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.

Your Work Shapes the World

Whether it be groundbreaking products, best in class solutions or creating a lifelong career, you can do the work that matters at Caterpillar. With a 95-year legacy of quality and innovation and 150 locations in countries around the world, your impact spans the globe.

When you join Caterpillar, you are joining a team of makers, innovators, and doers. We are the people who roll up our sleeves and do the work to build a better world. We don’t just talk about progress and innovation. We make it happen. And we are proud of that, because it helps our customers build and power the world we live in – the roads, hospitals, homes, and infrastructure. Without a dedicated workforce Caterpillar could not effectively meet our customer’s needs. Join us.

About the Role (Job Description)

Join the Virtual Product Development division of Caterpillar to get exposure to multiple business units and gain a deep understanding of how products work through simulation. It’s a great foundation for future career opportunities. Focus for this position will be to implement physics-based component libraries in Caterpillar’s proprietary performance simulation software to model engine combustion, engine dynamics, fuel cells, aftertreatment system, hydraulic system, cooling and refrigeration system and control system.

What You Will Do (Job Responsibilities)

The primary responsibility is to develop, demonstrate, deploy, and support new or improved performance simulation tools for Caterpillar product development. This includes re-architecture and development of new features and capabilities in Caterpillar’s proprietary 1D and 3D performance simulation software Dynasty. Some of the other responsibilities are maintaining simulation software testing environment and conducting software testing, improving software quality, performance, and usability, developing, and implementing software development best practice guidelines and user support. Near-term focus will be to rearchitect engine combustion, engine dynamics, fuel cell, aftertreatment, hydraulics, cooling, refrigeration, and controls libraries in Dynasty. Other job duties will include:

What You Have – Skills and Experiences

In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute your unique skills and experiences. Below are some of the most critical skills.

• Analytical skills, initiating ideas, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, problem-solving, and critical thinking capabilities.
• Knowledge of engineering principles, theory, and engineering experience gained through projects, internships, and/or relevant work experiences.
• Fundamental understanding of software development and architecture
• Organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ability to quickly gain, and effectively apply new skills & knowledge.
• Success in collaborating with others of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, and abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Participate in, and build on our inclusive, constructive, and productive work environment.
• Ensure all team member’s contributions are recognized and valued.

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 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.

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.

Team Management: Knowledge of effective team building techniques; ability to form and manage effective teams.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Differentiates characteristics of effective and dysfunctional teams.
• Explains the importance of a cohesive team effort and the concept of synergy.
• Compares traditional teams to virtual teams.
• Identifies key factors and requisite activities for building an effective team.

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 Working Knowledge:
• Documents test process and results; prepares and analyzes defect-tracking reports.
• Summarizes features of a specific product-testing process and associated procedures.
• Tests components for compliance with functional requirements and established conventions.
• Discusses and compares usability, safety and integration testing.
• Develops product-testing procedures; participates in selecting testing environment and tools.

Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing environment.
Level Working Knowledge:
• Documents common hardware, software and communications problems and likely resolutions.
• Troubleshoots typical technical problems in a specific area.
• Works with vendor-specific diagnostic guides, tools and utilities to discover application problems.
• Adheres to standard troubleshooting procedures to ensure effectiveness of resolutions.
• Participates in setting evaluation standards and criterion for troubleshooting.

Basic Requirements:

• PhD in Engineering with specialization in Engine Combustion

• At least 2 years of experience in C/C++ and Python programming
• Strong background in numerical methods
• Minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0/4.0 (no rounding) at current institution
• Previous technical internship/co-op or research experience, preferably in engine performance
• Must be willing to travel and relocate domestically.

Top Candidates Will Also Have:

• Working knowledge of software development processes, algorithms, data structures and source code managements tools such as GIT
• Demonstrated project leadership experience

Additional Information:

• Please attach your resume and an unofficial copy of your transcript to your application.
• The location of this position is Mossville, IL.
• Domestic relocation is available for this position.
• This position will require less than 10% travel.
• Visa sponsorship is available for this position

Employee benefit details

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world.

Here you earn more than just a salary because we value your performance. We offer a total rewards package that provides benefits on day one (medical, dental, vision, RX, and 401K) along with the potential of an annual bonus.

Additional benefits include paid vacation days and paid holidays (prorated based upon hire date).

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.

For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media

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Posting Dates:

February 7, 2024 - February 28, 2024

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

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