Senior Design Engineer

Overview

Lead Medium Tractor Products (MTP) programs and projects executed from India, partnering with global engineering, product, manufacturing, procurement, quality, validation and commercial teams to deliver committed scope, timing, cost and quality targets.

What you'll do

• Lead NPI, NTI, NSI, cost, quality and product improvement projects from planning through implementation, defining scope, milestones, resources and success criteria.
• Align India and global engineering, manufacturing, supply, quality, validation and commercial teams, influencing decisions without direct authority.
• Control scope, track critical-path milestones and balance technical, cost and quality trade-offs, driving recovery plans when targets are at risk.
• Identify risks early, develop mitigation plans with functional owners, and escalate critical issues with clear options and recommendations, driving decisions to closure.
• Execute within Caterpillar product-development processes, applying design reviews, APQP and validation rigor to deliver production-ready solutions.
• Provide concise project health reporting on status, cost, quality, risks and decisions required, and run reviews with clear owners and due dates.
• Apply Lean, CPI and structured problem-solving, capture lessons learned, and coach engineers to build project leadership capability in MTP India.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical, Automobile, Production, Manufacturing, Electrical or a related engineering discipline.
• Proven experience leading complex, multi-functional engineering projects or workstreams.
• Strong understanding of product development from requirements through design, validation, release and production.
• Demonstrated ability to manage scope, schedule, cost, quality, risks and dependencies with global, distributed teams.
• Strong planning, communication, analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to influence and drive accountability without direct authority.

Nice to have

• Experience with Caterpillar NPI, NTI and/or NSI program/project leadership.
• Experience leading machine or major subsystem development projects.
• Working knowledge of APQP, CPPD/LPPD, FMEA, validation and engineering release processes.
• Experience with product cost, value engineering, manufacturing readiness, supplier development, or product-quality improvement.
• CPI/Black Belt or equivalent structured project/problem-solving experience.
• Global experience with integrated engagement with India teams.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with senior technical and business leaders.

Details

• Work location: Chennai, WTC.
• Onsite five days a week.
• Travel up to 15%.
• Relocation is available.
• Visa sponsorship is not available.