Caterpillar, Inc

Program Manager, Defense - Electric Power

Caterpillar, Inc$147K — $221K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-10 years experience in program management within defense or governmental sectors
  • Strong background in electric power systems or related technologies
  • Ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively
  • Experience in product development lifecycle from concept to production
  • Proven negotiation skills in dealing with scope and contractual changes

Responsibilities

  • Lead complex electric power programs for U.S. and global defense customers
  • Translate customer requirements into executable program plans
  • Drive the development of customized electric power solutions
  • Establish and monitor program objectives, schedules, and budgets
  • Identify and mitigate program risks throughout execution
  • Facilitate collaboration to resolve technical and commercial issues
  • Communicate program status and performance data to stakeholders

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Generous paid time off including vacation and holidays
  • 401(k) savings plan with company match
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) options
  • Career development and tuition reimbursement programs
  • Incentive bonuses and other performance-based rewards
  • Employee assistance programs and well-being benefits
Full Job Description
Career Area:
Strategy

Job Description:

Job Summary:
The Program Manager, Caterpillar Defense Electric Power, is responsible for leading the development and execution of strategic programs that deliver innovative electric power solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, other Federal agencies, and allied defense customers worldwide. This role ensures customer requirements are translated into commercially viable products and solutions that support mission-critical applications.

The Program Manager will lead cross-functional teams across engineering, product groups, sales, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, and contracting to develop, launch, and sustain electric power solutions that meet customer expectations for performance, reliability, cost, and delivery. Working closely with internal stakeholders and external customers, this individual will drive program execution throughout the product lifecycle, from concept development and requirements definition through production, delivery, and sustainment.

What You Will Do:
  • Lead multiple complex Electric Power programs and business growth initiatives supporting U.S. and international defense customers.
  • Serve as the primary focal point, ensuring customer requirements are clearly defined, communicated, and translated into executable program plans and deliverable solutions.
  • Lead cross-functional teams to develop and deliver electric power solutions for defense applications.
  • Drive the development of customized Electric Power solutions by aligning unique customer requirements with Caterpillar's commercial products, technologies, and capabilities.
  • Establish program scope, objectives, schedules, budgets, and resource requirements, then track progress against those metrics throughout project execution to ensure alignment with business and customer priorities.
  • Identify program risks and lead mitigation strategies to ensure successful execution and delivery of programs.
  • Facilitate collaboration among internal stakeholders to resolve technical, operational, and commercial issues throughout the program lifecycle.
  • Negotiate program changes involving scope, schedule, pricing, technical requirements, suppliers, and contractual agreements.
  • Provide regular program status updates to leadership and customers, utilizing data-driven metrics to communicate performance, risks, opportunities, and key decisions.


What You Will Have:

Data-Driven Decision Making: Knowledge of the data-driven decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to gather and analyze data to make organizational decisions that align with strategic business objectives and goals.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Applies an assigned technique for data-driven thinking in a Decision-Making process.
  • Discerns between "signal" and "noise" when interpreting data.
  • Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
  • Participates in the process of choosing KPIs and metrics to influence decisions.
  • Utilizes the basic data collection and evaluation tools and techniques.


Influencing: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to impact decisions within and outside own organization.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Develops basic persuasive arguments.
  • Discusses organizational culture around providing input on decisions.
  • Uses active listening skills and probing techniques to surface opportunities to influence.
  • Identifies who the decision makers are and how they receive information.
  • Regularly presents ideas or suggestions to associates in persuasive terms.


Alignment: Knowledge of the importance of collaboration among team members and the ability to enroll stakeholders in communicating and coordinating activities to support the organization's vision and strategies.

Level Extensive Experience:
  • Involves team in discussions focused on clarifying and improving broad commitment.
  • Interprets the organization's vision for external stakeholders.
  • Establishes clear expectations and accountabilities linked to the vision.
  • Develops methods for effectively and consistently communicating strategy and operational goals.
  • Helps managers tailor approaches for mobilizing their team around the strategy.
  • Refines operational priorities over time to preserve alignment with vision.


Cross-Team Integration: Understanding of the importance of inter-team collaboration in breaking down silos and achieving business results; ability to lead employees from various functions to communicate, coordinate work across divisions, and collaborate in solving problems as one team.

Level Working Knowledge:
  • Maintains a strong internal network that promotes informal collaboration.
  • Shares information that may be relevant to other teams across divisions.
  • Assesses the potential synergies from combining common practices across teams.
  • Identifies differences among teams that could cause barriers to effective integration.
  • Applies relevant information gathered from comparable teams to own team.


Program Management: Knowledge of the policies and techniques to manage a set of related projects within a program; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control the set of projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve program objectives.

Level Extensive Experience:
  • Evaluates risks and vulnerabilities and creates contingency plans.
  • Advises others on preferred tools, techniques, and methods for estimating program cost and time.
  • Conducts regular and ad-hoc program reviews with project managers, team, and clients.
  • Coaches others in maintaining open communication among project managers and interested parties.
  • Oversees reporting requirements and creates monitoring and control mechanisms.
  • Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes and monitors a set of projects within a program.


Team Management: Knowledge of effective team building techniques; ability to form and manage effective teams.

Level Extensive Experience:
  • Brings projects to closure and ensures capture of what can be learned from the experience.
  • Leads the definition of team mission and objectives for a variety of teams.
  • Employs appropriate techniques for maintaining team enthusiasm, energy, and focus.
  • Ensures that team members are on board, unified, and moving in the same direction.
  • Communicates both within the team and to stakeholders.
  • Learns and utilizes special talents and work styles of team members.


What Sets You Apart:
  • Experience leading defense or governmental programs.
  • Demonstrated experience in machine and component product development, with the ability to apply engineering principles to design, develop, validate, and deliver products throughout the development lifecycle.
  • Strong background in electric power program leadership


Additional Information:
  • This position is located in Dallas, TX and requires a 5-day-a-week in office presence.
  • Domestic travel up to 25% & minimal international travel is required.
  • Domestic relocation assistance is not offered for this position.


This job is subject to U.S. rules concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information, including but not limited to U.S. State Department regulations at International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. 120 et. seq.; the Export Administration Regulation, 15 C.F.R. 730-774; and the Foreign Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. 500-598 (collectively, "Export Control Laws").

Summary Pay Range:

$147,760.00 - $221,640.00

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.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates:
September 21, 2026 - October 4, 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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