Materials Engineer

Caterpillar · San Diego · $120,600–$180,900 (stated in the posting)

Apply on the company website

Career Area:

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.
• 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:

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

Posting Dates:

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.

More jobs at Caterpillar · Software Engineering jobs in San Diego