Caterpillar, Inc

Validation Engineering Specialist - Motor and Generators

Caterpillar, Inc$128K — $192K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, preferably Mechanical or Electrical
  • Extensive experience in analytical thinking and problem solving
  • Strong decision-making and critical thinking skills
  • Effective communication skills in transmitting and interpreting complex information
  • Expertise in product testing and validation approaches
  • Proven troubleshooting skills for technical problems in product development
  • Knowledge of validation planning processes such as DFMEA and DVP&R.

Responsibilities

  • Assess product content and develop risk mitigation validation strategies
  • Create and maintain comprehensive validation plans covering all testing phases
  • Lead DFMEA activities to ensure risk-based, complete validation plans
  • Forecast demand for test facilities and identify equipment needs
  • Plan durability tests including objectives, success criteria, and schedules
  • Communicate validation readiness and risks during Design and Gateway Reviews
  • Develop and improve validation standard work for consistency and efficiency

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • Paid time off plan including vacation and holidays
  • 401(k) savings plans for retirement
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) options
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for pre-tax expenses
  • Programs promoting healthy lifestyle choices
  • Access to Employee Assistance Programs
  • Career development opportunities
  • Incentive bonuses based on performance
  • Disability and life insurance coverage
  • Parental and adoption leave benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement for further education
Full Job Description

Career Area:

Engineering

Job Description:

Job Summary:

As a Validation Engineering Specialist in the motor and generator solutions team, you will be joining an innovative team on the cutting edge of electrification.  The Motor and Generator Solutions team is part of the Electrification + Energy Solutions (E+ES) organization and is responsible for end-to-end design and development of motor, generator, and resistor grid solutions for multiple Caterpillar applications. 

As a Validation Engineer, you will be the conduit between the design and test execution teams, serving as the un-biased auditor bringing validation best practices, proactive validation planning, and risk communication to the team.  We find and fix issues before they hit the field.

What You Will Do:

  • Assess product new content and program risk, then develop validation strategies to mitigate risk throughout product development.

  • Create and maintain validation plans spanning virtual analysis, supplier validation, component testing, system testing, and machine-level verification.

  • Lead and support DFMEA activities to ensure validation plans are risk-based, complete, and aligned with best practices.

  • Forecast test facility demand, identifying capacity constraints, equipment needs, priority conflicts, and required investments.

  • Lead durability test planning, including test objectives, duty cycles, success criteria, instrumentation needs, and schedule alignment.

  • Communicate validation status, risks, and readiness in Design Reviews, Gateway Reviews, and Validation Readiness Summaries.

  • Develop, update, and improve validation standard work to drive consistency, efficiency, and repeatability across programs.

  • Project long-term validation needs, including lab space, test equipment, staffing, and future capability requirements.

  • Analyze field durability data using tools such as Weibull analysis to identify trends, assess product risk, and support corrective actions.


What You Will Have:

  • A bachelor’s degree in Engineering

  • Analytical Thinking: Extensive experience and 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.

  • 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 Level Extensive Experience:

  • Technical Excellence: Extensive experience and knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

  • Product Testing: Expert 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.

  • Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Extensive experience and knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.

What Will Set You Apart:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

  • Prior experience in product testing, validation planning, or test execution for complex engineering systems.

  • Experience supporting motor, generator, inverter, or electric drive component development.

  • Working knowledge of electric drive systems, including motors, generators, power electronics, controls, cooling, and mechanical integration.

  • Demonstrated ability to understand interactions between mechanical, electrical, thermal, and controls systems in electrified powertrain applications.

  • Experience applying structured DFMEA, DVP&R, risk assessment, or validation planning processes.

  • Experience leading technical issue resolution, root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and cross-functional problem solving.

Additional Information:

  • This position is in Mossville IL and requires 5-day a week on-site availability

  • Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position

  • Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position

  • This position may require up to 10% travel


 

Summary Pay Range:

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

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:

June 23, 2026 - July 7, 2026

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

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.

Caterpillar, Inc. Careers

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Make a great first impression. Prepare for your interview at Caterpillar by reviewing common questions and practicing your responses. Tailor your resume to highlight the experiences and skills that make you the ideal candidate for the position you are applying for. At Caterpillar, Inc., every role offers the chance to make an impact. Come be a part of our team and drive the future of our global industries. Your career at Caterpillar is not just about what you'll accomplish, but how you'll grow and the innovation you'll lead. Join us and build a career that matters.
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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