Senior Design Engineer - Drivetrain Structural & Cast Components

Caterpillar Inc.; East Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 113,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

PTO

401(k) savings plans

HSA/FSAs

Tuition Reimbursement

Incentive bonus

Parental leave

Career Development

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria, IL, seeks a design engineer for IDES to develop drivetrain components from concept to production and support supplier collaboration. You will perform DFMEAs, APQP, and PPAPs while assessing production part quality and guiding resolution of issues.

Requires 5+ years of relevant experience, Creo proficiency, and a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Manufacturing engineering. Domestic relocation is available and travel is <10%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Agricultural, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering is required.
• 5+ years of job-related work experience.
• Analytical thinking and effective communications skills.
• Experience with DFMEAs, APQP, PPAPs is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Creating new designs that meet all technical and business requirements.
• Completing Design FMEAs and Technical Reviews to establish risk and validation plans.
• Coordinating analysis activities to evaluate new designs.
• Working with suppliers and purchasing teams when sourcing parts to a supplier.
• Provide technical assessment and guidance to resolve production part quality issues.
• Assess if part nonconformances are acceptable for use.
• Provide engineering support to local assembly facility.
• Participate in APQP activities.

Skills

Creo modeling

DFMEA/APQP/PPAP

Casting/Forged design

Analytical thinking

Effective communications

Managing multiple priorities

Technical excellence

Product design - manufacturing

Product design and development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Agricultural/Manufacturing/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Creo

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.

Hear About The Caterpillar Experience For Yourself

Role Definition

Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions (IDES) division designs drivetrain systems and components used across Caterpillar machines and OEM applications. The Structures, Castings, and Forgings team designs many of the parts used within those components. Those parts include axle housings, spindles, planet carriers, cases, clutch and brake components, amongst many others. The team is also a centralized resource for designing and validating components that are exposed to ground induced structural loads. Our team provides design leadership through the entire lifecycle of the part, from concept to production implementation to production maintenance and supporting our end customers.

What You Will Do

• Creating new designs that meet all technical and business requirements.
• Completing Design FMEAs and Technical Reviews to establish risk and corresponding validation plans.
• Completing and/or coordinating analysis activities to evaluate new designs.
• Working with suppliers and purchasing teams when sourcing parts to a supplier.
• Provide technical assessment and guidance to resolve production part quality issues.
• Assess if part nonconformances are acceptable for use.
• Provide engineering support to local assembly facility.
• Participate in APQP activities.

Degree Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Agricultural, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering is required.

What You Must Have (skills)

• 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.
• 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.
• Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
• Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
• Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Knowledge of tools and techniques of specialized graphics programs; ability to produce, analyze, simulate and test product design drafts.
• Product Design - Manufacturing: Knowledge of processes, approaches, tools and techniques of product design; ability to convert customer and market requirements into product design.
• Product Design and Development: Knowledge of product features; ability to design, build, and develop a new product, technology, or service from concept through to production.

Top Candidates will also have

• 5+ years of job-related work experience
• Proficient in Creo modeling and stress analysis.
• Experience designing cast and/or forged components.
• Demonstrate use of DFMEAs, APQP, and PPAPs.

Additional Information

• This position will close at 11:59 p.m. on 09/25/2026.
• This position will be located onsite 5 days a week in East Peoria, IL (Building KK).
• Domestic relocation is available
• VISA Sponsorship is NOT Available
• Travel requirements will be less than 10%.

Final details

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

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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

• 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

September 10, 2026 - September 25, 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.