Design Engineer Graduate Desford 2023

We are the world's leading manufacturer of Construction and Mining Equipment, diesel, natural gas and hydrogen engines, industrial gas turbines and locomotives. In 2021 our globally respected company invested $1.7B into research and development, leveraging cutting edge technology and decades of expertise to improve our products and services. Our core values (Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Commitment and Sustainability) are key to our success and our commitment to sustainability underpins the company’s future. Every single employee moves our company forward: piece by piece, part by part, person by person. Join our winning team and help build a better world.

What do we do?

Caterpillar Desford (near Leicester) is part of the Building Construction Products (BCP) division, manufacturing a range of world class Backhoe Loaders and Compact Wheel Loaders, as part of the wider BCP range. Products that are reliable, cost effective, versatile, and adaptable. Leicester is more than just a production facility - it is a full product design and development centre with global responsibility for our products.

Diversity at Caterpillar

When we leverage our people's experiences, backgrounds, and cultures in an inclusive environment, we enable every individual to achieve their full potential, which drives business success. We are proud to be named in the Forbes list of Best Employers for Diversity (2021) and to be the employer of one of the top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50 2021). Caterpillar is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.

What experiences can we offer you?

New graduates are critical to the success of our Research & Development engineering teams. From day one you will engage in challenging work, solving real-world engineering problems through collaboration with our global team. Your first 2 years will consist of 4 rotations on our IMechE MPDS accredited scheme - the first will be with your home engineering department then there will be 3 further rotations tailored to give you a broad understanding of our product development processes and build the foundations of a successful career. There can also be opportunities to rotate outside of engineering for a placement to gain a wider understanding of other areas of the business. You will get the support, guidance and training you need to be successful at Caterpillar. Rotation areas and home departments may include:

• Design – Use your engineering knowledge to design, analyse and improve engine installations, powertrain or hydraulic components and systems, HVAC and ducting systems, operator ergonomics or machine structures. You could be optimising an engine cooling system, designing new fabrications or working on next generation battery electric machines.
• Simulation – Develop simulation models to predict the durability and performance of engines, powertrains, hydraulics, fabricated structures, components, and systems (FEA, CFD and others). You will use this to influence the design of next generation products and solve complex problems.
• Test and Validation - Design tests, test rigs, run test programs and analyse the data. Anything from running complete machines or assessing noise and vibration, through to testing individual components. Validate that our products and control systems are robust to all our customers’ demanding use cases.
• Performance – Create simulation models of entire power systems, develop control strategies and deploy them on machines. Define the strategy to maximise machine performance, while ensuring our products are durable, efficient, and meet emissions legislation.
• Analytics – Take the vast quantity of data we record every day and interrogate it for insights. Predict how our products will work in the real world and proactively monitor for when things are going wrong. Use machine learning to solve complex problems and work with big-data systems.

In addition, we offer you a mentor to support your professional development and help you achieve Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status with your chosen institution. Our professional development scheme is accredited and highly regarded by the IMechE and the IET.

We hold a Meet and Greet day for all new UK Graduate students to provide you with an opportunity to meet fellow new starters across the UK before you start your placement.

What happens after the graduate scheme?

Upon successful completion of the scheme, you will be promoted and take up a position within your home department. This gives you the platform to continue your professional development journey and steer your career where you want it to go, be it a leadership role, technical expert, product leader or a commercial role. In a global organisation there are so many possibilities.

Who are we looking for?

As the type of roles within our business have become more diverse, we are looking for people who are open minded, excellent problem solvers and who have an ability to learn quickly. Prior construction machine knowledge is not required.

Applicants should have achieved or be on track to achieve a minimum of a 2:2 and be studying for a degree in one of the following disciplines: Agricultural, Automotive, Design or Mechanical Engineering.

We are looking for talented, ambitious people from various backgrounds who are interested in setting out on the road to success.

How do I apply?

Go to catukgraduates.com for more information.

NOTE: Only one application is required, please do not apply for multiple roles. You may be given the opportunity of being considered for other roles/locations at a later stage.

The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined.