Sr Principal Engineer - Mechanical Design

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.

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 Definition

Designs, 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 Requirement

Degree required

Skill Descriptors

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.

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 technolo