Control Systems Engineering Specialist
Caterpillar · Clayton, NC
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $128k–$193k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Caterpillar (industrial) in Clayton, NC.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Base pay
- $128k–$193k
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $112k–$162k. This one lists $128k–$193k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 37 controls engineer openings in North Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 36 other live controls postings in North Carolina.
- Base pay
- About 23% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $108k–$154k, from 7 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Automation 81%
- PLC 65%
- Robotics 38%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 35%
- AutoCAD 22%
- MES 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Caterpillar
We found 12 people at this company and state: 7 in this kind of role, 5 leaders, plus 2 likely hiring managers. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Michael → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Caterpillar in Clayton
3 other open roles at this site · 12 people we found in controls roles at Caterpillar.
- CAT Grade Development Engineering Specialist · Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Engineer - Assembly · Manufacturing
- Test & Validation Engineer - Building Construction Products · Quality
Full description from CaterpillarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What You Will Do
- ◆Coordinate Integrated Machine Systems support for product group activities.
- ◆Document
requirements
and supporting information required for regulatory compliance.
- ✓Support software verification activities on test benches and machines.
- ✓Configure and maintain test bench hardware and software environments.
- ✓Develop, execute, and document verification and validation test plans.
- ✓Evaluate and support the development of new machine safety features.
- ✓Gather, document, and manage feature
requirements
and specifications.
- ✓Provide technical support for machine development programs.
- ✓Lead or support troubleshooting and resolution of software and system defects.
- ✓Coordinate integration activities between electronic control modules, sensors, displays, and third-party components.
- ✓Communicate technical information effectively to clients, team members, suppliers, process partners, and leadership.
- ✓Support product releases through system verification, issue resolution, and production implementation activities.
Requirements
Analysis: Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyze and record required business functionality and non-functionality
requirements
to ensure the success of a system or software development project.
Product Development in Manufacturing: Knowledge of methodologies, tools and techniques of product development; ability to design, build and manage manufacturing of new products.
Basic
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering field.
- ✓Solid experience in software development, embedded controls, machine systems, or related engineering disciplines.
- ✓Demonstrated technical leadership and project coordination skills.
- ✓Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- ✓Proven ability to effectively communicate technical information to diverse audiences including team members, leadership, customers, and suppliers.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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.
This position within Integrated Machine Systems supports the design and development of Tech Platform 1.0 electronic systems used on Telehandler applications within Building Construction products (BCP). This individual ensures the application software is released to production in a manner that ensures superior performance, durability, quality, and serviceability.
The position will function as both an individual contributor and a member of a cross-functional project team supporting Telehandler machine products. Success in this role requires a deep understanding of telehandler applications, machine electronics, display electronics, and their integration on the machines.
The Telehandler System Coordinator serves as the primary technical liaison between product groups and engineering teams, helping to define requirements, coordinate system integration activities, and ensure the successful delivery of the machine electronics systems.
What You Will Have
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.
Communicating Complex Concepts: Knowledge of effective presentation tools and techniques to ensure clear understanding; ability to use summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.
Problem Solving: 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.
Technology Advising: Knowledge of effective advisory methods and ability to provide valued information and advice to clients regarding products, technologies, services and solutions for a specific technology domain.
Conceptual Thinking: Knowledge of thinking and reasoning at a conceptual level; ability to identify the critical ideas and interdependencies among system elements that impact performance.
Embedded Systems: Knowledge of embedded systems and their applications; ability to develop embedded systems with varying levels of complexity to control the operations of the machine it is embedded within.
Top Candidates Will Also Have
- •Experience with:
- •Git
- •MATLAB/Simulink, C
- •CANape
- •CANalyzer
- •Cat ET Service Tool
- •Ethernet-based communication systems
- •CAN / SAE J1939 networks
- •Experience troubleshooting electrical and electronic control systems.
- •Experience with machines, engine, or embedded control system development.
- •Knowledge of Caterpillar diagnostic and event systems.
- •Knowledge of service tools, SuperCom II, and Vector-based development tools.
- •Experience with safety-critical systems and functional safety concepts.
- •Experience coordinating cross-functional NPI (New Product Introduction) activities.
Key Leadership Expectations
- •Serve as the technical leader for Telehandler electronics integration, providing direction and guidance throughout concept development, verification, and production release.
- •Lead cross-functional teams in defining system requirements, resolving technical issues, and delivering solutions that meet product objectives, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.
- •Drive alignment between product groups, software teams, electronics teams, validation teams, suppliers, and process partners to ensure