Senior CFD Combustion Engineer

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation; Mossville (IL); On-site; USD 113,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Visa sponsorship

Onsite work five days a week

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Senior CFD Combustion Engineer to join the IPSD-L Thermo-Fluids Team. You will analyze and optimize combustion systems using CFD, mentor peers, and champion best practices to improve simulation efficiency.

The role emphasizes technical delivery and collaboration with design, simulation, test, and platform teams to meet emissions and performance targets.

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in engineering with required CFD experience.
• Expertise in combustion: kinetics, emissions, soot.
• Non-diesel combustion experience preferred.
• Proficient in transient CFD simulations and DOE work.
• Understanding of wall heat transfer in engines.
• Experience with testing or experiments.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication.
• Familiarity with non-reacting CFD tools.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with design, simulation, test, and platform teams on combustion systems.
• Identify and resolve CFD problems, aiming for efficiency.
• Lead iModel projects to close gaps and improve accuracy.
• Mentor internal and external team members.
• Provide concise, accurate technical communications.
• Manage multiple priorities and customer engagements.
• Demonstrate initiative and customer service.

Skills

Sprays interaction

Combustion kinetics

Non-diesel combustion

Transient simulations

DOE methodology

Wall heat transfer

Testing experience

Cross-functional teamwork

OpenFOAM/ANKSYS Fluent

Peer-reviewed papers

Education

Masters in engineering with 5+ years CFD experience

PhD with 2+ years experience

Tools

OpenFOAM

ANSYS Fluent

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 IPSD

Caterpillar’s Industrial Power Systems Division (IPSD) designs, tests and manufactures 0.5 to 18L engines that not only power Caterpillar machines, but also power over 5000 other applications including Marine, Petroleum, Industrial Applications, Electric Generators, and Locomotives. Caterpillar’s company strategy includes sustainability as one of four focus areas and IPSD is engaged and actively preparing green energy solutions for the future.

Job Summary:

The Senior CFD Combustion Engineer on the IPSD-L Thermo-Fluids Team is primarily an individual contributor role. This engineer will be accountable for contributing to the identification, complex analysis, and resolution of problems in combusting Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), for which the incumbent is beginning to build a reputation as an expert.

The major focus of the job is on technical delivery. In this role you will collaborate with design, simulation, test, and platform teams to analyze and optimize combustion systems. The engineer in this role will also champion existing simulation best practices and new tools/processes to continuously improve simulation efficiency. Finally, this engineer will provide mentoring and indirect leadership to internal and external team members.

What You Will Do:

• Partners with component and platform design teams to evaluate and optimize the combustion systems to meet customer and emissions requirements.
• Ensure timely and quality boundary conditions for downstream analysis including Head & Block FEA and Piston simulations.
• Leverage technical expertise and engine system understanding to troubleshoot issues through combusting CFD simulation.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of combusting CFD simulation best practices, which includes leading iModel projects to close critical gaps, improving accuracy and reducing throughput time.
• Communicate technical information in a concise and accurate manner.
• Manage multiple priorities and multiple customers at the same time.
• Demonstrate initiative and customer service.

Degree Requirement

Masters in engineering with at least 5 years of industrial combusting CFD analysis experience, or PhD with a minimum of 2 years experience.

Expertise Requirements:

• Direct injection sprays and spray-wall interaction
• Combustion: including kinetics, emissions and soot
• Non-diesel combustion
• Transient simulations (i.e. pulsed flow engine simulations, cycle-to-cycle variations, etc)
• DOE methodology and execution; optimizing combustion performance
• Combustion wall heat transfer
• Testing or experimental experience
• Cross-functional teamwork; providing recommendations to design and test engineers
• Non-reacting CFD and tools (e.g. OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, etc)
• Significant peer reviewed papers in leading journals

What You Will Have:

Accuracy and Attention to Detail

Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.

• Evaluates and makes contributions to best practices.
• Processes large quantities of detailed information with high levels of accuracy.
• Productively balances speed and accuracy.
• Implements a variety of cross-checking approaches and mechanisms.
• Demonstrates expertise in quality assurance tools, techniques, and standards.
• Employ techniques for motivating employees to meet or exceed accuracy goals.

Analytical Thinking

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.

• Seeks discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; explains variances.
• Organizes and prioritizes the sequence of steps to be taken to remedy the situation.
• Identifies many possible causes of a problem based on prior experience and current research.
• Quantifies the costs, benefits, risks and chances for success before recommending a course of action.
• Approaches a complex problem by breaking it down into its component parts.
• Chooses among a diverse set of analytical tools according to the nature of the situation.

Effective Communications

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.

• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and use it for own communication effectiveness.
• Make oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
• Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
• Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Problem Solving

Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

• Ensures capture of lessons to be learned from a problem-solving effort.
• Organizes potential problem solvers and leads problem resolution efforts.
• Uses varying problem-solving approaches and techniques as appropriate.
• Contributes to standard practices for problem-solving approaches, tools, and processes.
• Analyzes and synthesizes information and devises alternative resolution strategies.
• Develops successful resolutions to critical or wide-impact problems.

Technical Excellence

Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

• Provides effective technical solutions to routine functional challenges via sound technical competence, effectively examining implications of events and issues.
• Effectively performs the technical job aspects, continuously building knowledge and keeping up-to-date on technical and procedural job components.
• Applies technical operating and project standards based on achieving excellence in delivered products, technologies and services.
• Applies current procedures and technologies to help resolve technical issues in one's general area of technical competence.
• Helps others solve technical or procedural problems or issues.

Additional Information:

• This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Technical Center in Mossville, IL.
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
• This position will require up to 10% travel.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

Summary Pay Range:

$112,710.00 - $169,060.00

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 available for eligible applicants.

Posting Dates:

October 8, 2026 - October 21, 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.