Combustion and Emissions Systems Technical Specialist
Cummins · Columbus
Job Summary
We are looking for a talented Combustion and Emissions Systems Technical Specialist to join our team specializing in Engine Performance for our location in Rocky Mount, NC. In this role, you will contribute to both new and current product systems, focusing on optimizing engine and aftertreatment performance to deliver high‑quality, reliable solutions for our customers. You will lead efforts that include engine performance and fuel‑economy optimization, hardware selection, diagnostic and feature refinement, emissions optimization, and incident resolution. A key aspect of this role involves evaluating performance at both the engine and vehicle levels, including hands‑on assessment, validation, and testing activities.
You will collaborate closely with cross‑functional stakeholders—engineers, technical managers, project leaders, manufacturing partners, and suppliers—to gather input, negotiate technical approaches, and ensure alignment throughout the development cycle. You will deliver clear technical guidance, insights, and recommendations that support data‑driven decision‑making across projects. This position requires independent leadership of smaller business‑impact initiatives or ownership of complex components and systems, often working through higher levels of ambiguity while maintaining full accountability to the project team. You will also execute both established and emerging engineering processes with a high degree of independence while continuing to deepen your product and technology knowledge. Additionally, you will help champion the advancement and improvement of work processes and systems within your functional discipline to enable stronger execution across the business unit.
To be successful in this role, you will bring a solid understanding of internal combustion engines and aftertreatment systems, along with hands‑on experience in engine testing, chassis dynamometer or test cell operations, and familiarity with data acquisition and instrumentation. Experience presenting technical content to external customers is preferred, as is proficiency with data processing tools such as MATLAB, Concerto, Excel, or similar platforms. Familiarity with on‑highway emissions legislation, calibration practices, and OBD tuning is beneficial and will further contribute to your effectiveness in this position.
In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways:
- Stakeholder Collaboration & Influence:
Obtains input and negotiates with stakeholders: collaborates with cross‑functional engineers, project leaders, product teams, and suppliers to provide insights, recommendations, and guidance that support project decisions and further technical analysis. - Project-Level Technical Decision Making:
Makes independent technical decisions: drives short‑term project activities—including analysis, testing, and communication—that directly influence project progression at a level beyond senior or lead engineers. - Process Application & Continuous Improvement:
Applies and enhances engineering processes: utilizes and improves methodologies such as PPP, PPT, VPI/VPC, ESW, and FEP while leveraging advanced thermal and fluid‑science tools (e.g., GT‑Power, Fluent, Converge, Concerto, CyberApps, CDAT, Calterm, ECM tools) to enable high‑quality decision making. - Leadership of Complex Workscopes:
Provides independent leadership: takes ownership of smaller business-impact projects or complex system/component work with higher ambiguity, ensuring full accountability to the project team. - Execution of Work Systems & Technology Development:
Delivers consistent, high-quality execution: independently carries out established and emerging engineering work processes while continuing to expand product and technology expertise. - Process & System Improvement Leadership:
Leads improvements across functional disciplines: champions the development and refinement of work processes and systems within the business unit to strengthen engineering execution. - Coordination & Mentorship:
Guides and supports team members: coordinates technician and student‑employee tasks and contributes to knowledge transfer by coaching less-experienced engineers through direct or indirect leadership. - Technical Expertise & Influence:
Acts as a recognized specialist: operates as an expert in a specific discipline or product area, shaping technical direction within project teams while developing deeper competency in key technical areas.