Caterpillar, Inc

Battery Cell Senior Engineer

Caterpillar, Inc$112K — $169K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science or related field.
  • Analytical thinking skills with experience in cell postmortem analysis and electrochemical methods.
  • Effective decision-making and critical thinking abilities with a focus on cell technology attributes.
  • Proficient in battery cell design, manufacturing, and validation testing, particularly lithium-ion technologies.
  • Project management experience, managing supplier progress from RFI/RFQ to production.
  • Familiarity with lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes and compliance monitoring.
  • Hands-on experience in product testing techniques and data analysis using tools like Python or Matlab.

Responsibilities

  • Drive cell selection decisions based on specifications and test results.
  • Evaluate and select optimal cell chemistries to meet system requirements.
  • Develop battery system requirements informed by customer feedback for electrified applications.
  • Lead technical discussions with cell suppliers regarding design and production issues.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop cell validation test plans.
  • Perform detailed failure analysis of battery cells alongside engineers and lab coordinators.

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
  • Career Development
  • Incentive bonus
  • Disability benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Tuition Reimbursement
Full Job Description
Career Area:
Engineering

Job Description:

Job Summary:

The Senior Battery Cell Engineer provides technical leadership in the development of advanced battery solutions for Caterpillar's electrification portfolio. This role is accountable for evaluating and selecting battery cell technologies, defining cell-related requirements, and ensuring optimal cell performance, safety, durability, and reliability across machine applications. The engineer collaborates closely with internal engineering teams and external cell suppliers to support battery system design, validation testing, supplier development, and failure analysis activities. Through deep expertise in battery cell technologies and data-driven decision making, this position plays a critical role in delivering innovative, high-performance energy storage solutions that meet customer expectations and business objectives.

What You Will Do:
  • Drive cell selection decisions based on the cell specifications and test results.
  • Evaluate and select optimal cell chemistries and form factors to meet the system requirements.
  • Support development of battery system requirements for electrified machine applications based on voice of customers.
  • Lead regular technical discussions with cell suppliers to deliver the cell related information to support battery system design for new production programs and investigate the issues associated with cell design and production changes.
  • Collaborate with battery system engineers, software/BMS engineers, modeling engineers, and compliance experts to develop cell validation test plans based on battery system build schedule and lead technical communications with test engineers to review the life and performance of the selected battery cells.
  • Work closely with cell suppliers, lab coordinators, and battery system engineers to conduct detailed failure and root cause analysis of battery cells.


What You Will Have:
  • Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science or related field.
  • Analytical Thinking: Working 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. Experience in cell postmorterm analysis and knowledge of various electrochemical or chemical analysis methods to define failure or degradation mechanisms of problematic or aged cells
  • Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Working knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment. Ability to decide the key attributes of cell technologies based on requirements from program team and down-select the candidate cells through analysis of cell specifications and validation data from cell suppliers
  • Technical Excellence: Working knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges. Experience in battery cell design, manufacturing and validation testing. Strong understanding of lithium -ion and other battery chemistry and technologies.
  • Project Management: Working 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. Experience managing battery cell related projects. Track and manage cell supplier progress from initial RFI/RFQ through qualification and mass production. Serve as the main point of contact between cell suppliers, internal battery teams, and supply chain teams to implement corrective action plans
  • Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies: Basic understanding and knowledge of organizational standards, procedures and policies in manufacturing activities; ability to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance. Familiar with lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing processes. Work with cell suppliers to conduct cell DFMEA/PFMEA and support Caterpillar quality engineers to monitor cell supplier's production quality and conduct production failure analysis
  • 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. Manage or support the cell level testing schedule and running design of experiment for cell life and performance validation per requests from battery program teams, BMS team, and cell model developers. Regularly update the test results. Process large dataset using Python, Matlab, or Excel and data analysis & reporting


What Will Set You Apart:
  • Experience working with large cell suppliers and developers for battery production programs.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills, including working with various teams in different locations.
  • Ability to work independently on multiple projects with complex requirements.
  • Program management experience


Additional Information:
  • This position is located in Mossville, IL and requires 5-day a week on-site availability
  • Domestic relocation is available
  • Visa Sponsorship is not available
  • 20% or less travel is expected, with potential for 1-2 international trips per year


Summary Pay Range:

$112,710.00 - $169,060.00

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 17, 2026 - August 31, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.

About Caterpillar, Inc

Progress Rail Services Corporation, a Caterpillar company, is one of the largest integrated and diversified suppliers of railroad and transit system products and services worldwide. Since its acquisition by Caterpillar Inc. in 2006, Progress Rail has used the Caterpillar international footprint to gain quick and widespread notice and approval across the globe. Product technology, reliability and durability, along with legendary aftermarket parts and service support, have been their keys to success. Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The technology and world reach of Caterpillar, combined with the service standard and historical reliability of Progress Rail, ensures their products and services make a growing impact on the world rail industry. With their acquisition of Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), Progress Rail is the world's largest builder of diesel-electric locomotives for all commercial railroad applications including freight, intercity passenger, commuter, switching, industrial and mining. EMD is also a global provider of diesel power engines for marine propulsion, offshore and land based oil well drilling rigs and stationary power generation. Electro-Motive is the only diesel engine manufacturer of its size to have produced more than 70,000 engines. This success stems from product reliability, serviceability, load acceptance capability, low operating costs and ease of maintenance with standardized components.

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Learn more about Caterpillar, Inc
Size
107,700 employees
Market Cap
$125.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.9 billion
Founded
1925
5 Year Trend
+5.8%
Revenue
$41.7 billion
NASDAQ

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