Performance/Simulation/Application Engineer

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.

Join us!

Job Summary:

The Performance/Simulation/Application Engineer will play a key role in developing and launching e-Powertrain systems for our Large Mining Truck products, including diesel electric, battery electric and dynamic energy transfer trucks. This individual will be involved in multiple NPI programs that are going to production in the next 3 years. There will be multiple senior team leads and an engineering fellow involved with your project work. This is an exciting opportunity to make an impact and accelerate your engineering career!

What you will do:

Solve challenging engineering problems involving products, systems, and components using advanced simulation techniques and analysis.

Additional Information:

•This position is located in Mossville, IL.

•Domestic travel up to 10% & minimal international travel is required.

•Domestic relocation assistance is offered for this position.

•Visa sponsorship is NOT offered for this position.

•This position is 5 days on-site.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with customers and leadership to scope and execute projects that meet the needs of the business

• Accountable for delivering timely, high-quality simulation and analysis impacting products/processes and providing clear recommendations to stakeholders

• Partner with design, manufacturing, supply chain and test to robustly deliver new products and improve validation processes

• Keep up-to-date on new technologies and drive continuous improvement to established techniques

•Lead the development and integration of system-level electrified powertrain architectures, controls, and performance strategies for large mining truck applications.

•Define and optimize electrified powertrain control strategies to balance machine performance, energy efficiency, thermal management, reliability, and customer productivity requirements.

•Develop and evaluate system efficiency improvement initiatives across electric drive systems, supporting both current production programs and next-generation machine platforms.

•Create and maintain engineering tools, performance models, and analytical frameworks that enable data-driven design decisions and support cross-functional product development activities.

•Establish system and subsystem requirements for electrification technologies, including high-voltage architectures, power electronics, electrical systems, thermal management, and regulatory compliance considerations.

•Lead the planning, execution, and analysis of validation and verification activities to ensure system performance, reliability, and product readiness.

•Collaborate with global engineering teams to coordinate simulation, modeling, controls development, and testing activities, reducing development risk and ensuring successful system integration.

•Drive the development and implementation of high-voltage safety strategies, standards, and solutions that enhance machine availability while maintaining safe operating and service environments.

•Lead commissioning, integration, troubleshooting, and performance optimization efforts for electrified vehicle and powertrain test platforms.

•Partner with cross-functional teams including controls, software, power electronics, validation, product engineering, and manufacturing to deliver integrated electrification solutions.

•Facilitate technical reviews, evaluate design alternatives, and provide recommendations that support key product development decisions throughout the program lifecycle.

•Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers while fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and engineering excellence across project teams.

What you will have:

- Experience developing, integrating, or validating complex electrical, electronic, mechanical, or powertrain systems.
- Experience using simulation and analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink or similar engineering software.
- Knowledge of system requirements development, system integration, and engineering validation processes.
- Experience working on cross-functional engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot technical issues and drive data-based engineering decisions.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines.

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

Level Working Knowledge:

• Accurately gauges the impact and cost of errors, omissions, and oversights.

• Utilizes specific approaches and tools for checking and cross-checking outputs.

• Processes limited amounts of detailed information with good accuracy.

• Learns from mistakes and applies lessons learned.

• Develops and uses checklists to ensure that information goes out error-free.

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 Working Knowledge:

• Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance.

• Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions.

• Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns.

• Identifies the major forces, events and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand.

• Uses logic and intuition to make inferences about the meaning of the data and arrive at conclusions.

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.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.

• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.

• Makes 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.