Role Overview
As an Electrical Designer within the Systems Integration team at CAT Electronics, you will support the development and integration of electrical systems for large mining trucks and large highway trucks. This role focuses on machine-level electrical schematic development, system integration, and coordination with harness design teams to deliver complete, production-ready electrical solutions.
You will translate product group requirements into electrical schematics, support system-level analysis, and participate in validation and build support activities. The position is heavily design-focused, with the majority of time spent developing schematics in Creo Schematics.
Typical Day / Key Responsibilities
Electrical System Design & Integration
- Develop machine-level electrical schematics based on requirements from product and platform teams
- Select and apply:
- Wire gauges
- Fuses and circuit breakers
- Power distribution and protection strategies
- Ensure designs align with applicable ISO standards
- Support electrical load analysis and system robustness evaluations
- Participate in electrical system design FMEAs
Digitized Architecture Development
- Support migration from discrete relay-based designs to digitized ECU-based architectures
- Route electrical inputs into ECUs and design system-level control strategies
- Work with and understand:
- J1939 networks (including Dash-14 / Dash-15 variants)
- Two-wire Ethernet (growing priority for future platforms)
- Contribute to ECU topology and communication network design
Schematic & Harness Development
- Create system-level electrical architecture diagrams (Visio / Draw.io)
- Translate architecture into Creo Electrical / Creo Schematics designs
- Release detailed electrical schematics for production
- Partner closely with harness teams to:
- Deliver accurate schematics
- Produce harness manufacturing documentation (“bundle stuffing”)
- Support wiring harness installation audits and machine build efforts
Analysis, Validation & Support
- Perform and document electrical system load studies
- Write and execute electrical functional tests
- Participate in design reviews and cross-functional technical discussions
- Provide build and field support during machine integration
Work Breakdown
- ~80% Electrical schematic development and design execution (Creo Schematics)
- ~20% Planning, analysis, and system-level engineering activities (FMEAs, load studies, reviews)
Tools & Environment
- Primary Tool: Creo Schematics / Creo Electrical
- Supporting tools may include:
- Visio or Draw.io (architecture definition)
- CAD-based harness documentation tools
- Close collaboration with:
- Harness designers
- Electrical system designers
- Harness manufacturers
- Component engineers
- Global Purchasing