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 E&ES: 

Caterpillar’s Electrification & Energy Solutions (E&ES) 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.  
 

Job Summary: 

The Lead Engineer – Switchgear is a key technical design owner within the electrical system of advanced power converter platforms. This role is responsible for the architecture, selection, sizing, and validation of cabinet-level switchgear and auxiliary electrical components, ensuring safe, reliable, and compliant operation across product variants.

The engineer will provide technical leadership from early concept through validation and production release, working closely with mechanical, controls, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams.

This role is critical to ensuring the safety, reliability, and scalability of power converter platforms. The Lead Engineer – Switchgear directly influences system performance, regulatory success, and long-term product robustness.

What you will do:  

Technical Design & Ownership

Act as the design authority for cabinet-level switchgear within power converter systems

Define electrical architectures and design strategies aligned with system-level requirements

Lead component selection and sizing for:

Low-voltage and control power supplies

Circuit breakers, disconnects, fuses

Relays and contactors

Cabinet-level cooling systems (fans, heat exchangers, thermal interfaces)

Ensure robustness of designs for electrical, thermal, and environmental operating conditions

Validation & Compliance

Develop and execute verification and validation plans for switchgear and cabinet assemblies

Support and review:

Electrical, thermal, and fault analysis (short circuit, inrush, derating)

Environmental and reliability testing

Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and codes (e.g., UL, IEC, NEC, IEEE)

Interface with certification bodies and support compliance documentation

Cross-Functional Leadership

Collaborate closely with:

Power electronics and system engineering

Mechanical and thermal engineering

Controls and software teams

Manufacturing, sourcing, and quality teams

Provide technical guidance and mentorship to contributing engineers and designers

Support supplier technical reviews and component qualification discussions

Lifecycle & Production Support

Support design transitions from development to production

Drive design improvements related to cost, manufacturability, reliability, and serviceability

Participate in root-cause analysis and corrective actions for field or production issues

What you will have:  

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Extensive experience and knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques for charging systems.
• 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. 
 
Effective Communications: Extensive experience and understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively translate technical knowledge to diverse audiences.  
• Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience. 
• Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position. 
• Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement. 
 
Technical Excellence: Extensive experience and knowledge of working in charging systems, hardware, and controls:

AC/DC power distribution and protection

Low-voltage switchgear and control components

Cabinet-level thermal management

Electrical safety and grounding practices

Proven experience with component selection, derating, and validation

Regulated or safety-critical environments

Project Management: Extensive experience and knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control complex projects.
• Identifies risks and vulnerabilities; creates contingency plans. 
• Conducts regular and ad-hoc project reviews with project team, sponsors, and clients. 
• Communicates reporting requirements; creates monitoring and control mechanisms. 
 
Product Testing: Extensive experience and expertise in charging systems, testing approaches, techniques, and tools.
• Leads the evaluation, selection, and implementation of testing approaches, tools, and scenarios. 
• Mentors others in improving the throughput and efficiency of manufacturing test processes. 
• Oversees the testing processes of multiple products in a high-volume manufacturing environment. 
• Consults on product-testing costs, tools, approaches, and benefits. 
 
Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Extensive experience and knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or charging systems development environment. 
• Evaluates business impact of failure and the criticality and timing of needed resolution. 
• Resolves difficult or high-impact equipment and systems problems. 
• Monitors machine performance and history; addresses excessive maintenance or repair needs. 
• Uses advanced diagnostic techniques and tools for unusual or performance-related problems. 

Degree Requirement:  

A degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum.

Additional Information: 

This position is located in Mossville, IL. 

Travel required up to 25% (domestic & international) 

This position will offer relocation.  

Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Summary Pay Range:

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

Compensation 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 benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Adoption benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

       

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

This position requires working onsite five days a week.Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Posting Dates:

Any 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.

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