Control Systems Team Lead – Engine Applications

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. Job Title: Control Systems Team Lead – Engine Applications Salary: £66,079 + Dependent Upon Experience Location: Peterborough, UK Benefits: 25 days annual leave Up to 18% Bonus Car Allowance Contributory pension scheme - Caterpillar will double the employee's contribution Up to 10% Contributory share scheme - Caterpillar will match 50% of the employee's contribution. Optional flexible benefits including access to health and dental care plans, EV car lease, holiday purchase. About Advanced Power Technology Advanced Power Technology develops next-generation powertrain, controls and software solutions that improve performance, efficiency and reliability across Caterpillar products. Our Engine Controls & Software team delivers state-of-the-art engine controls with optimised application integration, working with global engineering teams and power system partners to turn advanced technology into measurable customer value. Job Summary We are looking for a highly capable Application Controls Lead Engineer to shape the features, functions and controls that make our engines work better in real applications. You will connect customer and product needs with engineering delivery, converting Voice of the Customer into clear, testable functional requirements and guiding application-layer improvements from intent through verification. This is a hands-on technical leadership role at the centre of systems integration. You will work closely with internal teams, customer-facing partners, the Value team, software delivery engineers and verification specialists to optimise application integration, resolve ambiguity early and accelerate delivery of high-value improvements. You will also own and continuously improve the processes that underpin this work, making requirements, integration and verification workflows simpler, more consistent and more scalable. What You Will Do · Own new application features and control strategies – their customer value, interfaces and acceptance criteria. · Turn Voice of the Customer into clear, prioritised, testable requirements – challenging assumptions along the way. · Lead integration across controls, embedded software, electronics, engine and power system interfaces. · Keep Value, Delivery and Verification aligned so requirements, design and test evidence stay connected. · Steer backlogs, priorities and issue resolution – balancing value, quality, reuse, timing and risk. · Define functional test intent with verification engineers and drive early learning through simulation and HiL. · Make complex technical decisions clear to engineering, programme and customer audiences. · Own the development process – clear workflows, roles, decision points and quality gates from requirement to verified release. · Drive continuous improvement – use metrics and root-cause analysis to remove waste and standardise tools and practices globally. · Raise the bar on requirements quality, traceability and cross-team ways of working. What You Have · Degree: control systems, electrical, electronic, mechanical, automotive, computer science or a related discipline. · Embedded Systems: strong background in controls, electronic systems, application software or powertrain – including software architecture, prototyping and debugging across complex, networked systems. · Conceptual Thinking: solid grasp of systems integration – you identify the critical interdependencies between hardware, software and controls, and simplify complex ideas into clear concepts. · Requirements Analysis: proven ability to elicit customer needs and turn them into concise, traceable requirements with clear acceptance criteria, using walkthroughs and quality reviews. · Project Management: track record of planning, organising and leading complex, cross-team technical work through influence – tracking cost, schedule, resources and status. · Decision Making & Critical Thinking: sharp problem-solver who organises the relevant data, weighs risks, benefits and alternatives, and focuses teams on the highest-value outcomes. · Communicating Complex Concepts: clear, confident communicator who adapts technical explanations to engineering, programme and customer audiences and builds strong relationships. · Technology Advising: confident advising internal and customer-facing partners on controls and software solutions that resolve real application issues. · Product Development: experience taking features from proof-of-concept to production release, weighing cost, quality and reuse trade-offs. · Bonus: model-based development, requirements management, simulation or functional verification. How You Will Work · Customer Back Mindset: start with the application need and define the value before the solution. · Act With Urgency: create clarity quickly, remove blockers and maintain momentum. · Open & Direct Communication: surface risks, decisions and trade-offs early and constructively. · Think Differently: challenge legacy assumptions and explore better, reusable solutions. · Accelerate Early Wins: test ideas early, learn quickly and turn insight into visible progress. What You Will Get A high-impact role where customer insight, systems engineering and embedded controls meet. You will influence next-generation engine applications, strengthen how we convert needs into verified features, and work with a broad global network of controls, software, product and validation specialists. You will also have opportunities to grow your technical leadership, systems integration and customer-facing capability while helping shape modern software and controls development practices. Please note: The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting. Please demonstrate on your CV how your qualifications and experience meet the criteria above. Depending on application numbers, the criteria may be enhanced to support shortlisting. #LI This position requires working onsite five days a week. Posting Dates: November 12, 2026 - November 26, 2026 Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community .