Sr Principal Engineer - Mechanical Design

Career Area:EngineeringJob 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.Nature and Scope: The incumbent will be part of the Gas Turbine Product Engineering Group (GTPE) and will be responsible for providing technical input to a multi-disciplined engineering team engaged in R&E programs focused on the Taurus 70 and Titan 250 Gas Turbines. The programs involve all aspects from market understanding through concept development, detail design, release of options and variances, first article build and field trials. The position is expected to utilize lean engineering and focus on quality, product problem resolution, lifecycle cost, product performance, durability, serviceability, maintainability, and time to market. This position will interface closely with the other groups within GTPE, Technology & NPI, Turbomachinery Operations, Global supply chain, Marketing, Solutions. Platforms. Engineered., Project Application Engineering, Test Engineering, Overhaul build and test, and Customer Services. Direct interface with external customers will be occasionally required.Role DefinitionDesigns, develops, builds, and implements new components, products, or technologies in a self directed manner. Technical expertise with ability to lead projects and mentor others.Responsibilities• Leads new designs and teams resolving manufacturing or operational issues, for complex components and systems. Responsibility for design acceptance, manufacturing producibility, and validation. Develop project scope to address business challenges and opportunities.• Guiding the evolution of new technologies and process improvements to achieve greater efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement.• Define and implement engineering procedures to make the product or process more reliable, efficient and cost-effective. Understanding functional requirements and translating into detail design documents.• Leading collaboration with all functional areas to provide a design solution that meets the requirements of the enterprise partners and customers.• Requires a degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum.Degree RequirementDegree requiredSkill DescriptorsAnalytical 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.Level Extensive Experience: • 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 for a problem based on prior experience and current research.• 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.• Quantifies the costs, benefits, risks, and chances for success before recommending a course of action.Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.Level Extensive Experience: • Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks.• Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process.• Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact.• Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives.• Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus.• Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.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.Level Extensive Experience: • Clarifies and handles multiple concurrent and diverse activities.• Shifts focus among several efforts as required by changing priorities.• Addresses potential conflicts that impact current delivery commitments.• Works with or leads others to re-prioritize work and reschedule commitments as necessary.• Responds to shifting priorities while maintaining progress of regularly scheduled work.• Demonstrates an expectation that there will be ongoing shifts in demands and priorities.Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.Level Working Knowledge: • 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.Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.Level Working Knowledge: • Provides input for Gantt or PERT charts or their equivalent to track project progress and status.• Under guidance, plans and estimates simple projects.• Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.• Obtains information from stakeholders during the planning stage of a project.• Produces standard project status reports.Design Engineering: Knowledge of designing and engineering products and systems; ability to use principles of mathematics, science, and engineering to develop, analyze, and improve product or system specifications, functionality, and performance.Level Extensive Experience: • Develops detailed engineering designs and specifications.• Evaluates and selects materials, equipment, and suppliers.• Conducts feasibility studies and cost analyses to determine project feasibility.• Designs and develops prototypes and tests to validate design concepts.• Analyzes and interprets test data to identify design flaws and recommend improvements.• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure design meets project requirements and timelines.Product Testing: 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.Level Extensive Experience: • Coordinates execution of test plans, including resources, strategy, schedules, processes and tools.• Collaborates with design team to ensure testing considerations are incorporated into system design.• Recommends tools and techniques for automating, simplifying and enhancing product testing.• Compares and contrasts alternative testing methodologies and tools.• Matches testing methodology and tools to product being tested; develops test scenarios and scripts.• Estimates time, effort and resources required for thorough testing.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.Level Extensive Experience: • Develops organizational standards and processes in order to maximize complex product services' efficiency and effectiveness.• Creates and introduces new techniques that expedite or simplify the development process.• Supervises the management of multiple and diverse types of products or services.• Develops proof-of-concept exercises to prove or disprove validity of proposed products.• Advises on the appropriate solutions to complex product design and development problems.• Designs working prototypes of a variety of proposed products or services.Summary Pay Range:$128,470.00 - $192,710.00Compensation 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 benefitsLife InsuranceParental leaveAdoption benefitsTuition Reimbursement* These benefits also apply to part-time employeesThis position requires working onsite five days a week.Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.Posting Dates:October 22, 2026 - November 12, 2026Any 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.Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.SummaryLocation: San Diego, CaliforniaType: Full time