Materials Engineer

Solar Turbines Incorporated; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plans

Paid time off

Job summary

The Caterpillar Inc. Materials & Process Engineering team seeks a seasoned coatings engineer to lead development and qualification of protective coatings for gas turbine components, with emphasis on hot-section and environmental barrier systems.

You will drive cross-functional collaboration with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Customer Services to resolve issues, introduce new coating technologies, and sustain product reliability in demanding turbine environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Metallurgy, Ceramic Engineering or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of related industry experience
• Fundamental knowledge of high‑temperature materials and surface engineering for turbomachinery applications.
• Experience working in a cross‑functional engineering environment supporting manufacturing and product engineering.
• Knowledgeable in the use and application of engineering analysis techniques.
• Effective written and oral communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead development, optimization, and qualification of systems for gas turbine components, including airfoils, combustor hardware, shrouds, and structural parts.
• Define coating architectures, process windows, and acceptance criteria based on service environment, component design, and life requirements.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) programs by selecting and qualifying coatings that meet performance, cost, and schedule targets.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing operations for coating process control, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Lead supplier qualification and oversight for internal and external coating sources, including audits, capability assessments, and corrective actions.
• Evaluate and introduce new coating processes, equipment, and repair technologies in collaboration with Operations and Supply Chain.
• Support product problem resolution (PPR) activities through coating‑related failure analysis, root cause assessment, and corrective action definition.
• Analyze coating degradation mechanisms such as oxidation, hot corrosion, erosion, spallation, and thermal fatigue.
• Provide coatings expertise for repair, overhaul, and remanufacturing development programs.
• Own and maintain engineering specifications, material standards, and process documentation related to turbine coatings.
• Ensure compliance with internal quality systems and applicable industry standards.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders and leadership.

Skills

High-temperature materials

Surface engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Engineering analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science/Engineering

Master’s degree or PhD in Materials Science or related field

Job description

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.

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. Along with our customers and the communities we work and live in, we are building a better world for tomorrow.

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 35 megawatts. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, generator sets and mechanical drives. When you join Solar, 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. Along with our customers and the communities we work and live in, we are building a better world for tomorrow.

Job Summary

This position, in the Materials & Process Engineering department, provides a variety of challenging opportunities working on coatings used in gas turbines. The incumbent will be responsible for the development, qualification, implementation, and sustainment of protective coatings used in industrial gas turbine components, with emphasis on hot‑section and environmental barrier systems. This role provides technical leadership across the product lifecycle, from new product introduction through production and field support, ensuring coatings meet performance, durability, and manufacturability requirements in demanding turbine environments. The position is highly cross‑functional, requiring close collaboration with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Customer Services organizations to resolve technical issues, introduce new coating technologies, and support product reliability and durability objectives.

Principal Accountabilities

Principal responsibilities include:

Coatings Development & Qualification

• Lead development, optimization, and qualification of systems for gas turbine components, including airfoils, combustor hardware, shrouds, and structural parts.
• Define coating architectures, process windows, and acceptance criteria based on service environment, component design, and life requirements.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) programs by selecting and qualifying coatings that meet performance, cost, and schedule targets.

Manufacturing & Supplier Support

• Provide technical support to manufacturing operations for coating process control, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Lead supplier qualification and oversight for internal and external coating sources, including audits, capability assessments, and corrective actions.
• Evaluate and introduce new coating processes, equipment, and repair technologies in collaboration with Operations and Supply Chain.

Failure Analysis & Field Support

• Support product problem resolution (PPR) activities through coating‑related failure analysis, root cause assessment, and corrective action definition.
• Analyze coating degradation mechanisms such as oxidation, hot corrosion, erosion, spallation, and thermal fatigue.
• Provide coatings expertise for repair, overhaul, and remanufacturing development programs.

Technical Governance & Documentation

• Own and maintain engineering specifications, material standards, and process documentation related to turbine coatings.
• Ensure compliance with internal quality systems and applicable industry standards.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders and leadership.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Metallurgy, Ceramic Engineering or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of related industry experience
• Fundamental knowledge of high‑temperature materials and surface engineering for turbomachinery applications.
• Experience working in a cross‑functional engineering environment supporting manufacturing and product engineering.
• Knowledgeable in the use and application of engineering analysis techniques.
• Effective written and oral communication skills

Top candidates Have

• Master’s degree or PhD in Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering or related field.
• Ability to concurrently manage projects with varied complexity
• Demonstrated leadership and change management proficiencies.
• Prior experience in operational roles, Lean – Six Sigma, and Agile will be beneficial.
• Hands‑on experience with gas turbine coatings, such as:
  • Thermal barrier coatings (APS, EB‑PVD)
  • MCrAlY and diffusion bond coats
  • Oxidation and corrosion protection systems
• Experience with coating characterization techniques (e.g., microstructural analysis, adhesion testing, thickness measurement).
• Familiarity with supplier qualification process development, and industrial gas turbine environments.
• Experience performing failure analysis of turbomachinery components
• Knowledge of coatings for additive manufacturing processes.

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.

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.