Design Engineering Manager

Altorfer CAT

  • Bartonville, IL
  • $95,000-155,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
Working Hours/Days: Full-time, Monday through Friday. Standard business hours with additional hours as required to fulfill job responsibilities. Overview:The Design Engineering Manager leads a multidisciplinary team of mechanical and electrical design engineers focused on delivering custom Caterpillar-based solutions for electric power and industrial engine applications. This position is responsible for managing the end-to-end design process for generator enclosures, controls, fuel tanks, and related components manufactured in our Packaging division. The ideal candidate will ensure that all design outputs meet functional, regulatory, and quality requirements for critical infrastructure projects, including data centers, hospitals, and emergency standby systems. This role supervises engineering personnel and supports collaboration across operations, manufacturing, and project management teams, with a design team of approximately seven staff members. Basic Duties:Team Leadership & Development
  • Provide direction and daily support to a multidisciplinary design team, including mechanical and electrical engineers, focused on custom generator packaging solutions.
  • Recruit, mentor, and develop team members to ensure high performance in design execution and engineering documentation.
  • Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and accountability within the design group.
Design Execution & Technical Oversight
  • Serve as a working manager with hands-on responsibility for design reviews and CAD-based drafting (AutoCAD, Inventor), including creation and revision of 2D/3D models and drawings.
  • Oversee the design of generator set enclosures, controls integration, fuel systems, and structural components for critical infrastructure applications.
  • Ensure timely release of accurate and complete engineering documentation, including BOMs and drawings.
  • Manage engineering change processes (ECNs) and lead design reviews to ensure compliance with customer requirements, industry standards (UL, NFPA, CSA), and internal quality expectations.
  • Drive risk-based decision making and problem-solving during the design lifecycle.
  • Collaborate closely with manufacturing, supply chain, project management, and sales to align design outputs with production capabilities and customer commitments.
Stakeholder & Customer Engagement
  • Act as the primary design engineering liaison with internal teams, customers, Caterpillar dealers, and suppliers.
  • Translate customer requirements into functional design specifications and communicate changes clearly across stakeholder groups.
  • Ensure engineering deliverables meet or exceed customer expectations for performance, quality, and reliability.
Design Process Improvement
  • Lead efforts to improve design workflows, drawing standards, and documentation practices.
  • Champion the adoption of design best practices, CAD efficiency tools, and cross-functional design-for-manufacturing strategies.
  • Stay current with technologies and trends related to mechanical and electrical design in power generation systems.
Qualifications:1. Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field required.
  • Minimum of 7 years of experience in engineering, with at least 3 years in a design leadership or supervisory role.
  • Prior experience in designing and releasing custom-engineered products or systems, preferably in power generation, industrial equipment, or a related industry.
2. Technical & Managerial Skills
  • Strong proficiency in 2D/3D CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor) and design documentation processes.
  • Solid understanding of mechanical and electrical design principles related to generator enclosures, fuel systems, controls integration, and structural assemblies.
  • Familiarity with engineering standards and regulatory requirements such as UL, NFPA, and CSA.
  • Experience managing design output through engineering change processes (ECNs), BOM management, and drawing control systems.
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration between engineering, manufacturing, and customer-facing teams.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical information for a variety of stakeholders.
3. Behavioral Competencies
  • Hands-on leader who can balance people management with technical oversight.
  • Detail-oriented problem solver with a proactive and pragmatic approach to design challenges.
  • Committed to continuous improvement and fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
  • Adaptable and responsive to changing priorities in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.
Must possess a valid driver’s license with clean driving record. This includes no more than 2 minor violations within the past 3 years and no major violations within the past 5 years (Motor Vehicle Report will be performed on final candidate).Altorfer Inc. offers an industry leading compensation and benefit package:
  • Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Parental Leave and Funeral Leave
  • Paid Time Off: Prorated 80 hours of PTO + 1 Floating Holiday
  • Education Assistance
  • Personal Tool Insurance, and Safety Equipment Reimbursement
  • Voluntary Benefits: Supplemental Insurance, Accident, Critical and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Assistance and Identity & Fraud Protection
Payrate: $95,000 - $155,000 annuallyPosted Min: USD $95,000.00/Yr. Posted Max: USD $155,000.00/Yr. Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:Work is normally performed both indoors and outdoors with moderate noise conditions. Limited exposure to all weather conditions is associated with this position. Physical requirements may include speaking, listening, writing, typing, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, sitting for extended periods, and managing stress. Occasionally required to walk or stand for short durations on manufacturing floors or job sites. Job hazards may include tripping, slipping, falling, jobsite hazards, hand injuries, driving related hazards, equipment movement, overexertion due to stress and fatigue. Required to follow all safety protocols and wear appropriate personal protective equipment depending on the environment or location. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. Noise level in the office environment is usually moderate to low. Must be flexible to work varying schedules and hours as needed. Occasional travel may be required. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.Why Work for Altorfer?At Altorfer, our iron is just the beginning. Our people make our company successful, and we would not be who we are without them. As a third generation, family-owned company created in 1957, we bring our values into how we do business. Everyone from technicians, sales representatives, administrative professionals, or somewhere in between is part of the “A-Team” and is critical to our success. Here at Altorfer, we have over 35 locations and 1300 employees with long tenure for you to learn from. We have a collaborative, family valued culture, with a great reputation in the industry. A company that offers competitive pay, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to work with a remarkable team of people.

Altorfer CAT