CAT Grade Development Engineering Specialist
Caterpillar · Clayton, NC
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $128k–$209k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Caterpillar (industrial) in Clayton, NC. Additionally, this role will collaborate with machine product groups to ensure successful integration of CAT Grade hardware and software.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Base pay
- $128k–$209k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · relocation help
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $97k–$143k. This one lists $128k–$209k.
Median of the low and high ends of 12 live postings that list pay, out of 40 manufacturing 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 39 other live manufacturing postings in North Carolina.
- Base pay
- About 51% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 4+)
Typical $89k–$134k, from 10 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Tooling 45%
- Lean 38%
- Root cause 33%
- Team leadership 30%
- New product launch 25%
- Six Sigma 23%
✓ = 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 Manufacturing team at Caterpillar
We found 3 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role, 1 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 Andrew → (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?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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 · 3 people we found in manufacturing roles at Caterpillar.
- Control Systems Engineering Specialist · Controls
- 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
- ◆Lead and contribute to the design, architecture, implementation, testing, and release of embedded software
- ◆Develop and/or oversee production quality C, C++, or Matlab Simulink software for complex systems
- ◆Lead or strongly influence
requirements
generation and architectural trade‑off decisions
- ✓Provide technical leadership across verification, validation, and certification activities
- ✓Apply new technologies to improve the capability, robustness, or safety of Grade solutions
- ✓Troubleshoot and resolve complex system and software issues across development and production environments
- ✓Advise product groups on the integration and installation of Grade hardware and software
- ✓Facilitate and participate in design reviews and technical discussions
- ✓Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, stakeholders, and leadership
- ✓Mentor engineers and raise overall technical quality through guidance and example
Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field – or commensurate industry experience.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Career Area
Technology, Digital and Data
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.
The CAT Grade Development Engineering Specialist provides senior technical design, development, and deployment of advanced CAT Grade Differentiation software for heavy equipment applications. Operating with a high degree of independence, this role leads complex software solutions across Grade Control, operator convenience, and machine optimization domains, balancing short term delivery needs with long term architectural quality and product integrity.
This individual influences architecture, design decisions, and engineering practices. This role will work closely with machine product groups and validation to deliver highly integrated solutions. Additionally, this role will collaborate with machine product groups to ensure successful integration of CAT Grade hardware and software. The individual will spend time on machines as a part of product development doing feature check out.
What You Have
- •Programming:
- •Interprets application system designs and program specifications.
- •Strong engineering practices, troubleshooting, and debugging skills.
- •Software Product Design/Architecture:
- •Demonstrates experience with the architecture and design of complex products.
- •Describes software architecture alternatives and considerations.
- •Displays experience in estimating the time to develop a specific design of a proposed product.
- •Facilitates design reviews
- •Analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of specific software designs and architecture.
- •Problem Solving:
- •Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives.
- •Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decisions on resolution.
- •Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems
- •Technical Troubleshooting:
- •Discovers, analyzes, and resolves software or application problems.
- •Analyzes code, logs, and current systems as part of advanced troubleshooting.
- •Communicating Complex Concepts:
- •Knowledge of effective presentation skills to ensure clear understanding
- •Ability to summarize and simplify complex technical concepts in simple, clear language appropriate to the audience.
- •Education
Consideration for Top Candidates
- •8+ years’ experience as a Development Engineer supporting engineering projects on machine systems
- •Experience with Grade Control systems, machine controls, and embedded development
- •Experience with sensing technologies, such as GNSS, IMU, position sensing, etc.
- •Experience with real-time controllers
- •Experience in Construction Equipment Industry
Additional Information
- •This position requires the candidate to work full-time at the Clayton, NC office.
- •Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.
- •Visa sponsorship is NOT available with this position.
- •This position will require up to 10% travel
- •#LI
Summary Pay Range
$128,470.00 - $208,770.00
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.
Relocation is available for this position.
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates
October 26, 2026 - November 8, 2026
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
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