Senior Engine Performance 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.

Senior Engine Performance Engineer

Role Description:

The Power Systems and Controls Development Team within Caterpillar's Large Power Systems Division develops engine systems that deliver performance, emissions compliance, reliability, and customer value across demanding applications. The team works across engine hardware, controls, simulation, test, and data analytics to support New Technology Introduction (NTI) and New Product Introduction (NPI) programs.

Role Definition

As a Senior Engine Development Engineer, you will lead engine rating and calibration development for dual-fuel or gas engine programs. You will translate product and customer requirements into development plans, use test and simulation results to optimize engine performance and emissions, and provide technical direction across calibration, controls, hardware, and test activities. This role requires sound engineering judgment, strong analytical capability, and effective collaboration with global, cross-functional teams.

What you will do:

- Develop and optimize engine ratings and calibrations to meet performance, emissions, durability, hardware-protection, and customer requirements.
- Translate technical requirements into development and validation plans, including test objectives, instrumentation needs, data requirements, and risk-mitigation actions.
- Plan and execute engine development work using test-cell data, simulation results, and engineering analysis; confirm data quality and identify gaps before decisions are made.
- Evaluate interactions among engine hardware, controls software, combustion, air and fuel systems, and operating limits; recommend balanced system-level solutions.
- Support software strategy and hardware-recipe evaluations, including calibration-map development, with production-intent controls.
- Lead complex issue investigation and root-cause resolution for engine performance, emissions, calibration, controls, and test-related concerns.
- Create clear technical reports and recommendations; communicate program status, risks, tradeoffs, and decisions to technical and program leadership.
- Improve development processes, analysis tools, visualization methods, and standard work to increase quality, repeatability, and program velocity.
- Provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers and partners; coordinate work across test, controls, simulation, design, certification, and application teams.
- Manage multiple development priorities while maintaining a strong commitment to safety, quality, accuracy, and timely delivery.

Education and Experience Requirements:

- Bachelor's degree in an accredited engineering discipline.
- Professional experience in engine rating development.

Skills you will have:

- Technical Excellence: Working knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

- Extensive knowledge of engine performance development, combustion and emissions, calibration methods, engine systems, and controls. Applies engineering fundamentals and current development practices to solve significant technical challenges.

- Analytical Thinking: Extensive 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.

- Breaks complex system problems into component interactions, identifies inconsistencies in test or simulation data, selects appropriate analytical methods, and develops evidence-based recommendations.

- Problem Solving: Extensive 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.

- Leads structured root-cause investigations, evaluates alternative solutions and risks, drives issues to closure, and captures lessons learned for future programs.

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

- Maintains high data and calibration quality through disciplined review, cross-checking, traceability, and verification of hardware, software, test setup, and results.

- Process Management: Extensive knowledge of business process improvement tools and techniques; ability to understand, monitor, update, control, or enhance existing business or work processes.

- Evaluates and improves engine development workflows, standard work, tools, and handoffs to reduce inefficiency and improve repeatability across teams.

- Effective Communications: Working knowledge and 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.

- Explains complex technical information clearly in reports, reviews, and cross-functional discussions; adapts the level of detail for technical leaders, program partners, customers, and suppliers.

- Project Management: Working 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.

- Plans and coordinates complex development activities, estimates effort and resource needs, tracks progress and risks, and balances multiple program priorities.

- Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Uses requirements, data, technical risk, cost, schedule, and customer impact to make or recommend sound system-level decisions.
- Computer-Aided Design & Engineering: Knowledge of engineering tools and techniques used to model, analyze, simulate, and test engine system designs.

Top candidates will have:

- Advanced degree in Mechanical, or a related engineering discipline.· Hands-on experience with engine combustion, emissions, performance, calibration, or controls development.·
- Experience with spark ignited or dual-fuel engines and NTI/NPI development programs.
- Experience using tools such as DIAdem, Matlab, Canape, AVL Concerto, Dynasty, GT-POWER.
- Experience developing calibration maps, analyzing large engineering datasets, and building repeatable analysis or visualization tools.
- Experience leading test-cell development work, coordinating technical contributors, or authoring standard work and training material.
- Strong technical leadership, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple complex assignments with a balanced sense of urgency and quality.

Additional Information:

- This position is located in Mossville, IL

- Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.

- Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Summary Pay Range:

$112,710.00 - $169,060.00