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 Description Solar Turbines Incorporated, headquartered in San Diego, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Solar manufactures the world’s most widely used family of mid-sized industrial gas turbines, ranging from 1 to 35 megawatts. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, generator sets and mechanical drives. When you join Solar, 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. Along with our customers and the communities we work and live in, we are building a better world for tomorrow. Job Summary We are seeking a highly motivated Materials Engineer to provide technical leadership and engineering support for metallic materials used across gas turbines and gas compressor products. The successful candidate will possess expertise in the selection, qualification, processing, performance evaluation, and failure analysis of ferrous alloys, including stainless steels, precipitation-hardened stainless steels, and carbon/low-alloy steels used in demanding industrial environments. This role will support the full product lifecycle, from new product development and supplier qualification to field issue resolution and continuous product improvement. The engineer will work closely with design engineering, manufacturing, quality, procurement, suppliers, and service teams to ensure material reliability, performance, and compliance. Principal Accountabilities: Provide materials engineering support for gas turbine and gas compressor components, including rotating and stationary hardware. Evaluate, select, and qualify metallic materials such as: SS410 and related martensitic stainless steels 17-4 PH and other precipitation-hardened stainless steels Carbon steels and low-alloy steels Other ferrous alloys used in turbomachinery applications Develop material specifications, technical requirements, and qualification plans. Support component design teams through material selection and mechanical property assessments. Investigate material-related failures using metallographic, mechanical, chemical, and fractographic analysis techniques. Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities for manufacturing, supplier, and field issues. Assess material performance under: Elevated temperatures High-pressure environments Corrosion and erosion conditions Cyclic loading and fatigue Wear and surface degradation mechanisms Collaborate with suppliers and laboratories on material development, testing, and process qualification programs. Review and approve material certifications, manufacturing processes, heat treatments, welding procedures, and inspection requirements. Support repair development and life assessment activities for critical turbomachinery components. Generate technical reports and present findings to engineering leadership, customers, and cross-functional teams. Monitor industry trends, standards, and emerging material technologies relevant to turbomachinery applications. Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Materials Science & Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Minimum 8+ years of relevant industrial experience Strong knowledge of ferrous metallurgy, including: Martensitic stainless steels Precipitation-hardened stainless steels Carbon and low-alloy steels Experience with heat treatment processes and resulting microstructural transformations. Knowledge of mechanical testing methods and material behavior including: Tensile properties Fatigue Fracture mechanics Creep Hardness Experience performing metallographic evaluations and failure investigations. Familiarity with manufacturing processes such as forging, casting, machining, welding, and heat treatment. Ability to interpret industry specifications, material standards, and engineering drawings. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Top candidates Have: Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Materials Science, Metallurgy, or a related field. 10+ years of turbine design industry experience Experience supporting industrial gas turbines, compressors, turbomachinery, energy, oil & gas, or hydrogen infrastructure products. Knowledge of ASME, AMS, ASTM, ISO, API, NACE, and related industrial standards. Experience with corrosion mechanisms including stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen-assisted cracking, hydrogen embrittlement, and sulfide stress cracking. Experience with finite element-based life assessment, damage tolerance, or structural integrity evaluations. Familiarity with additive manufacturing and advanced repair technologies for metallic components. Preferred: Hydrogen Service Experience Experience evaluating and qualifying metallic materials for hydrogen-containing environments is highly desirable, including: Hydrogen embrittlement assessment. High-pressure gaseous hydrogen applications. Materials compatibility and degradation mechanisms in hydrogen service. Material selection and qualification for hydrogen compression, transportation, storage, or combustion systems. Testing and characterization of steels and stainless steels exposed to hydrogen environments. Key Competencies Metallurgical expertise Root cause analysis Technical leadership Cross-functional collaboration Supplier qualification and development Data-driven decision making Written and verbal communication Continuous improvement mindset Summary Pay Range: $120,600.00 - $180,900.00 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 Relocation is available for this position. Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. Posting Dates: October 19, 2026 - November 2, 2026 Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen. Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply. Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community. Powering the future through innovative, sustainable energy solutions. Solar Turbines Incorporated, headquartered in San Diego, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Solar manufactures the world’s most widely used family of mid-sized industrial gas turbines, ranging from 1 to 39 megawatts. More than 16,000 Solar units are operating in more than 100 countries with more than 3 billion operating hours. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, mechanical drive packages, and generator sets. Solar’s customers put the company’s products to work in many areas, including production, processing and pipeline transmission of natural gas and crude oil, and generation of electricity and thermal energy for processing applications, such as manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food products. Solar’s foundation is people and Solar’s culture is one where individual contributions are valued, diversity in the workplace is encouraged, and safety is emphasized in all aspects of the business. Solar Turbines is comprised of a dedicated and multi-talented workforce of more than 9,000 employees with decades of experience working as a global team.

Materials Engineer.

more at Cat.

2027 Entry Level Fleet Engineer

2027 - Entry Level Field Service Engineer

2027 Internship- Overhaul Engineer

similar roles.

Customer Success Engineer - CSE / Sr. CSE

Senior Core Tech Programmer

Salesforce Solution Architect, Experience Cloud

Mobile Maintenance Supervisor

Senior Software Engineer (Secret Clearance Eligible)

Manager, Product Support