Engineering Project Team Leader

Caterpillar Inc.; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 128,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Career Development

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Cylinder Pack Engineering Project Team Leader in Lafayette, IN. You will provide technical leadership for cylinder pack products and systems across the Large Power Systems Division, guiding design, validation, and lifecycle management of engine components.

You will mentor engineers, drive technology roadmaps, and coordinate with global teams and suppliers to deliver alignment from concept through production launch and ongoing support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum.
• Experience with engine system or component design, engine testing, calibration, simulation, or controls development

Responsibilities

• Own cylinder pack design, development, validation, and lifecycle management.
• Lead New Product Introduction, New Source Introduction, New Technology Introduction, and Continuous Product Improvement programs.
• Coordinate with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to ensure project success.
• Act as voice of the team in management and customer meetings.
• Set project strategy, solve problems, and manage product/process requirements.
• Guide boundary conditions, load inputs, and evaluation of results in simulations.

Skills

Cylinder pack design

Engine components design

Technical leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

FMEA/DVP&R knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, CS, or Materials Science

Master’s degree in Engineering

Job description

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.

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

Role Summary

As a Cylinder Pack Engineering Project Team Leader, you will provide technical leadership and strategic direction for cylinder pack products and systems across the Large Power Systems Division. You will lead a team of engineers responsible for the design, development, validation, and lifecycle management of critical engine components, including pistons, rings, and liners, while ensuring alignment with platform, business, and customer objectives.

In this role, you will serve as the primary technical focal point for cylinder pack systems, establishing product strategies, technology roadmaps, and long-term development plans that support diesel, natural gas, and alternative fuel reciprocating engines serving customers around the world. You will provide engineering leadership across multiple programs and platforms, guiding key technical decisions, managing technical risk, and ensuring designs meet performance, durability, manufacturability, quality, and cost objectives.

You will coach, mentor, and develop engineers across varying levels of experience, fostering technical excellence, accountability, and professional growth within the team. You will help engineers strengthen their technical capabilities, expand their understanding of engine systems, and successfully navigate increasingly complex engineering challenges and leadership opportunities.

Working closely with global engineering teams, suppliers, manufacturing facilities, and cross-functional stakeholders, you will drive alignment across product platforms and organizations, ensuring effective execution from concept development through production launch and ongoing product support. You will provide oversight of critical engineering activities, facilitate issue resolution, champion best practices, and ensure the successful delivery of strategic business objectives.

As a recognized technical leader, you will identify emerging technologies, assess future customer and market needs, and shape the direction of cylinder pack products and systems for future engine platforms. You will influence engineering standards, develop organizational capability, and build strong partnerships across Caterpillar’s global engineering and manufacturing organizations to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions.

What You Will Do

• Build expertise as the technical owner for PRL cylinder pack components, leveraging knowledge from current subject matter experts while assuming responsibility for the design, development, validation, and lifecycle management of assigned cylinder pack products.
• Lead a team in the execution of New Product Introduction, New Source Introduction, New Technology Introduction, and Continuous Product Improvement programs
• Communicate results to customers, suppliers, team members, and other business units
• Acts as the voice of the team in meetings with multiple levels of management and with customers.
• Setting project-level strategy and solving problems relating to a technology, component, product, or process.
• Ability to draw upon foundational product development skills such as conceptual design, development of product and/or process, data analysis & extraction, failure resolution & prevention, and requirements management is required
• Skill in technical project management, development of product internal and external requirements management, and cost management.
• Accountable for pulling together a team of individuals across multiple teams to solve technical problems and develop solutions across functional areas
• Gather input from a broad team to formulate decisions and develop the output for the project. Key areas of responsibility are: plan and manage the job/project; manage the business/financial aspects of the job or project; provide a supportive work environment for the team; mentor, coach, and develop others; and manage one’s own development.
• Direct and/or conduct analytical simulation work, providing boundary conditions, load inputs, and evaluation of results.

Education And Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum.
• Experience with engine system or component design, engine testing, calibration, simulation, or controls development

Skills You Will Have

• Products and Services: Extensive knowledge of major products and services and product and service groups; ability to apply knowledge of product and service appropriately to diverse situations.
• Technical Excellence: Extensive knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
• Influencing Through Expertise: Extensive knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to use these to deepen own expertise and impact or challenge decisions within and outside own organization.
• Project Management: Expert level knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.
• Team Management: Extensive knowledge of effective team building techniques; ability to form and manage effective teams.
• Requirements Analysis: Extensive knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
• Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Extensive knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product management environment.
• Product Design and Development: Extensive knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop a new product, technology, or service from concept through to production.

Top Candidates Will Have

• The ability to work on and lead multiple projects simultaneously and make sound priority decisions
• Master’s degree (or higher) in Engineering from an accredited curriculum
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Cylinder pack, engine components design background
• Validation testing definition experience using FMEA and DVP&R methods
• Engine performance and component testing experience
• Engine platform and customer application understanding
• APQP, PPAP and design release experience

Additional Information

• This position is located in Lafayette, IN.
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Final details

For more information, visit caterpillar.com.

Summary Pay Range

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

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 21, 2026 - September 28, 2026

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

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