Test & Validation Controls Engineer(2nd shift)
Caterpillar · East Peoria, IL
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $98k–$146k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 2 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level quality role at Caterpillar (industrial) in East Peoria, IL. Caterpillar’s Earthmoving Division is seeking a Controls Test and Validation Engineer (machine development) to validate Advanced Technology features on a variety of the Earthmoving product lines.
- They ask for
- degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Robotics, Automation, Tooling
- Base pay
- $98k–$146k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 10% travel · relocation help
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $96k–$125k. This one lists $98k–$146k.
Median of the low and high ends of 28 live postings that list pay, out of 41 quality engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 40 other live quality postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 13% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $95k–$120k, from 27 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 49%
- Root cause 46%
- Supplier quality 44%
- SPC 39%
- Team leadership 39%
- FMEA 34%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Robotics, Tooling, Cost reduction, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Quality team at Caterpillar
We found 10 people at this company and state: 6 in this kind of role, 4 leaders. 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 Aaron → (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?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- 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 East Peoria
4 other open roles at this site · 10 people we found on the quality team.
- Manufacturing Technician · Manufacturing · Technician
- Manufacturing Engineer - Tool Design Expert · Manufacturing
- Industrial Electrician - 2nd Shift - East Peoria Undercarriage BB · Reliability · Technician
- Quality Specialist- 2nd and 3rd Shift-East Peoria Bldg KK · Quality · Specialist
Full description from CaterpillarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What You’ll Do (Job Duties)
- ◆Direct communication with internal customer to gather
requirements
for validation planning.
- ✓Develop validation methods and improve testing procedures and operations through cross-functional planning, engagement, and data collection to increase test reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
- ✓Communication/documentation of issues detected through validation to internal customers.
- ✓Manage validation deliverables to ensure milestones are completed on time, proactively addressing and communicating schedule risks.
- ✓Resolve design issues to support design acceptance and ensure manufacturing readiness.
- ✓Participating in the adoption of new technologies and processes (automation, robotics, computer aided manufacturing software, etc.) to achieve greater efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement.
- ✓Monitoring results, machine and process capabilities and performance reliability.
- ✓Requires a degree in an accredited Engineering, Computer Science, or Materials Science curriculum or equivalent experience working in an Engineering function.
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.
Caterpillar’s EMD division is hiring for Test and Validation Engineer in Peoria, IL!
Role Summary: In this role you will implement and improve testing, development and validation techniques, processes, tooling and machinery to maximize product quality.
Caterpillar’s Earthmoving Division is seeking a Controls Test and Validation Engineer (machine development) to validate Advanced Technology features on a variety of the Earthmoving product lines. The position is a 2nd shift position and will be located at the Peoria Proving Ground in Washington, IL.
Are you looking for an opportunity to leverage your engineering expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges? Do you enjoy hands-on work and getting out of the office to operate machines that move earth? If so, this is an excellent opportunity to join the PPG team.
In this highly visible role, you will ensure Caterpillar machines meet end-user quality expectations by providing leadership and guiding validation activities at the machine, system, and component levels.
What You Have (Core Skills)
- •Degree Requirement: Bachelor's degree in engineering or related fields.
- •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.
- •Project Management: 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.
- •Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment. Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision.
- •Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
- •Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
Top Candidates Will Also Have
- •Knowledge of earthmoving equipment applications and understand how they are used on the jobsite
- •Knowledge of machine software systems, including experience flashing and configuring electronic control modules (ECMs)
Additional Details
- •Work location: Washington IL. Peoria Proving Ground 2nd Shift
- •There is a 7% shift premium for this 2nd Shift position.
- •Domestic relocation assistance IS NOT available for this role
- •Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this role.
- •Travel: 10%
- •This position requires 5 days per week in the office (M-F) 3:00-11:30 PM
Summary Pay Range
$97,530.00 - $146,290.00
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.
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates
October 21, 2026 - November 4, 2026
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
Not ready to apply? Join our Tal