Engineering Specialist-Design
Caterpillar · Mossville, IL
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $128k–$193k
- Travel
- 20%
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at Caterpillar (industrial) in Mossville, IL. You’ll influence the development of innovative inverter and power electronics technologies that enable the next generation of Caterpillar products.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Base pay
- $128k–$193k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 20% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 9, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $89k–$128k. This one lists $128k–$193k.
Median of the low and high ends of 41 live postings that list pay, out of 79 manufacturing 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 78 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 72% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $85k–$102k, from 34 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 39%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 34%
- Tooling 32%
- Lean 30%
- Automation 29%
- New product launch 27%
✓ = 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 4 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role, 2 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 J. → (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?
- The posting says about 20% 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 Mossville
6 other open roles at this site · 4 people we found in manufacturing roles at Caterpillar.
- Senior Performance/Simulation/Application Engineering Specialist · Manufacturing · Senior
- Performance/Simulation/Application Engineering Specialist · Manufacturing
- Metallurgical Engineering Manager · Manufacturing · Manager
- Test & Validation Engineer - Drivetrain · Quality
- Senior Validation Engineer - Autonomy Scalability (2nd Shift) · Quality · Senior
- Test and Validation Engineer · Quality
Full description from CaterpillarAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
Help shape the future of electrification at Caterpillar. As a Mechanical Design Engineering Specialist within Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions, you’ll influence the development of innovative inverter and power electronics technologies that enable the next generation of Caterpillar products.
This role offers the opportunity to combine deep mechanical engineering expertise with technical leadership, tackling complex challenges, advancing new technologies, and helping transform innovative concepts into high-performing, production-ready solutions.
What You Will Do
- ◆Lead mechanical design and development activities for inverter and power electronics products, providing technical direction from concept development through validation and production.
- ◆Lead and coordinate project execution , including establishing priorities, defining technical tasks, assigning work across project team members, monitoring progress, identifying risks, and driving activities to completion.
- ◆Develop and guide mechanical designs for components, assemblies, packaging, and thermal management solutions to meet product performance, durability, quality, cost, and manufacturability requirements.
- ◆Serve as a technical resource and mentor to engineers and designers, providing design guidance, reviewing technical work, resolving complex engineering challenges, and helping team members determine the appropriate path forward.
- ◆Lead cross-functional collaboration with electrical, controls, simulation, manufacturing, validation, and supplier teams to ensure mechanical designs are effectively integrated into inverter and power electronics systems.
- ◆Lead design reviews and support product validation, troubleshooting, and issue resolution, including thermal, vibration, structural, durability, and manufacturing-related challenges.
- ◆Apply strong project management and engineering judgment to balance technical requirements, resources, schedules, risks, and competing priorities while maintaining progress toward project milestones.
- ◆Identify opportunities to improve mechanical design practices, development processes, product reliability, manufacturability, and overall engineering execution.
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.
About IDES
Caterpillar’s Integrated Drivetrain Energy Solutions (IDES) 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.
What You Will Have
- •Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field
- •Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Extensive experience and knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
- •Effective Communications: Extensive experience and 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: Extensive experience and 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.
- •Product Development Life Cycle - MFG: Extensive experience and knowledge of the methodology and associated phases, activities and deliverables of product development life cycle in manufacturing organizations; ability to bring new or enhanced products to the marketplace.
- •Product Testing: Extensive experience and knowledge of product testing approaches, techniques and tools; ability to design, plan and execute testing strategies and tactics to ensure product quality at all stages of manufacturing.
Additional Information
- •This position is located in Mossville, IL and requires 5-day a week on-site availability
- •This position offers domestic relocation
- •This position does not offer visa sponsorship
- •Travel is expected up to 20% of the time
Summary Pay Range
$128,470.00 - $192,710.00
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*
- •I