Position Overview: Are you a hands-on mechanical engineer who enjoys solving complex engine challenges and turning technical analysis into practical, field-ready solutions? We are looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer - Diesel Engine Systems to support critical aftermarket and customer service engineering activities for diesel engine systems, with a focus on improving component performance, reliability, durability, and cost effectiveness.
In this role, you will work closely with quality, manufacturing, supply chain, field service, and supplier partners to evaluate engine hardware, analyze failed components, support second sourcing initiatives, and develop engineering solutions that directly support overhaul and remanufacturing programs. This is an opportunity to combine deep technical expertise with hands-on problem solving in a customer-focused environment where your work helps keep essential rail systems operating safely and reliably.
This position will report to the Service Engineering Manager within the Customer Services engineering group and can be based in Sacramento, CA; Chicago, IL; or Philadelphia, PA, working in a hybrid fashion. This role offers the opportunity to influence technical decisions, collaborate across functions, and help drive continuous improvement across diesel engine platforms.
What your day-to-day will look like: - Develop engineering requirements, specifications, validation plans, and bills of materials to ensure diesel engine components meet performance, reliability, and serviceability targets.
- Perform root cause analysis on engine systems and components, translating findings into corrective actions that improve durability, reduce repeat failures, and support fleet reliability.
- Conduct hands-on hardware evaluations, including teardown, measurement, analysis, redesign, and validation, to drive practical engineering solutions for overhaul and aftermarket programs.
- Identify, evaluate, and qualify alternative suppliers through technical reviews and capability assessments to strengthen sourcing options while maintaining quality, cost, and schedule objectives.
- Define reuse criteria, wear limits, inspection methods, and acceptance/rejection standards to support consistent, data-driven decisions in engine overhaul and remanufacturing operations.
- Recommend design and process improvements that extend component service life, enhance performance, and reduce lifecycle cost for diesel engine platforms.
- Collaborate with quality, manufacturing, supply chain, test engineering, field service, and supplier teams to move engineering solutions from analysis through implementation.
- Support customer-facing discussions by providing clear technical explanations, recommendations, and documentation that build confidence in engineering decisions.
- Create technical documentation, test reports, validation records, CAD models, drawings, and engineering write-ups to ensure solutions are traceable, repeatable, and ready for production or field use.
- Maintain engineering data and BOM information in SAP or equivalent systems to support accurate configuration management and multi-functional execution.
This posting outlines the primary responsibilities of the role, but is not all-inclusive; additional duties may be assigned in alignment with business needs. To thrive in this role, you have: - Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering or a related subject area.
- 5+ years of experience working with diesel engine systems and components.
- Hands-on experience with engine teardown, rebuild, component evaluation.
- Proficiency with 3D CAD modeling and engineering design tools to support component design, analysis, and documentation.
- Working knowledge of GD&T, tolerancing, thermal expansion, fatigue behavior, and mechanical design principles.
- Experience supporting supplier qualification, and second sourcing initiatives.
- Strong technical writing skills with the ability to create clear engineering documentation, reports, specifications, and recommendations.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage technical work independently and drive projects to completion.
- Familiarity with SAP or similar ERP systems.
- Ability to travel 25% travel (domestic and occasional international) to support supplier visits, site evaluations, and customer engagement.
Candidates should be willing to work in non-climate-controlled environments and inclement weather if required or if applicable. Applicants must be legally authorized for employment in the United States without needing current or future employer-sponsored work authorization.
The pay range for this position is $112,200.00 - $151,776.00 annually. The actual wage offered may be lower or higher depending on budget and candidate experience, knowledge, skills, qualifications, and premium geographic location.