Senior Associate Engineer - Mechanical Design

Caterpillar; Mossville (IL); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; 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

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar is seeking a Mechanical Design Sr. Associate Engineer in Mossville, IL to design, develop and validate inverter products and related mechanical components. The role emphasizes thermal management, manufacturability, and collaboration with electrical, controls, and manufacturing teams.

You will create Creo models and drawings, participate in reviews and testing, and drive improvements in product quality and assembly efficiency.

Qualifications

• This role requires a Mechanical Engineering degree and hands-on experience in design for manufacturability and product testing.
• Experience with gathering and documenting requirements and SOPs to improve process efficiency.
• Ability to design, analyze and validate mechanical systems in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support mechanical designs for inverter products within the division, ensuring performance and manufacturability.
• Create and maintain mechanical models, drawings, and documentation using Creo.
• Support thermal management features such as heat sinks and cooling solutions.
• Collaborate with electrical, controls, manufacturing and suppliers to integrate designs into power electronics.
• Participate in design reviews, testing, and durability evaluations for inverter products.
• Apply mechanical design fundamentals to improve quality, reliability and ease of assembly.

Skills

Information Capture

Standard Operating Procedures

Analytical Thinking

Effective Communications

Design for Manufacturability

Engineering - MFG

Product Testing

Troubleshooting Technical Problems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Creo

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.

About IDES:

Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions (IDES) division will focus on delivering advanced electrified power train, zero-emissions products/technologies, and the solutions and services associated with these technologies. Focus areas include batteries, fuel cells, motors, inverters, micro grid controllers, charging, energy storage systems, lifecycle solutions/services and integration of components for ePowertrain solutions across industries.

We are looking for top talent to build and scale the next generation of technologies, products and services to help our customers build a better—more sustainable—world. We need self-motivated, intelligent and team-oriented individuals to make our plans a reality. Individuals with high emotional intelligence, humility and openness to discovery will thrive in the teams we are building.

Job Summary:

This Mechanical Design Sr. Associate Engineer role is located in Mossville, IL and supports Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions division. The position is mechanically focused and will contribute to the design, development, and validation of inverter products, including mechanical components, assemblies, and thermal management solutions.

What You Will Do:

• Develop and support mechanical designs for inverter products within Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions division, ensuring designs meet performance, durability, and manufacturability requirements.

• Create and maintain mechanical models, drawings, and design documentation using tools such as Creo, with attention to dimensional tolerances and engineering standards.

• Support the design and validation of mechanical components and assemblies, including thermal management features such as heat sinks and related cooling solutions.

• Partner with electrical, controls, manufacturing, and supplier teams to ensure mechanical designs are integrated effectively into power electronics systems.

• Participate in design reviews, testing, and issue resolution activities, including vibration, thermal, and durability evaluations for inverter products.

• Apply mechanical design fundamentals and manufacturing considerations to improve product quality, reliability, efficiency, and ease of assembly.

What You Will Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

• Information Capture: Working knowledge of the methods, channels and processes to obtain needed information; ability to identify, capture and document relevant business information in an auditable, organized, understandable and easily retrievable manner.

• Standard Operating Procedures: Working knowledge of established standard operating procedures (SOP); ability to design, implement and evaluate standard operating procedures affecting daily and strategic business operations in order to increase operational efficiency.

• Analytical Thinking: Working knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.

• Effective Communications: Working knowledge and understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Working knowledge of design for manufacturability guidelines, methodologies, and use cases; ability to use this knowledge to optimize product designs and manufacturing operations.

• Engineering - MFG: Working knowledge of processes, techniques and methods of engineering in a manufacturing environment; ability to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems and processes that safely realize a desired objective or invention.

• Product Testing: Working knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.

• Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Working knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.

What Will Set You Apart:

• Experience within assembly or manufacturing

• Experience with heat transfer

Additional Information:

• This position is located in Mossville, IL and requires 5-day a week on-site availability

• This position offers domestic relocation

• This position does not offer visa sponsorship

• Travel is expected up to 20% of the time

Summary Pay Range:

$89,210.00 - $133,810.00

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:

October 20, 2026 - November 3, 2026

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.