Senior Principal Engineer - Turbine Blade Mechanical Design

About this role

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.

Solar Turbines is looking for an experienced turbine blade mechanical design engineer to support development of new engine products within the New Product Introduction (NPI) organization. A suitable candidate will have demonstrated the ability to satisfy programmatic goals through a balanced approach to design, one which effectively meets technical requirements while maintaining focus on design for producibility and cost.

What you will do: This Senior Principal Engineer will work directly with cross-functional team members throughout the design process. Blade design iterations are developed by this candidate, in collaboration with turbine aero, heat transfer and product definition (responsible for formalized models and drawings). They will establish and correct design direction by performing preliminary structural and modal analysis. They will gather producibility and cost feedback from investment casting suppliers from concept through validation phases. A successful candidate will also work closely with materials & processes (M&P) engineering to identify and develop new materials, coatings, and technologies to enable operation within the harsh conditions seen by this hardware.

This Senior Principal Engineer will chair both peer and formalized design reviews, to enable release of tooling and hardware definition. Throughout the design process, they will identify opportunities to gain efficiencies via new or modified methods and design tools. As parts are being manufactured, they will provide supplier support, and disposition hardware to allow receipt. In the product validation phase, they will monitor hardware condition during development and early production testing, to validate the design is meeting intent.

Minimum Qualifications: -10+ years of directly applicable Mechanical Design work experience - Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or closely related Engineering degree - Direct Experience with design and analysis of internally cooled airfoil components for gas turbine engines - Direct Experience working investment cast, single-crystal, nickel-based superalloys, thermal barrier coatings, and harsh environment treatments - Working knowledge of blade life prediction methods and typical component durability limitations and failure mechanisms -Expert level application of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) -Experience with CAD modeling

Preferred Qualifications 15+ years relevant mechanical design work experience Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering Expert level CAD modeling using CREO or NX, including parametric design and advanced surfacing methods -General understanding of heat transfer and aerodynamics fundamentals    

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.    

Posting Dates: August 25, 2026 - September 8, 2026 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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