Career Area:
Students and Graduates

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.

Caterpillar's Large Engine Center in Lafayette, IN has an exciting internship for Materials Science Engineering. This is an ONSITE starts Summer 2026 with possibility to extend through Fall 2026 semester.

Manufacturing Engineering interns assist more senior engineers in implementing engineering techniques, processes, tools and machinery in order to maximize product quality.

Responsibilities
Applying basic engineering knowledge to develop technical skills and understanding of the business, products, systems, and procedures.

• Assisting with the analysis and implementation of new or improved processes, products, or systems.
• Helping resolve issues with design, manufacture or build sequences for processes and products.
• Assisting in ensuring design acceptance and manufacturing readiness.
• Performing needs analysis and initiating ideas.

Requirements

• Actively pursuing a Bachelors degree in Engineering
• Able to work 12 - 20 hours /week ONSITE at our facility in Lafayette, IN during the school year and up to 40 hours/week during the SUMMER 2026 semester.

Degree Requirement
Engineering Degree in progress

Skill Descriptors
Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
Level Basic Understanding:

• Describes non-verbal behaviors that influence the interpretation of the message.
• Cites examples of effective and ineffective communications.
• Explains the importance of effective business communication.
• Speaks/writes using correct language, mechanics, and gestures.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Explains characteristics and steps in an effective decision-making process.
• Identifies issues and communicates with others when a decision needs to be made.
• Names decision makers in own environment and cites examples of past decisions.
• Describes types of decisions incumbent may and may not make in own job or function.

Initiative: Being proactive and committing to action on self-identified job responsibilities and challenges; ability to seek out work and the drive to accomplish goals.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Describes opportunities for taking initiative in the organization.
• Cites examples of taking initiative in own personal or professional life.
• Identifies types of environments that motivate or de-motivate initiative.
• Explains how initiative is critical to success.

Teamwork: Knowledge of the necessity and value of teamwork; experience with; ability to work cooperatively towards shared goals and being supportive of others at all levels.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Names primary and ancillary members, roles and responsibilities of own team.
• Explains the importance and benefits of a cohesive work team.
• Reviews team mission and objectives.
• Identifies and discusses the characteristics of good teamwork.

Technical Excellence: Knowledge of a given technology and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Uses a structured approach in analyzing and resolving technical problems.
• Seeks opportunities for continual learning to maintain technical competence in pursuit of technical excellence.
• Provides examples or case studies demonstrating technical excellence in actual business scenarios.
• Pursues, prepares for and assumes new technical assignments and challenges.

Product Engineering: Knowledge of various product engineering techniques; ability to master professional methods to design, build and process hardware products or components.
Level Basic Understanding:

• Classifies the material and texture of a specific product family according to clients' requirements.
• Clarifies the responsibilities involved in each phase of the engineering process to obtain an overall concept of the job.
• Describes major processes (e.g. design and test) of typical engineering programs.
• Identifies relevant methods, including design tools, manufacturing devices and etc. within each function.

Troubleshooting Technical Problems: Knowledge of troubleshooting approaches, tools and techniques; ability to anticipate, detect and resolve technical problems in a manufacturing or product development environment.
Level Basic Understanding:

• Explains where to locate basic help facilities and troubleshooting guides.
• Discusses basic concepts behind a systematic approach to solving technical problems.
• Identifies available resources and support systems for troubleshooting.
• Describes problem identification, reporting and escalation procedures.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job.

Summary Pay Range:
$25.00 - $43.00

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

Posting Dates:
February 10, 2026 - February 13, 2026

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 .

For 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

With 2024 sales and revenues of $64.8 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.

Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and provides financing and related services through our Financial Products segment