consulting Engineer - Turbine Blade Mechanical DesignApply: San Diego, California: Full time: Posted Today: R0000402059**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. Solar Turbines is looking for an experienced turbine blade mechanical design engineer to support development of new engine products within the New Product Introduction (NPI) organization. A suitable candidate will have demonstrated the ability to satisfy programmatic goals through a balanced approach to design, one which effectively meets technical requirements while maintaining focus on design for producibility and cost. **What you will do:** This Consulting Engineer will work directly with and lead cross-functional team members throughout the design process. Blade design iterations are developed by this candidate, in collaboration with turbine aero, heat transfer and product definition (responsible for formalized models and drawings). They will establish and correct design direction by performing preliminary structural and modal analysis. They will gather producibility and cost feedback from investment casting suppliers from concept through validation phases. A successful candidate will also work closely with materials & processes (M&P) engineering to identify and develop new materials, coatings, and technologies to enable operation within the harsh conditions seen by this hardware. They will be well versed in industry-wide best practices for this category of hardware design. This Consulting Engineer will chair both peer and formalized design reviews, to enable release of tooling and hardware definition. They will be a trusted technical source, that guides their teams and the business through design decisions and strategies. Throughout the design process, they will identify opportunities to gain efficiencies via new or modified methods and design tools. As parts are being manufactured, they will provide supplier support, and disposition hardware to allow receipt. In the product validation phase, they will monitor hardware condition during development and early production testing, to validate the design is meeting intent. **Minimum Qualifications:** -10+ years of directly applicable Mechanical Design work experience - Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or closely related Engineering degree - Direct Experience with design and analysis of internally cooled airfoil components for gas turbine engines - Direct Experience working investment cast, single-crystal, nickel-based superalloys, thermal barrier coatings, and harsh environment treatments - Working knowledge of blade life prediction methods and typical component durability limitations and failure mechanisms -Expert level application of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) -Experience with CAD modeling -Experience leading cross-functional teams and providing mentorship to developing airfoil component designers **Preferred Qualifications** 15+ years relevant mechanical design work experience Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering Expert level CAD modeling using CREO or NX, including parametric design and advanced surfacing methods -Strong demonstrated understanding of heat transfer and aerodynamics fundamentals Relocation is available for this position.### ### **Summary Pay Range:**$147,760.00 - $221,640.00Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.**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### ### This position requires working onsite five days a week.### Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.**Posting Dates:**October 27, 2026 - November 10, 2026Any 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.Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.### About Us*Powering the future through innovative, sustainable energy solutions.*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 39 megawatts. More than 16,000 Solar units are operating in more than 100 countries with more than 3 billion operating hours. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, mechanical drive packages, and generator sets.