Entry Level - Compressor Aerodynamics

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.

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 23 megawatts. Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets.

Job Summary

This role develops compressor flow path designs and compressor stage predictions for customer applications. Centrifugal, mixed flow impellers and static flow path components are designed to match our turbines and meet customer's needs in pipeline and production compressors. The candidate is expected to develop new tools, methods, and designs to support Solar Turbines product goals.

Acceptance tests, PTC-10, and development tests must be planned, evaluated, and supported in this position. The successful candidate supports new equipment sales, aftermarket sales, and field performance issues as needed for all gas compressor models. Manufacturing and supply chain support for bladed components is required to ensure schedule, cost, and performance are met. Must communicate and interact well with design, product support, operations, supply chain, and rotor dynamics.

In addition to detailed design, test support and performance modeling is also a responsibility.  Factory and development test support and analysis of centrifugal compressors to support sales predictions and guarantees is a major product responsibility.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• Minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
• CFD/Ansys experience from school or prior Internships.

Top Candidates Have:

• CAD proficiency (Creo preferred, but not required)
• Experience with the following software: Matlab, Ansys CFX, Fluent, Fortran/Python programming, Visual Studio
• Familiar with Thermodynamics, boundary layer theory, turbulence modeling
• Familiar with meanline models for radial turbomachinery
• Familiar with data validation and hands-on experience with test rigs related to radial turbomachinery
• Knowledge of data-driven and machine learning methodologies for engineering applications

Summary Pay Range:

$76,542.00 - $114,814.00

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

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Posting Dates:

October 27, 2025 - January 30, 2026