Design Engineer - Skid Steer Loaders

Caterpillar Brazil; Sanford (NC); On-site; USD 98,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Design Engineer in Sanford, NC to contribute to the CUL Chassis team for new product introductions and continuous improvement.

You will design chassis components and hydraulic line routing, balancing packaging, manufacturability, serviceability, and cost while coordinating with partners to resolve issues and prepare for production readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an accredited engineering curriculum.
• Strong analytical thinking and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across NPI/CPI/releases.
• Experience with light fabrication or hydraulic line routing is a plus.
• Experience with CPI tools/processes.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to CUL Chassis designs and support NPI and CPI activities.
• Design chassis components and hydraulic lines balancing packaging and cost.
• Coordinate with cross-functional partners to resolve design and production issues.
• Participate in hands-on machine fit-ups, prototype builds, design reviews, and production readiness.
• Create and release engineering documentation (models, drawings, specs, test plans).

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Effective Communication

Managing Priorities

Technical Excellence

CAD/CAE Tools

Product Design

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering curriculum

Tools

CAD/CAE tools

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.

Caterpillar’s BCP division is hiring for Design Engineer in Sanford, NC!

Role Summary

As an Engineer within Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products division, you will contribute to the Compact Utility Loader (CUL) Chassis team in support of new product introduction (NPI), continuous product improvement (CPI) activities. This role supports the design and release of chassis system components that balance packaging, manufacturability, serviceability, durability, cost, and adjacent system requirements.

What You’ll Do (Job Duties)

• Contribute to CUL Chassis system designs by applying engineering judgment to component design, issue resolution, validation, and production-support activities.
• Support CUL Chassis NPI and CPI activities through design, validation planning, engineering release, issue resolution, and production readiness work.
• Design chassis components and hydraulic line routing solutions—including light fabrications, brackets, guards, and non-metallic tanks—that balance packaging, installation feasibility, serviceability, manufacturability, cost, tolerance requirements, and adjacent system needs.
• Support resolution of design, quality, supplier, production, warranty, and field issues by coordinating analysis, corrective actions, and implementation plans with cross-functional partners.
• Participate in hands‑on machine fit-ups, prototype builds, design reviews, and production readiness activities while incorporating operator, customer, dealer, and field feedback into product improvements.
• Create and release engineering documentation, including models, drawings, specifications, test plans, and engineering change records, in collaboration with manufacturing, suppliers, purchasing, quality, service, and product teams.

Degree Requirement

Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering curriculum.

What You Have (Core Skills)

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to evaluate product, production, supplier, and field issues using data, root cause methods, and engineering judgment to define practical corrective actions.
• Effective Communications: Ability to clearly communicate technical information, design tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations to engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, quality, service, and product stakeholders.
• Managing Multiple Priorities: Ability to manage concurrent NPI, CPI, release, validation, and production-support activities while balancing urgency, quality, cost, and schedule.
• Technical Excellence: Ability to develop robust chassis component and hydraulic line routing solutions that balance packaging, manufacturability, serviceability, durability, cost, and adjacent system needs.
• Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Ability to create, analyze, and release 3D models, drawings, specifications, and engineering changes using CAD/CAE tools and sound design practices.
• Product Design and Development: Ability to support mechanical component design from concept through production, including fit-up, validation, engineering release, and continuous product improvement.
• Top Candidates Will Also Have Design engineering experience with demonstrated ownership of component design, technical issue resolution, engineering release, and cross-functional production support.
• Experience with light fabrication, non-metallic tank, bracket, guard, or hydraulic lines routing design.
• Experience using CPI tools and processes to evaluate product issues, identify root cause, prioritize improvements, and support corrective action plans.

Additional Details

Work location: Sanford, NC

Domestic relocation assistance IS available for this role Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this role.

Travel: Up to 10% domestic and international

This position requires 5 days per week in the office (M-F)

Summary Pay Range: $97,530.00 - $146,290.00 Compensation 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.

Relocation is available for this position. Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates: September 17, 2026 - October 2, 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.

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.