Design Engineer

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.

Job Summary
Responsible for evaluating, validating, and optimizing the structural integrity, strength, durability, and safety of products, equipment, and assemblies through analytical calculations, simulation tools, and engineering principles. This role ensures that designs meet applicable engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations while balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, and reliability.

Responsibilities
Structural Analysis

• Perform linear and nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) of components and assemblies.
• Conduct static, dynamic, fatigue, vibration, buckling, thermal, and impact analyses.
• Evaluate stress, strain, displacement, and load distribution under operational and extreme loading conditions.
• Verify structural performance against design requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Identify high-risk areas and provide design recommendations to improve structural integrity.

Design Validation

• Validate engineering designs through analytical calculations and simulation methodologies.
• Support concept development by evaluating alternative structural designs.
• Create and review hand calculations to verify simulation accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with design factors of safety and strength requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and provide technical recommendations.

Tooling Development Support

• Collaborate with design engineers to develop robust structural solutions.
• Support new tooling development, product improvements, and cost reduction projects.
• Assist in material selection and manufacturing process evaluation.
• Recommend design modifications to improve performance and reliability.
• Support prototype development and engineering change implementation.

Standards and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and regulations, including:
  • ASME
  • ISO
  • OSHA
  • Caterpillar Standards
  • Customer-specific requirements
• Verify designs meet safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Support certification and compliance documentation.

Testing and Correlation

• Develop validation plans for structural testing.
• Support laboratory and field-testing activities.
• Correlate physical test results with analytical predictions.
• Investigate discrepancies and improve simulation models.
• Approve structural test reports and recommendations.

Failure Analysis and Problem Solving

• Conduct root cause investigations for structural failures.
• Evaluate field issues related to cracking, deformation, fatigue, or overload conditions.
• Develop corrective and preventive actions.
• Generate engineering reports documenting findings and recommendations.
• Support warranty and reliability improvement initiatives.

Documentation and Reporting

• Prepare engineering reports, calculations, presentations, and technical documentation.
• Maintain analysis records and validation data.
• Develop design verification documentation required for product release.
• Generate engineering recommendations supported by technical evidence.
• Present analysis results to engineering leadership and project teams.

Risk Assessment

• Support DFMEA, PFMEA, and risk assessments.
• Identify critical characteristics affecting structural performance.
• Evaluate product risks associated with load paths and failure modes.
• Recommend mitigation plans for identified risks.
• Participate in safety reviews and product audits.

Continuous Improvement

• Improve analysis methodologies, tools, and processes.
• Develop simulation best practices and design guidelines.
• Promote standardization and engineering excellence.
• Mentor junior engineers on structural analysis techniques.
• Support Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Degree Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree in, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or related.

• Intermediate or advanced English-speaking level is required.

Skills the candidate must have

Product Design and Development

• Intermediate working knowledge in product development, structural analysis, or engineering validation.
• Working knowledge supporting product design from concept through validation and production.
• Working knowledge in evaluating and testing product designs to ensure performance, durability, and reliability.

Technical Excellence

• Working knowledge in applying engineering principles to solve complex structural and design challenges.
• Knowledge of applicable engineering standards, design criteria, and safety factors.
• Knowledge developing technical solutions through analysis, testing, and validation.

Computer-Aided Design & Engineering

• Working knowledge with FEA (Finite Element Analysis) software and structural simulation tools.
• Ability to perform structural assessments, stress analysis, and engineering validation using CAE tools.
• Interpret simulation results and recommending design improvements.

Product Design – Manufacturing

• Direct working knowledge with welded structures, fabricated assemblies, castings, or heavy equipment components preferred.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and their impact on product design and structural performance.
• Advanced designing components for manufacturability, durability, and serviceability.

Analytical Thinking

• Ability to analyze structural performance, identify root causes, and develop effective design solutions.
• Prior working knowledge in evaluating engineering data and making recommendations based on simulation and test results.

Additional Information 

• This position is to work in Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon. (On-Site)

• Work schedule is set to Monday to Friday, 6:30am-2:30pm. Saturday 6:30am-12:30pm.

• This position requires 25% or less travel (domestic and international). 

• Relocation bonus is not available.

Final details     

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.   

The Caterpillar Code of Conduct states that we will select, and place employees based on their qualifications for the job to be performed, without regard to race, religion, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. In this company we do not request pregnancy tests, nor HIV tests as requirements for employment entry, permanence or promotion.

 

Posting Dates:

julio 31, 2026 - agosto 7, 2026

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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