Global Lead: Heavy Structures Design & Validation

Limitless Decatur; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 148,000 - 222,000; 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

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, IL, is seeking a Senior Design Engineering Specialist to lead global structural design efforts for heavy structures.

You will guide weldment design, FEA, and durability validation, while mentoring engineers across programs to ensure safety, quality, and manufacturability of Large Wheel Loaders, Articulated Trucks, and more. This onsite role requires expertise in DFx, product development processes (APQP/CPPD/FMEA/DVP&R), and collaboration with manufacturing,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and guidance on complex structural fabrication design challenges, supporting new product introductions (NPI), continuous product improvement (CPI), and field issue resolution activities.
• Coach, mentor, and develop engineers through technical reviews, design guidance, and problem-solving support.
• Develop and review structural designs utilizing Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and durability best practices.
• Provide expertise in weldment design, castings, fabricated structures, and structural load paths.
• Guide finite element analysis (FEA), structural simulation, durability assessments, and physical validation activities.
• Interpret analysis and test results and provide recommendations that improve durability, quality, cost, and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, purchasing, suppliers, and platform teams to optimize structural designs and production processes.
• Support APQP, CPPD, FMEA, DVP&R, and other product development activities throughout the product lifecycle.
• Drive technical excellence, standardization, lessons learned, and best practices across the Load & Haul Heavy Structures community.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Troubleshooting

Communications

Decision Making

CAD/CAE

Manufacturing Lifecycle

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CREO

ANSYS

Abaqus

Nastran

HyperWorks

Job description

Caterpillar Inc. in Decatur, IL, is seeking a Senior Design Engineering Specialist to lead global structural design efforts for heavy structures.

You will guide weldment design, FEA, and durability validation, while mentoring engineers across programs to ensure safety, quality, and manufacturability of Large Wheel Loaders, Articulated Trucks, and more. This onsite role requires expertise in DFx, product development processes (APQP/CPPD/FMEA/DVP&R), and collaboration with manufacturing,