Principal NPI Mechanical Design Engineer

Solar Turbines; 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

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Tuition Reimbursement

Parental leave

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in San Diego seeks a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead advanced turbomachinery projects within a small, high‑performing development team responsible for new product introduction.

You will apply advanced mechanical engineering principles, provide technical leadership across the product lifecycle, and collaborate with Field Service, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and other teams to drive reliable, manufacturable solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in mechanical design of complex engineered products.
• Experience with turbomachinery, rotating equipment, gas turbine systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of detailed mechanical designs for new products.
• Create and review 3D models, drawings, and BOMs.
• Apply advanced design principles to turbomachinery systems.
• Collaborate with Field Service, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to resolve issues.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship across teams.

Skills

3D modeling

Ansys SpaceClaim

Creo

Engineering drawings

BOM development

Manufacturing knowledge

Mentoring

Technical leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Windchill

Linked Data

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

Position Overview

As a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, you will serve as a key technical contributor within a small, high-performing development team responsible for new product introduction (NPI).

You will be expected to apply advanced mechanical engineering principles to evaluate complex problems, develop practical and innovative solutions, and provide technical leadership throughout the product development lifecycle. The successful candidate will work with a high degree of independence and will frequently collaborate with Field Service, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business Development, and other engineering organizations to resolve challenging technical issues and drive product improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and development teams to translate customer, business, and product requirements into actionable engineering solutions.
• Lead the development of creative concepts and detailed mechanical designs supporting new products, technology development efforts, and platform enhancements.
• Develop, review, and maintain detailed 3D models, engineering drawings, Bills of Material (BOMs), and associated product documentation.
• Apply advanced mechanical design principles to the development and integration of complex turbomachinery systems and components.
• Work closely with Field Service Representatives, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and Business Development teams to identify root causes of technical challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Lead evaluation of technical tradeoffs and design alternatives related to safety, performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, serviceability, and risk.
• Support the development and review of mechanical installation drawings and system integration documentation.
• Utilize engineering analysis tools, including FEA when appropriate, to support design decisions and resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful execution of development programs.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers across multiple experience levels.
• Serve as a technical resource within the organization, helping establish engineering best practices and sharing lessons learned across projects.
• Exercise significant independent judgment in determining technical approaches and resolving highly complex engineering challenges.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience in mechanical design and development of complex engineered products.
• Extensive experience with turbomachinery, rotating equipment, gas turbine systems, or related industrial equipment.
• Strong proficiency in 3D modeling (Ansys Space Claim, Creo), engineering drawings, BOM development (Windchill, Linked Data), and configuration management.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, product development, and design for manufacturability principles.
• Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems and provide technical leadership across functional boundaries.
• Experience mentoring engineers and contributing to the development of organizational technical capability.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Top Candidates will also have:

• Graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Experience developing and reviewing mechanical installation drawings
• Working knowledge of engineering analysis methods, including finite element analysis (FEA), with the ability to interpret and apply results to support design decisions.

Summary Pay Range:

$120,600.00 - $180,900.00

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.