Principal Engineer (Nondestructive Testing)

Caterpillar Brazil; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off plan

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Parental leave and tuition assistance

These benefits also apply to part-time

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. Solar Turbines division in San Diego seeks a Principal Engineer specializing in NDT/NDE to support gas compressor production and hydrogen compression initiatives. You will lead development of inspection methods, validate criteria, and collaborate with suppliers and internal teams.

Requires eight years in NDE, strong UT/RT/MPI/FPI/LPI knowledge, and familiarity with ASME/ASTM standards. Onsite role with competitive benefits and strong career development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, or Materials Engineering.
• Minimum of eight years of direct work experience in non‑destructive testing.
• Familiarity with ASTM and ASME NDE standards on UT, RT, MPI, FPI and LPI.

Responsibilities

• Partner with suppliers to develop and implement NDE inspection processes for cast austenitic stainless‑steel housings, including method selection, calibration, acceptance criteria, validation, and documentation.
• Review and enhance NDE processes for low‑carbon steel welds, including acceptance criteria and documentation.
• Evaluate and improve NDE inspection processes across manufacturing plants for cast compressor housings, cast/forged/brazed impellers, stub‑shafts, endcaps, and other critical components.
• Review and update NDE inspection notes on new and legacy engineering drawings to ensure technical necessity, accuracy, and consistency across documentation.
• Work closely with suppliers and Solar’s Supply Chain organization to implement process improvements.
• Review supplier NDE results to accept or reject non‑conforming parts, identify process gaps, and drive corrective actions.

Skills

NDE experience

Ultrasonic Testing

Radiographic Testing

ASME/ASTM NDE standards

Phased Array UT

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Aerospace/Civil/Electrical/Materials

Master’s in Mechanical/Aerospace/Civil/Electrical/Materials

Tools

UT beam‑tool simulation

Computed Tomography (CT)

Ansys

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.

Solar Turbines’ GCE Mechanical and Electrical Analysis (MEA) Group is seeking a Principal Engineer specializing in Non Destructive Testing/Examination (NDT/NDE) to support our current gas compressor production and our strategic expansion into advanced product capabilities, including hydrogen compression.

Job Functions:

• Partner with suppliers to develop and implement NDE inspection processes for cast austenitic stainless‑steel housings, including method selection, calibration, acceptance criteria, validation, and documentation.
• Review and enhance NDE processes for low‑carbon steel welds, including acceptance criteria and documentation.
• Evaluate and improve NDE inspection processes across manufacturing plants for cast compressor housings, cast/forged/brazed impellers, stub‑shafts, endcaps, and other critical components.
• Review and update NDE inspection notes on new and legacy engineering drawings to ensure technical necessity, accuracy, and consistency across documentation.
• Work closely with suppliers and Solar’s Supply Chain organization to implement process improvements.
• Review supplier NDE results to accept or reject non‑conforming parts, identify process gaps, and drive corrective actions.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, or Materials Engineering.
• Minimum of eight years of direct work experience in non‑destructive testing.
• Practical experience with contact and immersion Ultrasonic Testing, Radiographic Testing, MPI, FPI, and LPI.
• Familiarity with UT beam‑tool simulation for scan‑plan design and validation.
• Working knowledge of ASTM and ASME NDE standards on UT, RT, MPI, FPI and LPI.
• Strong theoretical understanding of ultrasonic and radiographic testing.
• Understanding of defect types and failure mechanisms in steels and alloys, including carbon and low‑alloy steels, austenitic and martensitic stainless steels, nickel alloys, etc.

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, or Materials Engineering.
• Four years of direct NDE work experience.
• Deep knowledge of Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing.
• Experience with linear accelerators and computed tomography (CT).
• Familia with steel and alloy manufacturing processes.
• Familia with welding and brazing processes.
• Experience performing stress analysis using Ansys.

Experience performing stress analysis using Ansys Summary Pay Range: $120,600.00 - $180,900.00 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:

• 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:

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.

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. Solar’s customers put the company’s products to work in many areas, including production, processing and pipeline transmission of natural gas and crude oil, and generation of electricity and thermal energy for processing applications, such as manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food products. Solar’s foundation is people and Solar’s culture is one where individual contributions are valued, diversity in the workplace is encouraged, and safety is emphasized in all aspects of the business. Solar Turbines is comprised of a dedicated and multi-talented workforce of more than 9,000 employees with decades of experience working as a global team.